A new study by researchers at The George Institute for International Health has found that back pain is a reoccurring problem for five million Australians.
According to lead author, Professor Chris Maher, Director of Musculoskeletal Research at The George Institute, "After an episode of back pain resolves, one in four people will experience a recurrence within one year. This explains why around 25% of the Australian population suffers from back pain at any one time."
Low back pain is the most prevalent and costly musculoskeletal condition in Australia(1), estimated to cost up to $1billion per annum with indirect costs exceeding $8billion(2). It is also the most common health condition causing older Australians to be absent from the labour force.(3)
According to Professor Maher, patients and clinicians need to shift their focus to prevention. "We tend to treat the pain when it's there, but when you recover, patients rarely take steps to prevent the problem from returning. People understand the message about lifting correctly but heavy lifting is only one of the risk factors for developing back pain. What many people do not understand is that some of the risk factors for back pain are also the risk factors for other chronic diseases like heart disease. My advice is that people should take a similar approach to back health, as they do for heart health – eating right, exercise and a healthy lifestyle is definitely good for your heart, and also your spine," he added.
"Good, previous research has shown participation in an exercise program after the original episode of low back pain is highly effective in preventing recurrence. Those in the exercise group had half the rate of recurrence of the control group. Other studies have indicated that strengthening muscles and developing fitness show some benefit in avoiding recurring back pain. Mental stress also increases the risk of back pain so including stress management in a health promotion approach would be a sensible way to reduce your chances of back pain. Just paying attention to lifting correctly is probably not enough, a holistic approach is really best."
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Lug Your Luggage Safely
Seasoned travelers have a saying – “Pack your bags, then take out half.” This refers to the fact that most of us bring much more than we need on our trips. Now, even more travelers are echoing that line, especially, since so many airline providers are charging passengers a fee for checking luggage. However, if you are one of those people who cannot decide which half to leave at home, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) has recommendations to help you carry your baggage safely.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission:_•In 2007, more than 50,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries related to luggage.
Packing light may prevent injuries such as:_• Strains, pulls and tears _o Any of these can occur while carrying a heavy suitcase for an extended period of time. _o Lifting and holding a bag incorrectly or lifting luggage from baggage claim carousels, overhead or under-seat compartments._• The chances of these injuries are even greater when a person has been sitting still for a long period of time (as when on a plane) or when the luggage is over-packed and especially heavy.
“Using proper lifting techniques can ensure that your trip isn’t cut short by an injury,” says William R. Marshall, MD, a spokesperson for the AAOS and orthopaedic surgeon in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. “Even a relatively minor injury, such as a muscle pull, to the back, neck or shoulders can be quite painful in the short term and end up ruining your vacation.”
The Academy offers the following strategies to prevent injuries when lifting and carrying luggage:_• Pack lightly. When possible, pack items in a few smaller bags instead of one large luggage piece. It is better – and may prevent muscle sprains and strains – to carry a lighter bag in each hand rather than one heavy bag in one hand or over one shoulder.
• As with any heavy lifting, you should bend at the knees and lift luggage with your leg muscles—not your back and waist—and avoid twisting and rotating your spine. Stand alongside your suitcase, bend at your knees, then grasp the handle and straighten up. Also, try to carry luggage as close to your body as possible.
• When placing luggage in an overhead compartment, first lift it onto the top of the seat. Then, with the hands situated on the left and right sides of the suitcase, lift it up. If your luggage has wheels, make sure the wheel-side is set in the compartment first. Once wheels are inside, put one hand atop the luggage and push it to the back of the compartment. To remove the luggage, reverse this process.
• If using a backpack, make sure it has two padded and adjustable shoulder straps. Choose one with several compartments to secure various-sized items, packing the heavier things low and towards the center. Always wear a backpack on both shoulders--slinging it over one shoulder does not allow weight to be distributed evenly, which can cause muscle strain.
• If you need to use a duffel or shoulder bag, do not carry it on one shoulder for any length of time. Be sure to switch sides often, as this may prevent soreness and discomfort to the shoulder area.
Other important tips:_• When purchasing new luggage, look for a sturdy, light pieces with wheels and a handle. Avoid purchasing luggage that is too heavy or bulky while empty.
• Do not rush when lifting or carrying a suitcase. If it is too heavy or an awkward shape, ask someone for help.
• Do not carry heavy pieces of luggage for long periods of time. If it is very heavy, and you must carry it, stop and take a break. If at all possible, check your luggage when traveling rather than carrying it on a plane, train or bus.
• Make sure to carry all rolling luggage up flights of stairs.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission:_•In 2007, more than 50,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, clinics and other medical settings for injuries related to luggage.
Packing light may prevent injuries such as:_• Strains, pulls and tears _o Any of these can occur while carrying a heavy suitcase for an extended period of time. _o Lifting and holding a bag incorrectly or lifting luggage from baggage claim carousels, overhead or under-seat compartments._• The chances of these injuries are even greater when a person has been sitting still for a long period of time (as when on a plane) or when the luggage is over-packed and especially heavy.
“Using proper lifting techniques can ensure that your trip isn’t cut short by an injury,” says William R. Marshall, MD, a spokesperson for the AAOS and orthopaedic surgeon in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. “Even a relatively minor injury, such as a muscle pull, to the back, neck or shoulders can be quite painful in the short term and end up ruining your vacation.”
The Academy offers the following strategies to prevent injuries when lifting and carrying luggage:_• Pack lightly. When possible, pack items in a few smaller bags instead of one large luggage piece. It is better – and may prevent muscle sprains and strains – to carry a lighter bag in each hand rather than one heavy bag in one hand or over one shoulder.
• As with any heavy lifting, you should bend at the knees and lift luggage with your leg muscles—not your back and waist—and avoid twisting and rotating your spine. Stand alongside your suitcase, bend at your knees, then grasp the handle and straighten up. Also, try to carry luggage as close to your body as possible.
• When placing luggage in an overhead compartment, first lift it onto the top of the seat. Then, with the hands situated on the left and right sides of the suitcase, lift it up. If your luggage has wheels, make sure the wheel-side is set in the compartment first. Once wheels are inside, put one hand atop the luggage and push it to the back of the compartment. To remove the luggage, reverse this process.
• If using a backpack, make sure it has two padded and adjustable shoulder straps. Choose one with several compartments to secure various-sized items, packing the heavier things low and towards the center. Always wear a backpack on both shoulders--slinging it over one shoulder does not allow weight to be distributed evenly, which can cause muscle strain.
• If you need to use a duffel or shoulder bag, do not carry it on one shoulder for any length of time. Be sure to switch sides often, as this may prevent soreness and discomfort to the shoulder area.
Other important tips:_• When purchasing new luggage, look for a sturdy, light pieces with wheels and a handle. Avoid purchasing luggage that is too heavy or bulky while empty.
• Do not rush when lifting or carrying a suitcase. If it is too heavy or an awkward shape, ask someone for help.
• Do not carry heavy pieces of luggage for long periods of time. If it is very heavy, and you must carry it, stop and take a break. If at all possible, check your luggage when traveling rather than carrying it on a plane, train or bus.
• Make sure to carry all rolling luggage up flights of stairs.
Preventing Back Pain
One of the best things you can do to prevent and/or eliminate back pain is to exercise. Both an inactive lifestyle and being overweight contribute to back pain. Exercise benefits you in so many ways, such as lowering blood pressure, helping you maintain a healthy weight, lowering your risk for diabetes, and the list goes on!
Orthotics can help you maintain a healthy spine through the use of spinal pelvic stabilizers. Devices that you wear in your shoes, stabilizers align all three arches of your foot to provide a balanced foundation for your spine and body.
It is estimated that 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some time in their life. Since your back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments, there are many different factors that can play a part in your back pain. It is possible to irritate joints, sprain ligaments, or strain muscles in your back -- which can all cause pain. Poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can also lead to or worsen back pain. One thing you may not know is that along with chiropractic care, exercise can help prevent back pain.
Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) can help reduce, eliminate, and prevent back pain. Using their hands, they manually adjust the joints and tissue in your back to restore joint mobility, relieving pain and muscle tightness. Maintaining a healthy spine will help keep you healthier overall by keeping your spine free of misalignments that could interfere with your nervous system, the center for all your mental activity. DCs can also provide you with dietary, nutritional, and lifestyle counseling.
Orthotics can help you maintain a healthy spine through the use of spinal pelvic stabilizers. Devices that you wear in your shoes, stabilizers align all three arches of your foot to provide a balanced foundation for your spine and body.
It is estimated that 80 percent of people will experience back pain at some time in their life. Since your back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments, there are many different factors that can play a part in your back pain. It is possible to irritate joints, sprain ligaments, or strain muscles in your back -- which can all cause pain. Poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can also lead to or worsen back pain. One thing you may not know is that along with chiropractic care, exercise can help prevent back pain.
Doctors of chiropractic (DCs) can help reduce, eliminate, and prevent back pain. Using their hands, they manually adjust the joints and tissue in your back to restore joint mobility, relieving pain and muscle tightness. Maintaining a healthy spine will help keep you healthier overall by keeping your spine free of misalignments that could interfere with your nervous system, the center for all your mental activity. DCs can also provide you with dietary, nutritional, and lifestyle counseling.
Take More Breaks to Avoid Back Injury at Work
Take More Breaks to Avoid Back Injury at Work, Study Says
Workers who lift for a living need to take longer or more frequent breaks than they now do to avoid back injury, according to a new study at Ohio State University.
The study also suggests that people who are new on the job need to take breaks even more often than experienced workers, and that the risk of injury is higher at the end of a work shift.
People who participated in the study lifted boxes onto conveyor belts for eight hours, while researchers measured the amount of oxygen that was reaching the muscles in their lower back.
The oxygen level indicated how hard the muscles were working, and whether they were becoming fatigued, explained William Marras, professor of industrial welding and systems engineering at Ohio State. His research and others' has shown that muscle fatigue is linked to back injury.
The study, which appeared in a recent issue of the journal Clinical Biomechanics, is the first to examine what happens to muscle oxygenation over a full workday.
Despite the fact that the study participants were performing the same job at the same pace all day, their back muscles needed more oxygen as the day went on. Taking a half-hour lunch break helped their muscles recover from the morning's exertion, but once they started working again, their oxygen needs rose steeply and kept climbing throughout the afternoon.
"That was alarming to us, because it means that their muscles were becoming fatigued much faster during the afternoon, and we know that fatigue increases the risk of back injury," Marras said.
Two 15-minute breaks, one mid-morning and the other mid-afternoon, helped muscles recover a little, but not as much as the half-hour lunch.
"This tells us two things," Marras said. "First, rest is good -- a half-hour break does a good job of helping muscles recover. But it also tells us that people are especially at risk for back injury at the end of the day, and the only way to counteract that effect is with more breaks as the day goes on."
Workers who lift for a living need to take longer or more frequent breaks than they now do to avoid back injury, according to a new study at Ohio State University.
The study also suggests that people who are new on the job need to take breaks even more often than experienced workers, and that the risk of injury is higher at the end of a work shift.
People who participated in the study lifted boxes onto conveyor belts for eight hours, while researchers measured the amount of oxygen that was reaching the muscles in their lower back.
The oxygen level indicated how hard the muscles were working, and whether they were becoming fatigued, explained William Marras, professor of industrial welding and systems engineering at Ohio State. His research and others' has shown that muscle fatigue is linked to back injury.
The study, which appeared in a recent issue of the journal Clinical Biomechanics, is the first to examine what happens to muscle oxygenation over a full workday.
Despite the fact that the study participants were performing the same job at the same pace all day, their back muscles needed more oxygen as the day went on. Taking a half-hour lunch break helped their muscles recover from the morning's exertion, but once they started working again, their oxygen needs rose steeply and kept climbing throughout the afternoon.
"That was alarming to us, because it means that their muscles were becoming fatigued much faster during the afternoon, and we know that fatigue increases the risk of back injury," Marras said.
Two 15-minute breaks, one mid-morning and the other mid-afternoon, helped muscles recover a little, but not as much as the half-hour lunch.
"This tells us two things," Marras said. "First, rest is good -- a half-hour break does a good job of helping muscles recover. But it also tells us that people are especially at risk for back injury at the end of the day, and the only way to counteract that effect is with more breaks as the day goes on."
Expanded Musculoskeletal Care During Pregnancy
Women Need Expanded Musculoskeletal Care During Pregnancy, Study Finds
Despite the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy, few women in underserved populations receive treatment for their low back pain. Moreover, researchers found that pain in a previous pregnancy may predict a high risk for musculoskeletal complaints in future pregnancies. 85 percent of women who experienced pain in a previous pregnancy reported pain during their current pregnancy.
According to Clayton Skaggs, DC, the study’s chief author, 85 percent of women surveyed reported that they had not received treatment for their musculoskeletal pain, and of the small percentage who perceived that their back complaints were addressed, less than 10 percent were satisfied with the symptom relief they obtained.
“Based on the findings of this study, doctors of chiropractic and other health care professionals need to expand the musculoskeletal care available during pregnancy, especially in underserved populations,” Dr. Skaggs said. “As a proactive step, health professionals should consider including back pain screening as part of early obstetrical care to help identify musculoskeletal risk factors and allow for early education and/or treatment.”
The study findings suggest that pregnant women with back pain are predisposed to sleep disturbances. In the survey, close to 80 percent of women reporting sleep disturbances had back pain, whereas only 8 percent of women without pain reported problems sleeping. More alarming was the significant relationship between reports of musculoskeletal pain and the use of pain medication.
Despite the high prevalence of musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy, few women in underserved populations receive treatment for their low back pain. Moreover, researchers found that pain in a previous pregnancy may predict a high risk for musculoskeletal complaints in future pregnancies. 85 percent of women who experienced pain in a previous pregnancy reported pain during their current pregnancy.
According to Clayton Skaggs, DC, the study’s chief author, 85 percent of women surveyed reported that they had not received treatment for their musculoskeletal pain, and of the small percentage who perceived that their back complaints were addressed, less than 10 percent were satisfied with the symptom relief they obtained.
“Based on the findings of this study, doctors of chiropractic and other health care professionals need to expand the musculoskeletal care available during pregnancy, especially in underserved populations,” Dr. Skaggs said. “As a proactive step, health professionals should consider including back pain screening as part of early obstetrical care to help identify musculoskeletal risk factors and allow for early education and/or treatment.”
The study findings suggest that pregnant women with back pain are predisposed to sleep disturbances. In the survey, close to 80 percent of women reporting sleep disturbances had back pain, whereas only 8 percent of women without pain reported problems sleeping. More alarming was the significant relationship between reports of musculoskeletal pain and the use of pain medication.
38% adults: complementary and alternative medicine
Government survey shows 38 percent of adults and 12 percent of children use complementary and alternative medicine
Approximately 38 percent of adults in the United States aged 18 years and over and nearly 12 percent of U.S. children aged 17 years and under use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a new nationwide government survey.* This survey marks the first time questions were included on children's use of CAM, which is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic, and acupuncture that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.
The survey, conducted as part of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual study in which tens of thousands of Americans are interviewed about their health- and illness-related experiences, was developed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey included questions on 36 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the United States—10 types of provider-based therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, and 26 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as herbal supplements and meditation.
"The 2007 NHIS provides the most current, comprehensive, and reliable source of information on Americans' use of CAM," said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. "These statistics confirm that CAM practices are a frequently used component of Americans' health care regimens, and reinforce the need for rigorous research to study the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. The data also point out the need for patients and health care providers to openly discuss CAM use to ensure safe and coordinated care."
The 2007 survey results, released in a National Health Statistics Report by NCHS, are based on data from more than 23,300 interviews with American adults and more than 9,400 interviews with adults on behalf a child in their household. The 2007 survey is the second conducted by NCCAM and NCHS—the first was done as part of the 2002 NHIS.**
CAM Use Among Adults
Comparison of the data from the 2002 and 2007 surveys suggests that overall use of CAM among adults has remained relatively steady—36 percent in 2002 and 38 percent in 2007. However, there has been substantial variation in the use of some specific CAM therapies, such as deep breathing, meditation, massage therapy, and yoga, which all showed significant increases.
The most commonly used CAM therapies among U.S. adults were
Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (17.7 percent) Most common: fish oil/omega 3/DHA, glucosamine, echinacea, flaxseed oil or pills, and ginseng***
Deep breathing exercises (12.7 percent)
Meditation (9.4 percent)
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6 percent)
Massage (8.3 percent)
Yoga (6.1 percent).
Adults used CAM most often to treat pain including back pain or problems, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness/other joint condition, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Adult use of CAM therapies for head or chest colds showed a marked decrease from 2002 to 2007 (9.5 percent in 2002 to 2.0 percent in 2007).
Consistent with results from the 2002 data, in 2007 CAM use among adults was greater among:.
Women (42.8 percent, compared to men 33.5 percent)
Those aged 30-69 (30-39 years: 39.6 percent, 40-49 years: 40.1 percent, 50-59 years: 44.1 percent, 60-69 years: 41.0 percent)
Those with higher levels of education (Masters, doctorate or professional: 55.4 percent)
Those who were not poor (poor: 28.9 percent, near poor: 30.9 percent, not poor: 43.3 percent)
Those living in the West (44.6 percent)
Those who have quit smoking (48.1 percent)
CAM Use Among Children
Overall, CAM use among children is nearly 12 percent, or about 1 in 9 children. Children are five times more likely to use CAM if a parent or other relative uses CAM. Other characteristics of adult and child CAM users are similar—factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic region, the number of health conditions, the number of doctor visits in the last 12 months, and delaying or not receiving conventional care because of cost are all associated with CAM use.
Among children who used CAM in the past 12 months, CAM therapies were used most often for back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, other musculoskeletal problems, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).
The most commonly used CAM therapies among children were
Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (3.9 percent) Most common: echinacea, fish oil/omega 3/DHA, combination herb pill, flaxseed oil or pills, and prebiotics or probiotics
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (2.8 percent)
Deep breathing exercises (2.2 percent)
Yoga (2.1 percent).
"The survey results provide information on trends and a rich set of data for investigating who in America is using CAM, the practices they use, and why," said Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., MPH, acting director of NCCAM's Division of Extramural Research and co-author of the National Health Statistics Report. "Future analyses of these data may help explain some of the observed variation in the use of individual CAM therapies and provide greater insights into CAM use patterns among Americans."
Approximately 38 percent of adults in the United States aged 18 years and over and nearly 12 percent of U.S. children aged 17 years and under use some form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), according to a new nationwide government survey.* This survey marks the first time questions were included on children's use of CAM, which is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic, and acupuncture that are not generally considered to be part of conventional medicine.
The survey, conducted as part of the 2007 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), an annual study in which tens of thousands of Americans are interviewed about their health- and illness-related experiences, was developed by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), a part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The survey included questions on 36 types of CAM therapies commonly used in the United States—10 types of provider-based therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, and 26 other therapies that do not require a provider, such as herbal supplements and meditation.
"The 2007 NHIS provides the most current, comprehensive, and reliable source of information on Americans' use of CAM," said Josephine P. Briggs, M.D., director of NCCAM. "These statistics confirm that CAM practices are a frequently used component of Americans' health care regimens, and reinforce the need for rigorous research to study the safety and effectiveness of these therapies. The data also point out the need for patients and health care providers to openly discuss CAM use to ensure safe and coordinated care."
The 2007 survey results, released in a National Health Statistics Report by NCHS, are based on data from more than 23,300 interviews with American adults and more than 9,400 interviews with adults on behalf a child in their household. The 2007 survey is the second conducted by NCCAM and NCHS—the first was done as part of the 2002 NHIS.**
CAM Use Among Adults
Comparison of the data from the 2002 and 2007 surveys suggests that overall use of CAM among adults has remained relatively steady—36 percent in 2002 and 38 percent in 2007. However, there has been substantial variation in the use of some specific CAM therapies, such as deep breathing, meditation, massage therapy, and yoga, which all showed significant increases.
The most commonly used CAM therapies among U.S. adults were
Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (17.7 percent) Most common: fish oil/omega 3/DHA, glucosamine, echinacea, flaxseed oil or pills, and ginseng***
Deep breathing exercises (12.7 percent)
Meditation (9.4 percent)
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (8.6 percent)
Massage (8.3 percent)
Yoga (6.1 percent).
Adults used CAM most often to treat pain including back pain or problems, neck pain or problems, joint pain or stiffness/other joint condition, arthritis, and other musculoskeletal conditions. Adult use of CAM therapies for head or chest colds showed a marked decrease from 2002 to 2007 (9.5 percent in 2002 to 2.0 percent in 2007).
Consistent with results from the 2002 data, in 2007 CAM use among adults was greater among:.
Women (42.8 percent, compared to men 33.5 percent)
Those aged 30-69 (30-39 years: 39.6 percent, 40-49 years: 40.1 percent, 50-59 years: 44.1 percent, 60-69 years: 41.0 percent)
Those with higher levels of education (Masters, doctorate or professional: 55.4 percent)
Those who were not poor (poor: 28.9 percent, near poor: 30.9 percent, not poor: 43.3 percent)
Those living in the West (44.6 percent)
Those who have quit smoking (48.1 percent)
CAM Use Among Children
Overall, CAM use among children is nearly 12 percent, or about 1 in 9 children. Children are five times more likely to use CAM if a parent or other relative uses CAM. Other characteristics of adult and child CAM users are similar—factors such as socioeconomic status, geographic region, the number of health conditions, the number of doctor visits in the last 12 months, and delaying or not receiving conventional care because of cost are all associated with CAM use.
Among children who used CAM in the past 12 months, CAM therapies were used most often for back or neck pain, head or chest colds, anxiety or stress, other musculoskeletal problems, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).
The most commonly used CAM therapies among children were
Nonvitamin, nonmineral, natural products (3.9 percent) Most common: echinacea, fish oil/omega 3/DHA, combination herb pill, flaxseed oil or pills, and prebiotics or probiotics
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation (2.8 percent)
Deep breathing exercises (2.2 percent)
Yoga (2.1 percent).
"The survey results provide information on trends and a rich set of data for investigating who in America is using CAM, the practices they use, and why," said Richard L. Nahin, Ph.D., MPH, acting director of NCCAM's Division of Extramural Research and co-author of the National Health Statistics Report. "Future analyses of these data may help explain some of the observed variation in the use of individual CAM therapies and provide greater insights into CAM use patterns among Americans."
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