Last updated 14 hours ago
Whether you work at a desk, at a cash register, or in a warehouse, your daily habits may be impacting the current and future health of your spine. Fortunately, taking steps to correct these habits can help to reverse existing damage, prevent future problems, and keep you pain-free. Consider these common habits and the problems they can cause:
Slouching
When you hunch your shoulders forward and curve your lower back, you put pressure on your spine while straining the muscles that support your head. Whether you are sitting or standing, be sure to make an effort to keep your spine in a healthy position. When sitting, keep your back straight and align your ears, shoulders, and hips vertically. Every 30 to 60 minutes, pause your activity, stretch your arms, back, and neck, and ensure that you are still maintaining proper posture. When standing, distribute your weight evenly on both feet and remain aware of the position of your head and shoulders.
Wearing Unsupportive Footwear
Your feet may seem disconnected from your spine, but your choice of footwear can actually have a significant impact on your spinal health. This is because walking or running when your feet are unsupported can jar the muscles, bones, and connective tissues in your back. Ensure that your shoes are comfortable, allow you to maintain a natural gait, and provide adequate support and cushioning.
Using Too Many Pillows
While resting your head on a stack of fluffy pillows may feel comfortable after a long day, doing so regularly can cause damage to your spine and result in back pain. Using too many pillows lifts your head into an unnatural position that strains the muscles in your neck and shoulders. Stick to using one supportive pillow when you go to sleep each night.
At Carolina Back Institute, we can provide the information and treatment you need to regain and maintain your spinal health. Our back specialists provide a variety of non-surgical treatments and therapies that can help treat pain and dysfunction in your neck or back. For more information, call us today at (919) 781-9950.
Last updated 8 days ago
Your spinal discs help to cushion the bones and nerves of your spinal column. The discs in your cervical spine, which is made up of the top seven vertebrae, allow for the motion of your head forwards, backwards, up, down, and side to side.
As you’ll discover in this video, it is possible to injure the discs of your cervical spine. Injuries may result from sports, car accidents, and other activities that can cause trauma to the neck. If one of your cervical discs is injured, it will deteriorate and become susceptible to further injury. Watch this full video clip to learn about the symptoms of and treatment options for cervical disc injuries.
Have you suffered a traumatic neck or back injury? The spine and sports injury specialists at Carolina Back Institute may be able to help. To schedule a treatment evaluation, call us today at (919) 781-9950.
Last updated 14 days ago
Getting regular exercise through sporting activities is a great way to help keep your body and mind healthy. However, there is always a possibility of injury during these types of physical activities. Common types of sports injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations. If you suffer any type of injury during a sporting activity, take the following steps to help prevent further damage and begin the process of recovery:
Halt the Activity
As soon as you feel pain due to an injury, stop participating in the exercise. You may be tempted to try to push through the pain, but doing so may cause the injury to become more severe and can result in permanent damage. This is the case for both acute injuries, such as a twisted ankle, and chronic injuries, such as tendonitis.
Begin R.I.C.E.
After stopping the activity, begin R.I.C.E. treatment—rest, ice, compression, and elevation. First, take all pressure off of the injured area and avoid moving it. Next, apply an ice pack to the injury. Do not use the ice pack for more than 20 minutes at a time. While you are icing the injured area, use an elastic bandage to apply pressure. This will help minimize swelling. If the injury is located in an arm or leg, you should elevate the limb above the level of your heart to decrease swelling.
Seek Medical Care
A sports injury can result in chronic problems if left untreated. Be sure to visit a qualified medical professional who can accurately diagnose and treat your sports injury. Severe injuries, such as dislocations and bone fractures, require emergency care followed by rehabilitation at a sports injury clinic. Less severe injuries, such as strains and sprains, can often be treated just at sports injury clinics.
If you have suffered a sports injury, the physicians at Carolina Back Institute can help you get on the path to healing and recovery. We offer a variety of treatments, including physical therapy, to help you regain comfort, strength, and flexibility after an injury. Please contact us online or at (919) 781-9950 to schedule an appointment.
Last updated 1 month ago
Carolina Back Institute offers pain management and relief so that you can enjoy your life. Read these resources to learn more about knee injuries and physical therapy.
A sprained ligament is not the same as a strained tendon. Find out the difference and how to treat them in this article from OrthoInfo.
Not all injuries can be avoided, but you can lower the chances of an injury occurring. Keep these tips in mind to prevent knee pain and injury.
Whether you’re recovering from surgery or an injury, follow these exercises to help regain the flexibility and strength in your knee.
Here’s a look from How Stuff Works at how physical therapy can help relieve chronic back pain and benefit the patient’s lifestyle.
Within physical therapy is the field of sports medicine, which is geared to help prevent athletes from getting injured and to improve physical fitness. Learn more about sports medicine in this Esser Health overview.
Call Carolina Back Institute at (919) 781-9950 to learn how we can help relieve your pain.
