Health News
Tylenol and rest as a cure for back pain is a thing of the past, instead the preferred treatment is to keep moving, according to a news release from the Saint Louis University Medical Center.
Seventy-five percent of people experience at least one episode of back pain in their lifetime and Chris Sebelski, DPT and associate professor of physical therapy and athletic training atSaint Louis University, says that researchers still struggle with understanding what causes it and how to treat it,
And to add to this confusion, a study released earlier this year by Australian researchers found that acetaminophen, brand name Tylenol, appears to make no difference in helping patients manage back pain, according to the release.
?It may be that acetaminophen helps but doesn?t completely eliminate back pain, or it may work for some people and some injuries, but not others,? Sebelski said in the release. The answer is to "broaden our approach to include more than Tylenol and a few days rest."
America's sedentary lifestyle which often includes desk jobs, hours in front of a screen and lack of physical activity is a recipe for stiff muscles and achy backs.
?Instead of sitting at your desk for hours, change positions, stand for 20 minutes, or go for a walk and talk to someone. Movement will keep you healthy and allow you to adjust," Sebelski said in the release.
And the level of movement doesn't have to be a huge time or energy commitment; "you don't have to join a gym," he said.
People with back pain should also work work on strengthening the whole body, Sebelski says. Strong legs, limber hips and a strong trunk "will keep you from overtaxing lower back muscles to compensate for weakness elsewhere in the body."
Sebelski also emphasises the importance of breathing which surprisingly also strengthens groups of muscles within your trunk.
?Deep breathing really activates key muscles in your trunk,? Sebelski said. ?Talk. Laugh out loud. Do cardio. Do yoga. Do things that force you to breathe. This will help your back stay healthy.?
The best medicine for an aching back, says Sebelski, is "active rest."
?There?s no such thing as just ?rest,? Sebelski said. ?At rest, muscles weaken; moving builds strength. Think about it in terms of alternating movement and active rest.
?Even after an injury, while you don?t put yourself at risk by pushing yourself too hard before you?re ready, you also don?t just go to bed. You do what you can do. Even something as simple as walking offers significant benefits.?
- Chiropractors Cite Research Recommending 'conservative Treatments' For Low-back Pain Before Prescribing Painkillers
Recent research has questioned the effectiveness of acetaminophen for the treatment of spinal pain. In response, the American Chiropractic Association recommends that patients and health-care providers take a conservative approach to back pain. According...
- Pain And Fever Reducer Acetaminophen, Most-used Drug In U.s., Is Found To Reduce Positive Emotions And Reduce Psychological Pain
Ohio State University researchers discovered a new side effect of acetaminophen, a leading over-the-counter pain reliever: it also blunts positive emotions. Other research revealed that it helps reduce psychological pain. The drug has been used in the...
- Uk Center Probes The Science Of Muscles And Exercise
Exercise is good for you. But it's not that simple. "Doctors and scientists have a lot of questions about why exercise is so beneficial, how muscles work and the role muscle strength plays in overall health," columnist Tom Eblen writes on the front...
- Dr. Barry Waldman Featured In The Baltimore Sun Today
The Baltimore Sun this week featured a question-and-answer column on arthritis with Barry Waldman, M.D., co-director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. The...
- The Great White Death Commeth: How To Safely Shovel Snow
Most portions of the U.S. are expected to experience a snowier-than-usual winter, according to the 2009 Farmer?s Almanac. Unfortunately, this means we will all be shoveling our driveways and sidewalks more often. Shoveling snow is a moderate-intensity...
Health News
Study finds Tylenol and rest not best remedy for an aching back; movement, breathing and a strong body is the answer
Tylenol and rest as a cure for back pain is a thing of the past, instead the preferred treatment is to keep moving, according to a news release from the Saint Louis University Medical Center.
And to add to this confusion, a study released earlier this year by Australian researchers found that acetaminophen, brand name Tylenol, appears to make no difference in helping patients manage back pain, according to the release.
?It may be that acetaminophen helps but doesn?t completely eliminate back pain, or it may work for some people and some injuries, but not others,? Sebelski said in the release. The answer is to "broaden our approach to include more than Tylenol and a few days rest."
America's sedentary lifestyle which often includes desk jobs, hours in front of a screen and lack of physical activity is a recipe for stiff muscles and achy backs.
?Instead of sitting at your desk for hours, change positions, stand for 20 minutes, or go for a walk and talk to someone. Movement will keep you healthy and allow you to adjust," Sebelski said in the release.
And the level of movement doesn't have to be a huge time or energy commitment; "you don't have to join a gym," he said.
People with back pain should also work work on strengthening the whole body, Sebelski says. Strong legs, limber hips and a strong trunk "will keep you from overtaxing lower back muscles to compensate for weakness elsewhere in the body."
Sebelski also emphasises the importance of breathing which surprisingly also strengthens groups of muscles within your trunk.
?Deep breathing really activates key muscles in your trunk,? Sebelski said. ?Talk. Laugh out loud. Do cardio. Do yoga. Do things that force you to breathe. This will help your back stay healthy.?
The best medicine for an aching back, says Sebelski, is "active rest."
?There?s no such thing as just ?rest,? Sebelski said. ?At rest, muscles weaken; moving builds strength. Think about it in terms of alternating movement and active rest.
?Even after an injury, while you don?t put yourself at risk by pushing yourself too hard before you?re ready, you also don?t just go to bed. You do what you can do. Even something as simple as walking offers significant benefits.?
- Chiropractors Cite Research Recommending 'conservative Treatments' For Low-back Pain Before Prescribing Painkillers
Recent research has questioned the effectiveness of acetaminophen for the treatment of spinal pain. In response, the American Chiropractic Association recommends that patients and health-care providers take a conservative approach to back pain. According...
- Pain And Fever Reducer Acetaminophen, Most-used Drug In U.s., Is Found To Reduce Positive Emotions And Reduce Psychological Pain
Ohio State University researchers discovered a new side effect of acetaminophen, a leading over-the-counter pain reliever: it also blunts positive emotions. Other research revealed that it helps reduce psychological pain. The drug has been used in the...
- Uk Center Probes The Science Of Muscles And Exercise
Exercise is good for you. But it's not that simple. "Doctors and scientists have a lot of questions about why exercise is so beneficial, how muscles work and the role muscle strength plays in overall health," columnist Tom Eblen writes on the front...
- Dr. Barry Waldman Featured In The Baltimore Sun Today
The Baltimore Sun this week featured a question-and-answer column on arthritis with Barry Waldman, M.D., co-director of the Center for Joint Preservation and Replacement at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore. The...
- The Great White Death Commeth: How To Safely Shovel Snow
Most portions of the U.S. are expected to experience a snowier-than-usual winter, according to the 2009 Farmer?s Almanac. Unfortunately, this means we will all be shoveling our driveways and sidewalks more often. Shoveling snow is a moderate-intensity...