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Back & Neck Pain: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Meningitis Awareness Quiz
Stiff necks - while most often due to musculoskeletal factors are sometimes the sign of a serious infection such as bacterial meningitis. Even if you do not have bacterial meningitis, you may have a form of meningitis such as viral meningitis. Viral meningitis is not as life-threatening or damaging as bacterial meningitis, but it still needs immediate medical attention. So if you have flu-like symptoms, go see your doctor.
Rule out Meningitis
Basic guidelines on ruling out meningitis as a cause of a stiff neck may save your life -- One symptom of meningitis is a stiff neck, but this type of stiff neck does not begin in the neck. The guidelines presented here will help you rule out meningitis as a cause of a stiff neck. If you have any doubt whatsoever as to whether you have meningitis or exposure to meningitis, seek medical attention immediately. Meningitis, especially bacterial meningitis is a very serious illness.
The Abdominal Muscle Group
The abdominal muscles - aka the ab muscles - are a group of 6 muscles - the rectus abdominus, the lateral oblique abdominals and the transverse abdominal that protect you from back and help your body posture. What are the abdominal muscles, what do they do and where are they located? This abdominal anatomy lesson will explain the 6 abdominal muscles from the transverse abdominus, to the obliques to the rectus abdominus.
The Trapezius Muscle
The trapezius muscle is a large, superficial muscle that spans the neck, shoulders and back. A tight upper trapezius muscle can make for sore shoulders and neck. A nickname for the trapezius muscle is the trap - or traps for plural.
Neck Arthritis
Cervical spondylosis is basically arthritis of the neck. A common condition, cervical spondylosis affects a lot of people, especially older adults.
Many Different Specialties
The decision as to which type of doctor to see for your back or neck pain depends on what type of back pain you have and if you have been referred to a spine specialist.
Massage Your Own Neck-Traps
Tense shoulder and neck muscles deserve a massage. One of the muscles that can become most painful is the trapezius muscles. Learn a technique for massaging this muscle, and melt away neck and shoulder muscle tension.
What Is a "Crick in the Neck"?
If you wake up with a stiff neck, or a crick or kink in your neck, chances are you need the answer to the question - what is that crick in my neck, why is my neck stiff, or what is that kink in my neck? A kink in the neck or a crick in the neck often causes stiff neck and may be due to muscle spasms.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of meningitis include, among other things, a stiff neck.
Neck Pain and Sleep Position - Neck Strain
Neck pain can be caused by too much pillowing or not enough. Without the right amount of pillowing it is easy to strain your neck during sleep times.
Neck Kyphosis
Cervical kyphosis is a common diagnosis for a loss of the cervical curve. Sometimes cervical kyphosis causes neck pain.
Is Meningitis Contagious?
Meningitis is an infection that is contagious and spread through respiratory secretions.
Neck Pain and Sleep Position - Neck Strain 2
Sleeping positions that take the spine out of neutral alignment may cause back pain, as well as neck pain, in the morning. The neck and low back are vulnerable to strain from pressure in this sleeping position.
Mild Back Pain - Home Remedies
Have you ever woken up with neck pain that hurt, but not enough to go see a doctor? Here are some ways you can give yourself back self therapy, for example massage, ice heat, OTC pain meds and more.
Neck Injuries
With so many neck injury types, classifying them into common varieties is helpful. Common types of neck injuries include - stingers, strains, spasms and fractures.
Skeletal Muscle Relaxers
Skeletal muscle relaxants, aka muscle relaxers such as skelaxin, cariosprodol, and cyclobenzaprine are prescription meds used to relax muscle spasms. Learn about muscle relaxers and types of skeletal muscle relaxers.
Back Pain and Sleep - Low Back Stress
In general, unsupported sleeping positions can place stress on your back and neck. To minimize back pain during then night and when you wake up, identify for yourself the sleeping positions that are stressful to your back and neck. Where do you need support?
Yoga for Back Pain
Yoga is a mind body exercise system that relieves back pain and neck pain and improves back and neck conditions. Chronic low back and neck injuries and pain can be helped with the right kind of yoga.
The Lumbosacral Joint or L5-S1
The Lumbosacral Joint or L5-S1 is where the lumbar spine meets the sacrum, and is the site of an injury called spondylolisthesis.
How to Do a Pelvic Tilt
Pelvic Tilts are often recommended for those who need to develop support in the low back, low abdominals, sacroiliac joint and adjacent structures. Pelvic tilts are starter exercises for spinal stabilization exercise programs. They are also great for prevention of low back problems due to poor posture and muscle atrophy.
Neck Pain and Sleep Position - How Much Pillowing?
Overpillowing can cause stress and strain to the neck, which in turn can cause neck pain. Choose your sleep position to avoid neck pain and back pain.
Back Pain and Sleeping Positions - Low Back Stress 2
Unsupported sleeping positions can place stress on your back and neck. To minimize back pain during then night and when you wake up, identify for yourself the sleeping positions that are stressful to your back and neck.
Pinched Nerve
A short explanation of pinched nerve including symptoms and a definition. An example of a pinched nerve is given.
Back Pain and Sleep - Low Back Stress 3
Unsupported sleeping positions can place stress on your back and neck. To minimize back pain during then night and when you wake up, identify for yourself the sleeping positions that are stressful to your back and neck. This position does not have any pillows under the knees, and can cause undue stress on the low back.
Muscle Insertion
Muscle insertion is a term describing on which bone of a joint a muscle end attaches.
OTC Pain Medication
There are two types of over-the-counter pain medication for back pain and neck pain -- NSAIDs and acetaminophen, or Tylenol. If your back or neck hurts enough for you to take something for it, over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications are probably what you reach for first.
Core Strength
Core strength training, including yoga core strength, Pilates core strength and core strength on the ball are big these days. Building core strength is a matter of finding the core strength workout or exercises that fit your lifestyle and personality. This article introduces core stability and core strengthening, and helps you get going on choosing a program that is right for you. So find those core muscles now.... your abdominal muscles are waiting!
When to See the Doctor
Most of the time back pain, back aches and neck pain resolve on their own. But there some signs you should get them checked by a sign specialist or doctor. Your back pain, neck pain or back ache may be the sign of a red flag, or a serious problem. Examples are leg pain, back injury or radiating pain down legs or arms.
Postural Alignment
Posture and spinal alignment conjures up a rich set of images, from correct posture, to perfect postures, to bad postural alignment. There are a variety of approaches to achieving a healthy spinal alignment, including back exercises, Pilates alignment work, yoga, tai chi and going to the chiropractor, to name a few.
Breathing Overview
In breathing, the ventilation of lungs is the first thing to happen. Ventilation of the lungs brings oxygen into and out of the body by means of inhalation and exhalation.
Spondylolysis Treatment
Treatment for spondylolysis might be different depending upon where you go. But spondylolysis treatment should aim to reduce lordosis in the low back and to reduce spondylolysis related pain. During spondylolysis treatment the spine is kept from hyperextension.
Back Pain and Sleep - Take Strain Off Lower Back Area
You may be able to reduce or avoid back pain due to sleeping positions. Using pillows you can take strain off the lower back area, which in turn could help your back pain.
Exercise to Relieve Back Pain
Doing back exercises can give you a healthy back. Find the right back exercise program for your condition. If you have a bad back, you may just need an exercise program to help strengthen and stretch your back muscles. There are many types of back strengthening exercises from aquatic therapy, Pilates, yoga, core support and core stabilization work to the Egoscue Method, McKenzie and more.
The Levator Scap Muscle
The levator scapula muscle is a neck and shoulder muscle. The action of the levator scapula, or levator scap as it is also called is to raise the shoulder blade up. The levator scapula muscle can become quite a sore spot at the insertion point on the shoulderblade.
Whiplash
Symptoms of whiplash injury range from headaches to low back pain and stiff necks. Whiplash is commonly caused by car accidents.
Massage the Levator
The levator scapula muscle can get pretty sore, because the levator scap often works continuously. Here is a neck massage technique for the levator scap.
Hunchback
Definition of the term kyphosis, including what kyphosis is and what causes kyphotic curves of the spine.
Symptoms of Back Pain
Symptoms of back pain and neck pain may have you running to the doctor for treatment. Before the doctor can give you a treatment for your back pain or neck pain, she or he must understand what your symptoms are. It is very important to clearly and accurately communicate your back pain symptoms to your doctor.
Aleve
Aleve is a very common pain killer used for back pain and spinal arthritis. The generic name for Aleve is naproxen. Naproxen is available over the counter in generic form and brand and by prescription. Learn more about taking Aleve and naproxen for back pain, neck pain or spinal arthritis.
Tilted Pelvis
While there are many labeled causes for low back pain, including scoliosis and zygapophyseal (facet) joint dysfunction, the author's experience points to a functional leg length inequality with a resultant mild tilting of the pelvis.
Symptoms of Sciatica
Sciatic nerve pain is one of the symptoms of sciatica. Sciatic nerve pain is often felt as pain down the leg. Learn about the symptoms of sciatica.
What is Pain Management?
Pain medicine, also called pain management, is a branch of medicine that deals with treating pain and helping people learn to cope with pain.
Muscle Origin
Muscle origin is a location of one of the attachments of muscle to bone.
Transverse Abdominal Muscle
The transverse abdominal muscle, or transversus abdominis, is a very deep posture muscle.
Muscle Strength
Muscle strength is one of the 4 components of physical fitness. Look up the glossary definition for this term, also known as hypertrophy.
Wall Squat
Wall squats can easily be done as a work break -- all you need is a wall. Wall squats strengthen the muscles of the hips, legs, abs, and the core support muscles of posture. Wall squats should help your sitting posture.
Neck Pain and Shoulder Injury
Shoulder muscles work in opposing pairs.
Cranial Sacral Therapy
Cranial Sacral Therapy is a technique derived from Cranial Osteopathy and usually done by bodyworkers and massage therapists.
Axial Skeleton
Definition of axial skeleton
Understanding Radiculopathy
Nerve pain, from pinched nerves, sciatica or other radiating pain often travels through the dermatomes. Dermatomes are like paths cut by the nerves which come from the spine and go out to the rest of the body. Learn about nerve roots, dermatomes and nerve pain.
Water Exercise for Your Back
Water exercise can be great for your back. It strengthens muscles and increases joint range of motion. Here is a short, simple water exercise routine to get you started.
Cerebrospinal Fluid
The cerebrospinal fluid is a protective nourishing fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system. The cerebrospinal fluid is the focus of an osteopathic technique called Cranial Sacral Therapy.
Myelopathy
Definition of myelopathy - a that affects the spinal cord is known as myelopathy.
Inflammation Stages
After a back injury or a neck injury, the body responds with inflammation. Symptoms of acute back injury include but are not limited to pain, caused by the inflammation, and later, scar tissue. Scar tissue affects back injuries in the sub-acute and chronic phases of healing.
Lordosis
Lordosis can refer to the normal curvature of some parts of the spine, or it can refer to abnormal curvature conditions.
Facet Syndrome
Definition of Facet Syndrome.
Prevent Back Pain
Conditions that cause back pain can interrupt your enjoyment of sex. If you suffer from back pain, before you have sex,take time to understand how best to position yourself and your partner for maximum enjoyment of sexual activity and for the least amount of back pain.
Pelvic Tilts
Pelvic tilts are basic moves that develop postural muscles in the pelvis. Pelvic tilts develop posture by developing core stabilization.
Yoga for Back Pain Awareness Quiz
Yoga can be an excellent form of prevention when it comes to back pain. But if you already have back
Hyperextension
Definition of hyperextension
Back Strain
Back strain is the most common type of back injury. It is very easy to strain your back while lifting or other movements of the spine. Back strain is an injury to back and other muscles.
Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana for chronic pain, has been dealt a blow. States rights to remove criminal penalties for those who use, cultivate or possess medical marijuana has been returned to the federal government.
Sex - Disk Problems
Sex positions can make or break sex when you have back pain. When you have back pain from a herniated disk, a bulging disk, or any other disk problem, there are ways to position yourself during sex to avoid aggravating your symptoms. Choose your sexual position to accomodate your back pain and condition.
Viral Meningitis
Viral meningitis, which is caused by the enterovirus and is also known as aseptic meningitis, is the easier of the two types of spinal meningitis.
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial meningitis must be taken very seriously and if not treated immediately and appropriately can result in death.
Strengthen the Pelvic Floor
Pelvic floor strengthening programs, such as Kegel exercises and other systems that contract the pelvic floor muscles, help the strengthen the back, enhance sex and reduce or eliminate the embarrassment of incontinence.
Lumbar Spine
The low back is technically called the lumbar spine. The lumbar spine or low back is easily injured. Injuries and pain to the low back are among the most common of all medical problems. This short article defines and describes the lumbar spine.
How to Stretch your back while
Are you at your desk right now? If so, you may wish to try this simple stretch. This back stretch is recommended by the American Physical Therapy Association and targets the muscles of the seat, low back and shoulders. In my opinion, it targets the abs, too! In the written instructions, I have included some posture and alignment hints for more effectiveness.
Chronic Pain Emotional Health
Depression, Anxiety and Stress Often Accompany Chronic Back and Neck Pain Conditions
Recovery from Whiplash
Whiplash injuries affect the soft tissue of the body and sometimes more. Find out what kind of diagnosis, treatment and recovery is expected in most whiplash cases.
Signs and Symptoms
The Difference between a sign and a symptom lies in who is making the determination, and the subjectivity vs the objectivity of the back, neck or chronic pain.
Back Pain and Sleep - Morning Back Exercises - Stomach Lying
If you wake up feeling like your back is compressed, your disks and your back may thank you when you take a moment to do a back extension movement like stomach lying before getting out of bed. Part of avoiding back pain and stiffness for the day involves stretching your back when you wake up.
Lateral Flexion
Lateral flexion and side bending definition.
Sciatica - What is Sciatica?
Sciatic nerve pain, also known as sciatica is pain down the leg. Sciatic nerve pain is caused by irritation to the sciatic nerve. While sciatica is very common, it is caused by problems of the spine such as spinal stenosis or herniated disk. Learn more about sciatic nerve pain and sciatica.
Facet Joint
The facet joints of the spinal column is responsible for spinal stability.
Sex Tips
Back pain can get in the way of a fulfulling sex life. Here are some tips for enhancing your sex life and your relationship if one or more partner experiences back pain.
The Lumbar Spine
The Lumbosacral Joint or L5-S1 is where the lumbar spine meets the sacrum, and is the site of an injury called spondylolisthesis.
Back Pain and Sleep - Pillows Under the Legs May Help You Avoid Back Pain
Determining how to pillow under your legs can make a difference as to how much lower back strain and back pain you experience.
Back Pain and Comfortable Sleeping Positions
Providing your back, neck, hips and knees with pillowing can help you avoid back pain due to sleeping positions.
Cervical Spine Fusion
When neck surgery is the only option, persons with nerve root compression in their neck may undergo a cervical spine fusion.
Back Pain and Sleep - Support Your Hip, Spine and Neck
Back pain can be caused by unsupported sleeping positions. Learn ways you can provide support to your spine while you sleep, to avoid or minimize back pain.
Ideal Alignment
Ideal alignment, also known as standard posture is a mechanically efficient placement of the joints of the body.
Stretch Your Back First Thing In the Morning by Lengthening Your Spine
When you first wake up in the morning do you have back pain or stiffess in your back? Do you feel like your spine has been compressed. This gallery of images can give you some ideas on how to stretch your back first thing in the morning, to help eliminate back stiffness and pain.
Spondylolysis
Spondylolysis is a back injury that causes back pain. Spondylolysis is common with young competitive athletes, for example gymnasts and ballerinas. Spondylolysis can lead to spondylolisthesis. Spondylolysis can also occur in adults, especially those with lordosis.
Rolls
Is your neck stiff or sore? To stretch your neck you can do a neck roll exercise right at your desk or computer. Learn how to do a proper neck roll.
Cat-Cow-Spinal Alignment
The Cat-Cow Stretch is a pose that enjoys tremendous popularity in many systems of exercise and movement from yoga to pilates and core strengthening programs. The Cat-Cow Pose does many things, from establishing ideal spinal alignment to strengthening and stretching back muscles and developing coordinated spinal movement.
Back Pain Rating Tool - Recording Intensity of Back Pain with the Visual Analog
The Visual Analog Scale or VAS is used to help patients record and communicate the intensity of their back pain symptoms and their neck pain symptoms. Using the VAS to record the intensity of back pain or neck pain is a matter of making a visual mark to represent where your back pain symptoms are on a continuum from no pain to unbearable pain.
Back Stretches While at the Desk
Back Stretches at the Desk - Stretch Your Back at Your Desk
What is Meningitis?
Spinal meningitis affects the membranes and fluid of the brain. Meningitis can be bacterial meningitis or viral meningitis. Meningitis can be very serious, even fatal, or relatively easy, depending upon the cause of the infection.
Corner Stretch at the Wall
The corner stretch will get the pecs and work the upper back muscles. Try a corner stretch at the wall.
Sensory Neuron
Definition of a sensory neuron.
Spinal Stenosis
Signs and symptoms of spinal stenosis can range from sciatica to weakness and numbness in the legs and feet.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition that causes pain and is often preceded by spondylolysis. Treatment of spondylolisthesis is to reduce back pain and stabilize the spine. Learn more about spondylolisthhesis and spondylolisthesis treatment.
Stretch Your Back Stiffness Away by Lengthening Your Spine
When you first wake up in the morning do you have back pain or stiffess in your back? Do you feel like your spine has been compressed. This gallery of images can give you some ideas on how to stretch your back first thing in the morning, to help eliminate back stiffness and pain.
Spinal Cord Stimulator
Spinal cord stiimulators, also known as neurostimulators are used for chronic back pain conditions. Because spinal cord stimulation and neurostimulators are an invasive pain management strategy, weighing the risks and benefits can help in the decision to try this therapy.
Yoga for Back and Neck Pain
Yoga is a mind body exercise system that relieves back and neck pain and improves back and neck conditions. Yoga exercise for back pain will help stretch and strengthen back muscles, and help make a healthy back out of a bad back.
Range of Motion
Range of motion defined.
Recording Back Pain Symptoms - The Numeric Rating Scale for Expressing Back Pain
The Numeric Rating Scale is used to help patients record and communicate the intensity of their back pain symptoms and their neck pain symptoms. Using the NRS to record the intensity of back pain or neck pain is a matter or rating it numerically.
Vertebral Body
The vertebral body is a part of the vertebra or spine bone along with the pedicle lamina spinous process and transverse process.
Kinetic Chain
Closed and open kinetic chain exercises work with the principle of the kinetic chain to affect trunk stabilization, postural stabilization and core stability. Closed and open kinetic chain exercises are given as back stabilization exercise to sports and physical therapy patients in sports clinics and back schools at physical therapy clinics.
Back Pain and Sleep - Morning Back Exercises - Back Extension w/ Arms
If you wake up feeling like your back is compressed, your disks and your back may thank you when you take a moment to do a back extension movement before getting out of bed. Part of avoiding back pain and stiffness for the day involves stretching your back when you wake up.
Acute Low Back Pain
Acute low back pain is a backache that results from a back injury such as back strain, or a back condition. Learn about symptoms, causes, and treatments for acute low back pain.
Myofascial and Fibromyalgia
Myofascial pain and fibromyalgia share similarities such as tender points and muscle pain. But do you know what the differences are between fibro and myofascial pain? This article presents them.
Pilates
Pilates is a system of exercises that develops core strength by working abdominal muscles. Pilates and derivatives of Pilates such as pre-Pilates, trunk strengthening and other abdominal workouts are often useful in reducing back pain.
Water Exercise Benefits
The special properties of water can provide you with excellent benefits if you are healing a back injury. Water exercise - aquatic therapy - can help strengthen back muscles, increase flexibility, improve joint range-of-motion and decrease back pain.
What is Piriformis Syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome is a rare type of sciatica. Piriformis syndrome causes pain in the buttock area, as well as down the leg.
Back and Neck Pain Treatments
Back and neck pain treatments include surgery, chronic pain medication, alternative and integrative medicine for back and neck pain, therapeutic back exercises and more.
Poor Posture
Posture is a form of core fitness in which good alignment is supported by muscles. Unfortunately for many people, good posture is often supplanted by poor posture. Poor posture is caused by many things including stress, shoes, injury, and movement habits, to name a few.
Yoga for your Back
People with back pain have to be extra careful when trying out exercise and movement to help themselves. Yes, doing yoga for your back may give you the benefit of pain relief, but establishing a yoga for back pain practice that is safe and meaningful for your condition requires that you know more about why and how to do selected yoga poses than the average yoga student. It also means that you should know when not to do a pose, so that you can avoid making your back pain worse.
Degenerative Disk
Degenerative Disk Disease or DDD is a term used to describe a condition of intervertebral disks when they break down. Disk disease includes herniated disks, bulging disks, slipped disks and other disk related back conditions.
Parts of the Vertebra - Pedicle
The pedicle is a part of the vertebra extending from the vertebral body. The pedicle is not the same as the lamina.
Chronic Pain
Definition of chronic pain.
Sciatic Nerve
Sciatic nerve pain is also called sciatica, and is caused by the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is responsible for leg pain in cases of sciatica. Learn more about the sciatic nerve and sciatica.
Who is at Risk for Sciatica?
Certain types of people are at a higher risk for sciatica than others. Find out if you are at a higher risk of sciatica.
Neuropathic Pain
Nerve pain is called neuropathic pain and is a nervous system problem in which a nerves are damaged or disrupted. If you have neck weakness, it's possible you may have neuropathic pain. Sciatic nerve pain is also common. Neuropathic pain is entirely different than acute, nocioceptive pain.
Healthy Work
On a daily basis, ergonomics is important for your back and neck. Find out why so many people are paying attention to ergonomics, workstation design and computer related injuries.
Counteract the Computer Hunchover with the Opposite Movement - Back Extension
Finding yourself humped over your computer? Come on, now, be honest! Time for a stretch break. A good way to counteract the hunching is to do the opposite movement - back extension. This back extension movement is taken from the yoga sun salutation and will strengthen you back muscles. Take that stretch break --- now!
Muscle Spasm
Muscle spasm occurs in large muscle groups after injury or strain to the back.
Family and Friends
If chronic back pain or chronic neck pain has you living with pain, understanding chronic pain management may be your best friend in finding relief from pain and making best use of treatment options.
The Whiplash Impact
What happens during a rear-end car collision that causes whiplash injury? The whiplash impact is described here along with a way to prevent it.
Cervical Spine
Define the cervical spine.
Getting Out of Bed
If you have a sore or stiff back or back pain after sleeping, here are some tips on how to protect your back in the morning.
Sprain
Neck sprain can occur after a whiplash injury. Back sprain, while not as common as other types of sprain, might occur after a sudden trauma. Both back and neck sprain might be due to repeated overuse and joint stress.
Meningitis
Meningitis - Neck Pain Caused by Infection
Diagnosing Back and Neck Pain
Getting a medical diagnosis for back pain or neck pain requires you accurate report your back or neck pain symptoms to your medical doctor. Doctors use the medical history, a physical exam and sometimes imaging or lab tests to come up with a diagnosis for your back or neck.
Back Pain and Sleep - Early Morning Back Exercises - Back Extension
This back extension movement can be done gently to wake the spine up from a night of compression.
Spinal Column
Spinal column and vertebral column discussed. What is the spinal column?
Types
Injections that can relieve back and neck pain come in several varieties including epidurals, nerve blocks, trigger point injections and soft tissue injections.
Preventing Back Pain
If you have a stiff neck, or back pain, look to your lifestyle. Here are 10 tips for preventing back pain.
Amitriptyline for Back Pain
Amitriptyline, brand name Elavil for chronic back pain or neuropathic pain has a different dosage than amitriptyline and Elavil for depression. For chronic back pain and other neuropathic pain Elavil and other amitriptyline drugs are tricyclic antidepressants that be given effectively at a low dose.
Parasthesia
Some spinal conditions send nerve pain, tingling and other sensations down the legs. Peripheral neuropathies often result in pins and needles technically called parasthesia .
Core Support
Core support and core strength can be gotten by working on trunk strength and abdominal strength. Exercises such as Pilates and cores stabilization work will exercise the deep abdominals ancd create healthy posture and alignment.
Wall Squats
Wall squats strengthen the muscles of the hips, legs and abs. Wall squats help will posture especially sitting posture.
Spinal Nerves and Back Pain
The spine is made of 26 interconnected bones. Nerves exit out holes on the side of the spine and play an important role in the presence or absence of back pain.
Spinal Curves
Spinal curves (lordosis and kyphosis) are significant.
Missionary Position
For people with back pain, the missionary position may not keep their back safe and free from pain. Sexual activity when back pain is present needs special considerations and the missionary position - while it can be tailored - is not always the best sexual position for back pain sufferers.
Trigger Points
Trigger points, hyperirritable spots on muscles, are the cause of myofascial pain syndrome, and often affect the muscles of posture.
Parts of a Vertebra - The Lamina
The lamina is a part of the vertebra that connects to the spinous process.
Skelaxin - Metaxalone
Skelaxin - Metaxalone is a skeletal muscle relaxant, shown to produce medically significant results in patients with spasm and decreased ROM. Be careful, metaxalone may cause drowsiness.
Counteract Hunching
Experts recommend that those of us working at our desk for long periods of time be sure to take mini-breaks to save our hands and back. This is a description of a simple back extension exercise taken from the yoga sun salutation and recommended by the American Physical Therapy Association.
Rectus Abdominis Muscle
Rectus Abdominis Muscle - Definition
Back Pain Overview
Types and categories of back pain, including specific and non-specific back pain, neck pain, hip pain, neuropathy.
Parts of a Vertebra - The Facet Joint
The facet joint helps the individual spinal bones connect as a a unit, making the spinal column. The facet joint is a key player in keeping the entire spinal column stable as one unit with many interlocking pieces.
Fusion and Discectomy?
Spinal fusion addresses disc problems by fusing the vertebrae together. But is spinal fusion necessary in all discectomies and back surgeries addressing disc problems?
Thoracic Spine
Define throacic spine, or T-spine, which is located in the mid and upper back area, at the same level as the ribcage.
Neck Sprain Symptoms
Neck sprains have several defining symptoms, none the least of which is neck pain, of course. Find out what the symptoms of neck sprain are. Neck sprain is a different injury then neck or back strain.
Botox for Chronic Pain
Botox is made from botulinum toxin type A, a type of food poisoning. Pain medicine doctors have begun using it for chronic back pain. Botox is also used to take away wrinkles. Because Botox is a poisoning, extreme care should be taken in deciding upon a Botox treatment for chronic back or neck pain.
Sacrum - Sacral
The sacrum, or sacral spine is a part of the lower spine.
Cobra
The basic movement of the Cobra pose is to arch the spine backward as you lie on the floor on your stomach. While a great stretch, it poses special concerns for people with back pain.
Yoga for Spinal Flexibility
For people with back pain, yoga may help relieve back pain. Yoga for back pain should be done so that the spine moves in balance. This will help strengthen back muscles and abdominals, as well as provide equal stretching to back and ab muscles.
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