How To Maintain A Healthy Lower Back

The purpose of this article is not to treat folks who have lower back pain. Rather, it is a prevention guide - for those who want to avoid developing any such pain. Seventy-five percent of the population has lower back problems. Many people sit behind a desk for the majority of the day. This results in weakening of the lower back and an improper posture, which can result in back pain in the future. To counteract this less than ideal posture, lower back exercises are paramount. And the good news is that they are exercises that don't necessarily need incredibly expensive machines. When the hips are flexed at a ninety-degree angle, our lower back takes the form of a huge C. The exercises that our Houston chiropractors are going to share will help to mitigate the damage done by the development of this massive C shaped lower back posture. Essentially, you want to maintain spinal flexibility. You want to stretch the shorter muscles, as well as strengthen the weak muscles affecting the spine and hips. Practically all competent chiropractors in Houston recommend exercising the lower back on a regular basis - at least once every other day.

The maintenance of a healthy lower back demands repetitive exercises that balance your movements. This is incredibly important. Folks who don't deign do these exercises will struggle in their later years. The older they get, the weaker their back will get, and the harder it will be to return to a state of lower back stability. Stability is the magic word here. To get into tip-top shape, one needs to keep stability in mind. The best and only exercise you really need to do is the trunk lift. The trunk lift, not to be confused with the lower ab stretch, is an exercise that strengthens the lower back. Lay flat on your belly and lift your chest and neck up from the floor. Do this as many times as possible, but make sure you stop if you feel any sort of pain. Sometimes your back posture can get so messed up that any sort of peculiar movement can cause terrible pain. Of course, if the pain is fairly innocuous, then it is suggested to keep going. It will take several months before one sees any noticeable improvements. Hopefully the slow progress won't cause anyone to throw in the towel. Sometimes folks can get discouraged if they don't see any changes right away. Our Houston chiropractors beseech everyone to not give up so early. This is a matter of remaining physically healthy late in one's life vs. feeble, listless, and in a state of dotage.

The aforementioned exercise is done by practically every professional athlete. The soccer players, the football players, even the baseball players spend a lot of time strengthening the lower back. The reason for this is that once tha lower back gives in, so will the rest of the body. One cannot perform at a high level if his or her back is in great pain. If that happens, then these players won't even be able to play. If they can't play, they may not get the best contracts possible. But for the rest of us, the contract stuff isn't necessarily that important. What is most important is remaining happy in our lives. It's definitely hard to remain happy if one's health is deteriorating. That is why the said exercise is of utmost importance.

If you have back pain, make an effort to find a health care provider who employs a multi-disciplinary approach. You want him or her to grok how and when to employ the following treatment protocols: a hands-on treatment of soft tissue, spinal joint mobilization techniques, and strengthening and rehabilitation exercises for the appropriate muscle groups. Don't put this off. The longer you wait, the worse it is going to get. In order to stay healthy and active, one's weakest link must become his or her strongest.

How Flip Flops Lead to Foot Problems

Even though summer is beginning to come to an end, and even though school is right around thy corner, the warmer weather is still around for a few more months. The nature of this warm weather results in folks deciding to wear sandals and flip flops. These sandals can be quite stylish, but it is crucial to wear them only once-in-a-while. If a person wears them too frequently, these shoes can really cause a bunch of complications, like acute foot pain.

Toe Pain

Because sandals solely possess a small band of fabric or rubber that holds the foot in place, the toes take a compensatory role by working super difficult. To fasten the shoes from slipping off, the little digits have to grip the soles. With continuous wear, the toes can get used and used and used and this repetitive muscle action necessarily triggers tendinosis. Every chiropractor at Chiropractic Clinic Houston is cognizant of not only the causes of tendinosis and tedonitis, but the cure for both of them as well. This debilitating injury is basically an inflammation of a tendon or two and the particular connective muscles. The condition can be excruciating - left untreated, this injury can lead to a tearing or rupturing of the tendons.

A great deal of sandal wear leads to an extremely painful condition called Hammer Toes. This condition makes the joints in the toes contract and leaves the actual toes bent in abnormal, uncomfortable positions. Often times, this condition leads to the development of a bunion or two, something nobody wants. Bunions are not only unprepossessing, but they are painful. Depending on the location of the bunion, the wearing of shoes becomes very uncomfortable. People end up wearing flip flops, because the shoes rub against the bunion. What happens as a result of this is that the flip flops cause other problems, like plantar fasciitis, leading to even more foot problems

Ankle, Back & Hip Pain

Due to the fact that flip flops aren't securely attached to the foot, this leads to an alteration in the way one circumambulates. It's certainly possible to not even notice when this happens. Even though it isn't evident, your body detects that there is indeed a problem. A multitude end up taking short steps in an attempt to make sure their shoes stay fastened to both feet. Society as a whole also tends to drag their feet, hitting their heels to the ground. This results in less vertical force than if one were walking in normal fashion. A combination of these things can cause a bunch of ruckus, throwing off your normal balance and triggering pain throughout one's body. Back issues, ankle issues, or knee issues, and sometimes even hip issues usually ensue.

Plantar Fasciitis

With reference to other injuries, plantar fasciitis is among the most debilitating. People with plantar fasciitis end up having very flat feet. A person with plantar fasciitis has difficulty making quick cuts. They cannot go for long runs, they cannot jump. This means that folks with plantar fasciitis can no longer play sports. So, for the athlete, the message is clear: do not wear flip flops or sandals; wearing them will result in debilitating injuries that can jeopardize an entire sports career.

Sandals aren't only flimsy, but also flat. Flat shoes lack support. This lack of support be very painful and uncomfortable. There exists an incredibly thick string of tissue running along the lower portion of the foot from the heel to the ball of the foot. This particular sinewy strand, known as the plantar fascia, is what makes the arch of the foot. As mentioned earlier, plantar fasciitis is something athletes want to avoid. With it, they can't perform. But it is important for everyone to make an effort to avoid plantar fasciitis. With plantar fasciitis,everyday activities, like walking up stairs, taking out the trash, or going to the gym, become very difficult.

Better Choice Flip Flops

Not all sandals are equal. Below, we have listed several things you need to look for when you pick out your next pair of summer slip-ons.

• Size Really Does Matter: Make certain you find a pair that fits properly. Your toes and heels should be fully on sole, nothing hanging off.
• Proper Bend: The shoe should only bend at the ball of the foot. Bending right down the middle means a flimsy shoe.
• Good Support: A thicker sole and a little bump in the middle creates more arch support than a thin, flat shoe.
• More Straps: It is best to buy a pair of shoes with a back strap or multiple straps to hold your foot nice and snug.

Better Posture: It's More Important Than You Think

Everybody has had someone tell them: "Straighten up! Quit slouching!" And sure, straightening up does help you look thinner and more virile, but that's not the only reason why you should be standing up straight. A straight spine actually improves the functioning of one's organs and can also make less severe any chronic pain.

Why Good Posture?

When you slouch, your rib cage presses down against your organs. This pressure results in problems with digestion. By not slouching, there is far more space between your ribs and organs. This allows your organs to work properly.

A great posture helps you take in deeper breaths, which significantly increases oxygen intake. Folks who hunch over give their lungs less room to fill up per breath, leading to a short-of-breathing problem.

Bettering one's posture also helps mitigate acute neck, shoulder and/or back problems. People who slouch tend to get Upper Cross Syndrome. If a person straightens his or her spine, that person essentially retrains his or her respective body to go back to that coveted neutral spine position. A person who first tries to straighten up feels a lot of resistance. It is awkward and uncomfortable at first. But gradually, with time, the body becomes used to sitting and standing in a more upright position. Once one reaches this stage, he will have much less pain. He will have more energy. His life will improve in ways that he couldn't really imagine.

How We Can Help

You now know why slouching can be a problem. Yes, it looks bad, but it goes further than that. Those suffering from upper back pain need to first take note of their posture. Chances are great that poor posture is leading to extra strain on the back. If you're suffering from nagging back pain, you can get in touch with our Houston chiropractors. They have helped a slew of Houstonians redevelop that proper stance, leading to healthier lives. Our chiropractors will observe and identify the main cause of the pain and will manually fix it. Read More.