THE CHALLENGE OF TREATING BACK PAIN
Back pain is the second most common diagnosis seen by physicians in their offices. 85% of the US population will suffer an episode of back pain sometime in their life. Why is this? A lot has to do with the design of our body. It is the price we pay for walking upright on two legs. In humans, the force of gravity pulls directly down through the vertical spine compressing it together over the years. In other mammals such as horses, apes and cows, the spine is horizontal and the pull of gravity does not compress the spine together. Most back pain falls under the category of mechanical back pain, meaning the mechanics of the movement are not correct. The spine has to move in intricate ways to make whole movements of bending, extending and twisting. Therefore, the “mechanics” of the spine are important in order for all the vertebrae (the bones) to be able to move. Mechanical back pain means that the joints, muscles and ligaments of the spine are not moving correctly at the right time. This can cause increased strain on certain parts of your back, especially the very lower back. Why do the mechanics of the spine change and cause pain? This is due to a variety of reasons including small injuries from lifting heavy objects, bending, twisting, repetitive strain, accidents, weakness from prolonged sitting and changes in your core strength. In today’s world, most of our daily activities involve sitting which causes the abdominal and back muscles to weaken. This in turn lessens the necessary support to the spine, causing strain. The strain causes inflammation, which leads to pain. Back pain can be localized to the back area or even radiate into the buttocks or backs of the legs. Millions of people a year rely on over the counter medication and back braces to get through their day. However, the unfortunate reality is that
unless treated properly, 75% of people with back problems will have another episode of their back pain. This is because the cause of the problem, the mechanical movement, is not addressed by treating it with drugs or a hot pack. More and more people with back pain are realizing the full benefits of our specialized hands on physical therapy to address the cause of their back pain and understand what they can do to have lasting relief. Call us today to learn more how we can help quickly relieve your back pain!
HEALTHY RECIPE
Zucchini Linguine
INGREDIENTS • 1 lb tomatoes, finely chopped • 1 tablespoon chopped basil • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 small red chile, seeded & minced • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 12 ounces linguine • 3 baby zucchini, thinly sliced • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
DIRECTIONS In a large bowl, toss the tomatoes with the basil, parsley, garlic, salt, chile and olive oil. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the linguine; drain well. Add the linguine to the bowl along with the sliced zucchini and toss. Add the 1/4 cup of grated cheese, toss again and serve in bowls, passing more cheese at the table.
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