Neck pain is, well, a pain in the neck. There are few other minor inconveniences that generate quite so much irritation. Not unlike our backs, we tend to take our necks for granted. The ability to turn our heads is something we rarely think about, until we can’t do it comfortably. Keeping neck muscles stretched and flexible goes a long way to preventing chronic neck pain. Stretching out Those Tight Muscles - Your neck most likely hurts because the muscles supporting your head have gotten too tight. By stretching certain muscles you should not only succeed in reducing your neck pain, you should see in improvement in your range of motion. SCM - The sternocleidomastoid muscle runs, in two branches, from the center of your collarbone to a bone right behind your ear. It helps turn your head and lets you nod. To stretch it, turn your head to one side as far as you can comfortably. Grasp your head with your hands, gently, with one hand on the front facing forehead and one behind the neck to support the head. Gently, using no more than about 20% of your strength, try to turn the head back to forward, pushing against the hand on the forehead. Hold it for about 5 seconds and slowly release the tension. Don’t force your stretch until you feel pain, as there is no advantage to pain. Repeat three to five times per side. Upper Traps and Levator Scap - These muscles make up that triangle you see over your shoulder. To stretch them, lay your head to one side, as if you want to touch your shoulder with your ear. Grasp your head with the arm that corresponds to the side your head is facing. In other word, if your right ear is resting on your right shoulder, use your right hand. As your hand provides resistance, try to straighten the head, gently, with about 20% of your force. Again, hold for 5 seconds before releasing gently and repeat 3 times on each side. All those Extensor Muscles in the Neck - From the little subocciptials to the bigger splenii, these muscles help pull your head back and assist in turning. When you get that tight, painful feeling at the base of your skull, these are the muscles that are firing off pain signals. Bend your neck as far forward as is comfortable. Using both hands, as if you are planning to do a sit up in a standing position, gently grasp the head in both hands. Just as before, gently resist the pull of the hands, as if you want to straighten your head. Use 20% of your force and release slowly after about 5 seconds. Repeat three times. Those three stretches in combination will hit just about all the neck muscles that are easily accessible. As long as your neck pain comes from simple muscle stiffness, you should feel some degree of relief from your neck pain. Realize that most people with tight necks will need to do this set of stretches daily, sometimes even several times a day, at least at first. www.HealthSourceOfWoodbury.com Would Like To Present You With A Limited Time Complimentary Consultation, A $179.00 Value. Call 1-888-977-6734 Today To Find A Chiropractic Office Near You.

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Tags: lumbar pain, back pain treatment, lumbar stabilixation, severe back pain, exercise for low back pain, lower back pain relief

Spinal decompression treatment and therapy are procedures for treating the acute and chronic pain that is the result of bulging, herniated, and/or degenerated discs. Decompression treatment is divided into two categories, surgical and non-invasive, and each has its own parameters. Surgical Spinal Decompression Treatment - Surgical Decompression treatment is an invasive procedure designed to relieve pressure (compression) to the spinal cord as well as nerve roots. This procedure has about an 85% success rate of relieving pain. Patients who undergo this treatment can expect to stay in the hospital four to five days, will be given medications to control pain, and can expect a lengthy recovery period, which will include regular physical therapy sessions. As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks including infection, allergic reaction to anesthesia, and nerve damage to name a few. Also, pain relief does not mean that the underlying cause has been healed. Your surgeon and the medical staff will thoroughly review all aspects of the procedure making sure you understand all the risks and recuperative processes. Another invasive, though less so, procedure that has come into practice is Percutaneous Laser Surgery. This procedure utilizes local anesthesia and is performed on an outpatient basis. The process involves making a small incision in the back and using a small laser to evaporate excess liquid that has accumulated in the disc. Recovery takes less than a week and is a third the cost of surgical decompression. Non-surgical Spinal Decompression Treatment - This type of decompression is a non-invasive, drug free treatment for back pain from disc degeneration, bulging, and herniation. The procedure involves using a specialized device that slowly and gently separates the vertebrae; as they separate, the pressure within the discs is lessened creating a small vacuum. This vacuum, in effect, pulls the disc’s fluid back toward its center relieving the pressure on the spinal nerves. Therapy is conducted on an outpatient basis and lasts less than half-an-hour. Most patients report positive results in as little as six visits. As with invasive treatments, relief from pain does not mean that the underlying causes of back pain have been healed, so it is critical to keep working with your healthcare professional in order to realize the full benefits. The main benefits to this method of decompression treatment are that it is pain-free, non-invasive, and there is no time lost to recuperation. Invasive (except laser) and non-invasive decompressions have had extensive research studies conducted. The effectiveness of both has been well-documented and each has been successful in relieving pain. In order of preference in the medical community, patients should be recommended to pursue non-invasive measures first, as surgery, though the success rate is high, is viewed as a final option. Laser treatment is still a relatively new treatment procedure, and the literature chronicling its applications is limited. Its appeal rests on being minimally invasive, a short recovery time, and its considerably lower cost. The lack of data concerning long-term success is a drawback, but that information will become available over time.

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Tags: chronic back pain, back pain treatment, cause of back pain, lower back pain relief, lumbar stabilixation, lower back pain exercises

There’s a common trend that people tend to follow when trying for weight loss - a trend that people of all nationalities, and age groups flock towards. It’s called “quick and easy”. To obtain that weight loss pot of gold at the end of the rainbow most of us have tried some pretty desperate tactics. Shaking the Weight Away - The evolution of weight loss methods has been a very interesting road. Sometime around 1983 a memorable fitness machine got introduced to the public under the name of “rolling machine”. The rolling machine had a wide belt attached to a base similar to a treadmill. The person would stand on the base with the belt across the thigh, abdomen, or buttocks. Then, while standing firmly the belt would begin to shake away unwanted pounds and cellulite. Since then other creations have come on the scene with a different look, but operating using the same basic technique. The only problem is that for the average person, the cost is unaffordable, and while there may be positive outcomes, it doesn’t address the mindset someone should have in order to keep the weight off. Speed up to Slim Down - The fortunate who are born to be skinny are all around us. A close friend or family member who appears to eat anything they want in whatever size quantity and never gain a pound has given scientists an inside look into our body functions. Apparently, these people have a super active metabolism. Their bodies literally burn calories while eating and doing everyday tasks. So after years of research, pills began to show up on the market advertising the same fat burning ability to all. Ranging from $25 for the on the shelf version, to $100 for the prescribed version, these pills have made their mark. Scores of people testify that the product works, while others struggle with the side effects. The extra “boost” sometimes feels overwhelming, creating a “jittery” experience. Cutting the Pounds Away - For many it’s been extremely helpful being able to have a surgery that removed their body fat. The truth is not everyone is just a few pounds away from their ideal weight, and for some obesity has literally taken over their life. While the procedure is certainly not recommended for everyone, it is one that is effective for those who undergo it. When a person really desires to lose weight, it doesn’t seem so important that it comes off instantly, as much as permanently. The quick and easy weight loss methods offered now are excellent options, but should be combined with a trained professional’s advice. Chiropractic health offices around the United States are staffed with bariatric doctors who are full of useful insights. Taking the time to speak with a licensed medical doctor of chiropractic care could save you a lot of time and money. In no time at all they could have you on a successful nutritional plan that can get you on the healthy weight road you’ve been aiming for. www.HealthSourceOfPortlandWest.com

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