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Back Support Reduces Pain!

Backaches and Sciatica

Does your lower back ache all the time? Do you sit at a desk or in a car most of your day? Well then…it’s no wonder that your back hurts. So, what are you doing to support it?

Sitting for long periods of time can result in spinal compression which places a lot of stress on your lower (lumbar) spine. This type of daily stress causes backaches, and when the cause (sitting) is constant, so is the pain.

It’s important to maintain correct posture while sitting. Have you ever noticed the number of people who sit at their desks all hunched over? When you sit, your weight shifts from your feet to your buttocks and thighs. It’s important to position yourself to keep your spine in what’s known as a “neutral” position, so you can maintain your proper spinal curves and allow the discs, muscles and ligaments to share in supporting the spine and keeping it balanced. When the spine is not in a neutral position, the result is too much pressure on the lumbar spine.

Are there ways to maintain proper posture to help avoid or at least relieve your back pain? Why not try some of these suggestions?

• Sit properly with your feet flat on the floor and your back against the chair. Relax your shoulders (don’t hunch them!) and rest your arms lightly on the arm rests of your chair. Your hips should be higher than your knees and your knees should be bent slightly.

• Invest in a lumbar support pillow (there are numerous kinds), or use a rolled up towel or a roll of paper towels, if the chair you sit in doesn’t have any type of built in lumbar support that you can adjust. Proper lumbar support is important because it maintains spinal curves and prevents muscle fatigue.

• When driving, adjust your seat for your leg length and the lumbar support cushion (if your car is equipped with this feature) to support your lower spine. If your car is not equipped with any type of lumbar support, consider investing in a lumbar support pillow, especially if you drive long hours.

• Get up and stretch your legs every 15 minutes or so.

• Reduce stress as much as possible to keep muscles from tightening.

And let’s not forget the importance of chiropractic adjustments! Keep to your regular appointment schedule to help reduce the effects of sitting for long periods. This is far better than popping a pill every time your back aches! If you’re interested in other tips to relieve lower back pain, be sure to ask on your next visit.

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Dr. Shakib Asks some important questions of interest to Irvine residents - Chiropractor Irvine Dr. Shakib Asks...

Where do most Irvine residents get their first vertebral subluxation complex?
Being born in a hospital is a common source of vertebral subluxation complex. Trauma from forceps delivery has been replaced with drugs, vacuum extraction, Cesarean section and births that are "scheduled" to fit the workweek routines of Ob-Gyns. That's why we recommend a chiropractic checkup for every Irvine newborn.
Are chiropractors just concerned with the spine?
Our interest in the spine is because it covers the major communications conduit between your brain and your body. As a Irvine chiropractor my job is to locate areas (usually along the spine) that interfere with proper nerve communications to and from your brain. Chiropractic adjustments help restore nervous system integrity. In this way, chiropractic care can affect the function of your entire body.