iandol on wed 12 jul 00
Dear Milton,
Pleased to hear you are recovering after that surgery.
"Treat your own back" is by Robin McKenzie. Spinal publications, =
Waikanae, New Zealand.
Even better is "Overcome Neck and Back Pain" by Kit Loughlin, Viacom =
International. ISBN 0684852527. There is a new edition.=20
There are several reasons why back pain may develop without prior trauma =
or direct injury.
Research done at the School of Physiotherapy in Adelaide, S. Australia =
directs attention to the antagonism between groups of muscles inside and =
outside the spinal column, between the trapezius and deep spinal muscles =
which extend from the upper neck to the base of the spine at the coccyx, =
and the Ilio-psoas group which connects the inner thigh bone to the =
lumbar spine inside our bodies. When these groups contract together they =
bring pressure to bear on the soft tissues between the lumber vertebrae, =
put pressure on the sciatic nerve and, hey presto, agony without =
anything being out of place. Short hamstrings are also a factor to =
consider.
Another often unrecognised problem is congenital. Up to 20% of the =
population may have a misdirected sciatic nerve which branches through =
the Pyriformis muscle. Excess tension on this bit of flesh pinches the =
nerve to give pain in the legs. This can be misdiagnosed as disc trauma =
or displaced bones because it presents almost identical symptoms. Get a =
competent diagnosis before rushing to the chiropractor for spinal =
manipulation.
Last but not least are those weak abdominal muscles which supply half =
the strength needed to keep us upright. These get overloaded with a =
brewers goitre which sags forward. The muscles are not strong enough to =
give support, transfer the load to the rear and guess what? Intense =
lower back pain.
My suggestion to everyone is to develop a program of benign stretching. =
If you can afford it, find a Trainer, go to a gym. I do. There are lots =
of books which cover this but the basic thing to do is to stretch or =
extend and hold at the distance you reach in comfort for four long deep =
breath cycles, between 15 and 30 seconds. And work on those ABS!!! Try =
to find, "Stretching for fitness, health and performance" by C.A.Oswald =
and S.N.Basco, ISBN 0-8069-0985-4. Do not go Ballistic with excessive =
swings, you may cause painful damage with the overload.
Sorry to have been so long winded but this information may help prevent =
injury as well as cure a chronic condition.
The best of health to everyone,
Regards,
Ivor. One of those potters who prefers to sit to throw until the pots =
get too high to reach into, then stand to finish.
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