Memory Foam

Remember that silly song we sang that talked about all the various bones in our body and what’s connected to what?  As silly as that song was, it was speaking more truth than we may have given it credit.  Our bones are connected to each other, in more ways than one.

 Poor posture can lead to astonishing discomfort and back pain.  Correctly supporting the lower end of the spine corrects your overall posture which means your neck and shoulders as well.  A pain in the neck can lead to a pain in the butt!  By taking care of your overall posture, the whole body will thank-you.

To help in this endeavour, a lumbar support pillow may be considered.  These pillows are easily placed behind your back and are a convenient size to travel with in the car or to take to the office.  The great advantage is how these pillows conform to the natural curve of the spine, which properly aligns your spine and benefits the whole body.

Somewhere along the way, society has equated being a good employee with working long, hard hours.  We have placed ourselves into a vicious cycle of working late, grabbing fast-food meals, sleeping less than eight hours, not exercising and then starting the next day doing the same thing all over again!  This pattern is taking it’s toll on our health, our marriages and family life.

Our bodies were made to “talk” to us by the various ailments or aches and pains we may feel.  The question is when are we going to start listening to them?  What would your aching back be saying to you…let’s see.

If your back could talk would it ask you to move around and stretch every so often during the work day?  Would it ask you NOT to stay until dark three times a week at the office?  Would your back enjoy a walk or run for 30 minutes 5 times a week and perhaps some muscle strengthening exercises?  If you were to ask your back about sleep, it may say “I require at least 7-8 hours every night with supportive, comfortable pillows to keep everything aligned”.

Why don’t you and your back consider a memory foam spinal back pillow?  This pillow may start a relationship with your aching back that will last a lifetime!

Has your back been bothering you after a long, hard day at the office?  Have you been thinking it may be time to purchase a new office chair?  Wait, read this article and perhaps we can save you money!

Having lumbar support in your office chair can greatly reduce pain and anxiety.  The support helps to aid your back’s natural S-shape position.  When pressed against the small of your back, the lumbar support also keeps the hips and shoulders properly aligned.

With all of us being money conscious, an alternative to throwing away your existing office chair is the purchase of a full lumbar roll.  The full lumbar roll provides you with the perfect contours to provide your back with support and comfort.  The convenient size of the roll permits for quick “pick up and go”, allowing you to even use it in the car and at home, if you like.

This may be the easiest solution to reduce stress to your body - give it a try!

As people age, they become more susceptible to common aches and pains. Years of manual labor can take a hard toll on the lower back, and costly pills and ointments aren’t always the best solution. Heat therapy is one cheap, easy way to relieve back pain. Just take a hot water bottle or a special heat pouch filled with rice and heat up the contents. Then apply it at the site of the soreness, allowing the soothing heat to relax tense back muscles and disrupt pain signals on their way to the brain.

You might also try to nip lower-back pain in the bud by keeping a back support pillow at home and at the office. These pillows keep the spine aligned properly and offer a modicum of support where it’s most needed. Slouching and other manifestations of poor posture only serve to aggravate bad backs, so you should take every step possible to keep the pain from returning.

My wife and I jokingly refer to my time spent on the high school football team as the “glory days.” Although I still have a passion for watching football, I haven’t played it since the first game of my senior season, when a 250-pound linebacker wrestled me to the turf. I was a highly touted quarterback with plenty of college prospects in my future, and our team had been expected to win a state championship. But that was before the tackle.

No serious permanent damage was done, but I still have occasional flare-ups in which my back begins to throb with pain. I have a vast array of medicated creams and pills to alleviate the problem, but I’ve found that a lumbar support pillow staves off backaches better than any other precaution. Whether I’m at home watching a game on TV or driving to work, I rely on the pillow to provide the support I need.

In the last few weeks we have included some suggestions to help keep your back in it’s best condition and this week we have our final five to continue to aid in relieving annoying back-pain.

1. Magnesium is known to help maintain normal muscle and nerve function so it may be worth your time to visit your family doctor to determine if you are magnesium deficient.
2. It may be time to consider purchasing a new mattress!  The firmness of your mattress can affect your lower back.  A medium firm mattress is believed to be the best according to a study done in Spain.  You may want to explore the possibility of a memory foam mattress.  You can begin your research with testing a memory foam pillow and once you discover it’s benefit you may want more of a good thing!
3. A regular massage may be just what the doctor ordered!  Massages can reduce stress and loosen up any tight muscles.
4. The power of a tennis ball may surprise you!  If you place it under the part of your back that is hurting, while laying flat or standing against a wall, it will relieve the tightness of the muscle that is hurting as the pressure is placed on it.
5. There are other devices that can be purchased which aid in strengthening and stretching lower back muscles, such as the inverter table.  If you are considering any product, ensure it’s safety for your body.

Does this sound like a typical day for you…You sit in a car to drive to work 30 minutes or longer.  You arrive at your office to sit in your desk chair for the next eight hours and then drive home sitting once again in your car for another 30 minutes or longer.  You walk into your home to sit down at the dinner-table and after you’ve enjoyed the meal, you sit or lay down on the couch to watch television!

That is a recipe for disaster for our bodies.  We are increasing our risk for obesity, back pain, leg cramps and tense muscles.  Here are some easy tips and exercises you can do right at your desk. 

• Firstly, ensure the desk chair is at the proper height, reducing the strain on your back.
• Check your posture at your desk.  Your lower spine should be flat against the back of the chair.  A pillow inserted can be a tremendous aid for you to maintain proper curvature.
• First exercise tip is to cross your legs in the chair with your feet on the seat.  Placing your hands on the armrest, hold your tummy in, and raise yourself in the air and hold for 10-20 seconds.  Rest for 30 seconds and then repeat five times. This will work your core and arms.
• For lower body strength, sit in your chair with one leg extended in front of you.  Hold this position for two seconds and then raise your leg up as high as you can and hold it for another two seconds.  Do this for both legs fifteen times.
• Instead of using email to send a message to your co-worker, get up and walk to their desk and give them a personal visit.  The change in position will be good for your body.

Instead of having another doughnut from the coffee room, encourage your co-workers to join you.  That may also stop they funny looks you may receive from them!  They will be glad they did when their bodies begin to feel better!

If you have or are presently suffering from lower back pain you will find this article interesting.  A simple act may change the way you feel.  We should not overlook the importance of stretching and developing the discipline of doing it every day.  When we consider the benefits to stretching: 

• improved circulation
• reduced tension
• relieved back and shoulder pain
• reduced stress

We will no doubt want to take the few minutes each day to include some stretches!

Aging on our bodies is not always kind to us and one of those side-effects can be tighter muscles and joints which limits the ease with which we can move.  Of course, a lack of flexibility will make it harder to take part in the activities we may enjoy such as biking, hiking or walking.

Before stretching, warm up your muscles with a brisk walk and then hold a stretch for 20-30 seconds.  Avoid bouncing when stretching as that may tear a muscle.  Stretch throughout the day for a few minutes at one time.

This is a simple way to help take care of your back pain.  We also recommend our four-in-one pillow to comfort your back while reading, working at your desk or sleeping.

Try using this simple formula today!

We have included more ways to help you, we hope,  live pain-free with your back!

1. Avoid lifting heavy objects where possible.  If lifting is required, ensure proper body positioning, by bending slightly at the knees and lifting with your legs, not your back.  Keep your back as straight as possible with the object close to your body.  Don’t be afraid to ask someone for help in lifting heavier objects!
2. If a back injury has occurred, place an ice pack on the area to reduce swelling.  Once the swelling has decreased heat can be applied.
3. An active lifestyle is good as circulation to your muscles is created when participating in aerobic exercise.  Increased circulation can reduce the tightness surrounding our muscles.  One word of caution, if back pain has resulted from an injury, please check with your doctor before doing any strenuous exercise.
4. Stretching all areas of your body should be part of every day.  Our body acts as one and if one area is hurting, another part may will compensate for it. If you stretch after exercising,  your muscles will be warm and more flexible.  Do not stretch beyond what your body should so as not to cause further back injury.
5. Consider including back strengthening exercises into your exercise program.  You may want to consult a physical therapist to develop a plan best suited to your needs.

These five tips can help you during the daytime hours and a memory foam pillow can help you during the nighttime as you sleep to ensure your spine is in the best aligned position.

Stay tuned for our last five tips on strengthening your back next time.

1. Sit and stand with your back straight.  Slouching places extra pressure on your shoulders and other parts of your back.
2. Ensure your desk is a comfortable height, neither too high or too low to avoid a strain on your back.
3. Purchase a chair with good back support, one in which your back is touching the back of the chair.  If extra support is needed a lumbar support pillow can be purchased and easily inserted to correct the situation.
4. If you are sitting for a long period of time, place your feet on a stool to remove pressure on your back.  If you stand for a prolonged amount of time, change the position of your feet periodically.
5. Low heeled or athletic shoes should be worn so as your weight is distributed evenly.