David J. BenEliyahu DC FICC Administrative Director, Back & Neck Pain Center at Mather Hospital Research studies have definitively shown that there is a positive association between active smoking and back pain, as much as 30% in adult smokers. Women who smoke were 50% more likely to have chronic back pain than non-smoking women. Other…
8 New Year’s Resolution Tips to Reduce Chronic Neck & Back Pain Exercise and Stretching Walk 3-4x per week with a good pair of walking shoes Consider joining a Yoga or Tai Chi Class Strengthen you core back muscles Work on your Posture Poor posture while sitting hunched over, standing hunched over , and sleeping…
With up to 85% of Americans experiencing back pain at some time in their lives, it is safe to assume that most people are at risk. Back pain can be debilitating and impact the quality of one’s life by reducing function and activity. This is especially true as we age, and our spines become more…
It is inevitable, we are all aging and getting older. The average American is living longer than ever before, with many of us trying to remain healthy and active well into 70’s, 80’s, and even the 90’s. One of our body parts that is very prone to ‘wear and tear’ and with the shortest ‘warranty’…
If you suffer with neck pain, especially after you wake up in the morning, you should consider using a special cervical or neck pillow. Sleeping with a cervical pillow can improve your neck posture, thus supporting tight muscles in your neck and shoulders. It also reduces the mechanical stress on the neck joints by keeping…
Before you board the plane or get behind the wheel of your car, try out some of these tips to help support your back and neck: Use a rolled-up towel or small pillow behind your lower back to give you support that airplane and car seats do not provide. Buy a neck travel pillow, foam…
What you Eat Matters Research has shown that a well-balanced diet, exercise, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can play a major role for back health. Particularly, anti-inflammatory diets (i.e., Mediterranean Diet) helps reduce body and spine inflammation and can reduce chronic back pain. Food that promotes inflammation in the body that you should avoid include…
Adjust your posture and alignment while sitting Avoid sitting for long periods of time, as it puts a significant amount of stress on your neck and back, leading to pain. Get up every hour to move around and stretch. Sit in ergonomic chair while working or put a pillow behind your lower back. Put a…
Cracking and grinding noises that sometimes occur during neck movement are common. It is usually painless and is not serious. This phenomenon is called crepitus, and can be caused by pressure changes in the joints, ligament or tendon movements near their bony attachments, or arthritic joints grinding together, or gas bubbles collapsing in the joints.…
Spinal stenosis happens when the spaces in the spine narrow and create pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots. This most commonly occurs due to wear and tear of the spine from aging, but some people can be born with it. This can occur at any level of the spine, but it is most commonly…