Skip to main content

Are some of the popular remedies for back pain just useless?

What do you do when back pain strikes you unexpectedly? If you take adequate rest and maintain a proper sitting posture it usually disappears within a day or a two. Sometimes the excruciating pain persists in spite of doing everything. Has it got to do something with some of the remedies that you try out? Well, maybe. At least according to a recent article in the Daily Mail, some of the popular remedies are not just useless, they are dangerous.

There is bad news especially for those who seek recourse to osteopathy for their back pain. The article mentions: “The latest research suggests that spinal manipulation techniques used by chiropractors and osteopaths can cause serious, potentially fatal, problems when used on the upper spine. Yet lower spine manipulation has been widely shown to assist a speedy recovery and can be an effective alternative to drugs or surgery for many people.” Acupuncture, Shiatsu massage, gentle yoga have been given the green signal. Pilates performed with a poor technique is also ineffective according to Stuart McGill, a professor of spine biomechanics and chair of the kinesiology department at the University of Waterloo in Ontario.

Now for the most intriguing and surprising of all the revelations. All these days we all were under the impression that sleeping on hard mattresses is good for the back. The article however states otherwise. Quoting:

“Sleeping on a hard mattress has long been recommended by medical experts as an antidote to back pain. But according to the results of a study in the Lancet, orthopaedic specialists found that softer mattresses offered back pain sufferers the most relief. Softer mattresses may put less pressure on the shoulders and hips, allowing people to sleep more naturally, the researchers found.” Somehow, I’m finding it difficult to digest this bit of news. I’ve had always suffered from back pain whenever I slept on mattresses that were too soft. But I must admit that a very hard one is also very uncomfortable, a moderately hard one is the one which I feel is the best for my back.

Read more of the article here…

See also: Drive back pain away by drinking more water

Pic credits:istockphoto.com
Labels:

Comments

  1. Anonymous10:45 AM

    Due to calcium and iron deficiency. Mostly women play a role of superwomen and in the process they often neglect their health Most of the works done by women concerned to house hold works.which demands frequent bending.they do such work carelessly.continuous works causes them to bone related diseases

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Comments posted on this blog are moderated and approved only if they are relevant, on-topic and not abusive. Avoid using links to your site/blog in the body of your comment unless it is highly relevant to the post.

Popular Posts

The ache of acne (pimples)

Acne is often the bane of a pretty face. It is painful more emotionally than physically, for the scar that it leaves behind can last for a lifetime, adding to one’s miserable look & feeling. No doubt many expensive skin care clinics have mushroomed in ever nook & corner, offering to clear all the scars & blemishes on the face, but they are very expensive & charge exorbitant price for each sitting; not everyone can afford them. So why not try out this simple skin care regimen to minimize the damage caused by acne & as far as possible prevent its eruption.
276 comments
Continue reading »

Natural remedies for dark circles around your eyes

Dark circles around your eyes. How unsightly they look and even your best dress and layers of make-up sometimes does not quite succeed in concealing them! Blame it on your genes or your lifestyle, but, you cannot deny the fact that these are a blot on your beauty . And they become more prominent as you age. Let’s just debunk some of the myths as well as unearth some of the facts about the causes of these ‘ panda eyes ’.   Dark circles under eyes usually are temporary and not a medical concern. You may be surprised to learn that fatigue usually isn't the cause of dark circles. Instead, the most common cause is nasal congestion. When your nose is congested, veins that usually drain from your eyes into your nose become widened (dilated) and darker. 
248 comments
Continue reading »

Home remedies for common cold

Common cold is a very common malady which affects people during monsoons. (Also see the post Beauty and body care in monsoon for a monsoon beauty regimen.) It can be caused by any one of more than 200 viruses. Normally it is confined to the nose and throat although the virus can infect the larynx and lungs. It is said that there is no particular cure for colds, they are naturally relieved within a week. Treatment is just an attempt to relieve its symptoms such as headache, stuffy nose, sore-throat and congestion. Paracetamol tablets are generally taken to get relief from these symptoms.
147 comments
Continue reading »

Beating stress – some tips

It is very difficult to come across a happy, contented face in a crowd these days. Stress has become a way of life with people these days. Sure, we all need to be a little tense once in a blue moon. After all it acts as a positive force and helps us get things done. But when tension becomes a habit with us and we are unable to cope up with it, we say we are undergoing stress. Some people are simply born more tense than others. Children of over-anxious parents generally grow up to be more anxious than the others.
92 comments
Continue reading »

For a good night's sleep

 Everyone of us, at one time or the other has been pestered by sleep problems. Sleeplessness could be transient and short-term or chronic. When it becomes a chronic problem it takes the form of insomnia and requires special attention. The first noticeable signs of poor sleeping habits are dark circles under the eyes pale skin, hair loss. Getting enough sleep is a must. Without proper sleep, your mind does not work as clearly and efficiently. You feel drained physically and mentally. Exactly how much you need to sleep depends on your own individual internal system. While some can do with 4-5 hours; most of us need 7 to 9 hours of sleep. But instead of reaching for a pill or a glass of wine, it’s wise to try out these time-honoured remedies and lifestyle changes.
111 comments
Continue reading »