The Pain of Sacroiliac Joint Inflammation
December 15, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Have you been experiencing stabbing pains in your lower back? Is bending over, turning round, or rolling over into your bed even difficult for you? If this is the case, you might have a sacroiliac joint inflammation, and that is one pain in the back you would gladly do your Christmas holidays without.
Now, you might be wondering what the sacroiliac joints even are. They are two ‘L-shaped’ joints are situated at the lower back, between the pelvic ilium and the sacrum (the small wedge-shaped bone at the bottom of your spine), and are held in place by various muscles and ligaments. Their function is to enable you to move your pelvis - sacroiliac joints get pulled and twisted along the pelvic girdle whenever you move your lower back.
When these joints get infected, they can cause stabbing pains in the lower back, the buttocks, and even the thighs on occasion. This inflammation can occur when one half of the pelvis is constantly driven backwards and forwards, or at times when the joints get stuck.
While small infections of the sacroiliac joints and associated ligaments are quite common, the more sever forms of sacroiliitis tend to occur more frequently with aging. The main causes of sacroiliitis are degenerative arthritis (also known as osteoarthritis of the spine) which leads to the deterioration of the sacroiliac joints; pregnancy, as it forces the pelvis to stretch to accommodate childbirth; or some form of sudden impact or traumatic injury to the spine or pelvic region. But do not worry: sacroiliitis is treatable, as long as you are sure to visit osteopath as soon as you notice any of its defining symptoms.
The most noticeable symptoms of sacroiliac joint inflammation include: - Restricted hip movement (having difficulty turning around or rolling over in bed) - Stiffness in the lower back after long periods of immobility (such after long car journeys) or when waking up in the morning - Difficulty bending down - Pain during sexual intercourse - Sharp pain the thighs when swinging your legs out of bed or out of the car
If you recognize any of these symptoms in your own situation, be sure to visit someone with an in-depth knowledge about the sacroiliac joint, such as an osteopath. To minimize your discomfort temporarily, you are advised to: - Wrap a damp tea towel around an icepack and place it on the painful area for 10-minute intervals, over the course of a half hour, for up to three times a day. - Sleep on your side at night (not your back or stomach) - Place a pillow between your knees while you are in a sedentary position or when lying down. This should take some of the pressure off your pelvis.
While sacroiliac joint inflammation can be a real pain in the back, osteopaths can help cure the problem effectively through a combination of physical therapeutic techniques and anti-inflammatory medication. So as long as you visit your osteopath and nurture your body, you should be fit and healthy for the upcoming holiday season.
To Heel or to Heal: The Great Stiletto Debate
December 6, 2008 | Leave a Comment
There has been much debate in recent years over the negative impacts that high heels can have on your body. Doctors shake their heads in dismay when women come to them with back problems, osteopaths tut, and the local newspaper’s health section goes into a frenzy about the evils of stilettos. But are they really that bad? All right, after you wear them, your feet can be a little painful and your calves might twinge a bit for a couple of days, but once worn on a regular basis, your body does get accustomed to high heels - and your calves and feet will be tougher for it.
It is high time someone tackled these myths head-on. Some already have: earlier this year the BBC published an article which argued that wearing high heels can actually be beneficial. We shall therefore challenge three common myths about the stiletto, and then examine the ways in which heels might have a positive influence on the body.
Myth #1: High heels are a source of back problems. Senior osteopaths say this is not necessarily the case. Only those with a pre-disposition for back injuries are likely to get one - but that doesn’t mean all of us will suffer as a result of wearing heels. While it is true that walking on 8-inch stilettos for days on end can result in too much pressure being put on the front of the ankles (which leads to postural problems) if you wear your heels wisely, this should not be a problem. Instead of walking to work in high heels, for instance, keep the stilettos at the office and commute to work in your trainers.
Myth #2 : Stilettos cause the lower back and neck to become stiff. Not exactly. Stiffness, osteopaths claim, has less to do with the fact that you’re wearing heels, and more to do with how you wear them. If you are already experiencing postural problems even without wearing shoes (such as tilting your back), then of course stilettos will problem make that problem worse as they add pressure to the lower back. If you make sure you are standing straight and assume the right posture before you slip on the heels, however, you avoid any future problems. If fact, high heels often have the tendency to correct a woman’s posture, as they help them balance their weight. Stiffness is therefore no a direct result of wearing stilettos.
Myth #3: Heels have a negative effect on your muscles. Again, not true. While some might have sore muscles due to wearing stilettos too often, you can steer clear of this easily, as proposed for Myth #1. A recent study has uncovered that women who wear stilettos do, in fact, have stronger leg and pelvic muscles then those who don’t. As long as you vary your footwear every day, there should be no reason for you to overexert these muscles.
Another interesting discovery about the advantages of the stiletto was uncovered by Italian Urologist Dr. Cerruto, as mentioned in the BBC article. Because the foot is being forced into a certain angle by the shape of the heel, Cerruto explains, the pelvic muscles get a work out. As a woman pelvic floor functions are key to sexual performance, the idea that this performance might be improved simply by wearing heels is certainly not unwelcome.
Despite the many myths that float around regarding stilettos, there is always a solution for your individual needs. As long as you pay attention to the cues your body gives off, and you wear high heels in moderation, there should be no reason for you to sacrifice those sexy stilettos.
How Osteopaths Treat Neck Pain
November 23, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Osteopathic medicine is a type of medicine that considers the entire body and not just a person’s individual or isolated symptoms. Osteopathic medicine is very popular right now, especially for people who suffer from joint and muscle pain. Many people believe that when you have neck pain, one of the best resources you can seek out is an osteopath. Of course, if you’ve never visited an osteopath before, you might be nervous, but you really need not worry. Here is what to expect when you visit an osteopath to treat neck pain.
At first, you’ll probably feel like you are visiting a “regular” doctor. You’ll be given a physical and asked for your complete medical history. After that, your osteopath will perform a few additional tests to help determine the exact cause of your neck pain. He or she might take an X-Ray to find out if you have damaged any of your vertebrae. Don’t be surprised if your osteopath then gives the rest of your body a complete examination as well!
It is important to know that when you visit an osteopath for help with your neck pain, you should leave your “personal space” at home. Osteopathic treatment is hands on!
Your Osteopath might use any of the following methods to treat your neck pain:
Counterstrain technique: Your osteopath puts you into a position that is designed to restore movement to muscles that might be currently restrained or strained.
Muscle Energy technique: Your osteopath gives you exercises that will start with your muscles in precise positions and follow with you moving those muscles in precise movements.
Soft Tissue technique: this technique involves your osteopath putting pressure on the muscles that are near and around your spine. Sometimes the pressure is deep, other times it involves traction or rhythmic stretching.
Thrust technique: your osteopath will use high velocity force to reintroduce movement to your joints or to get rid of any signs of muscle asymmetry, restricted movement, muscle tenderness or tissue changes.
In some cases, osteopaths will also use low level lasers or acupuncture to treat their patients.
An osteopathic visit might sound scary, but there is no reason to be frightened. Most people who visit an osteopath don’t experience any pain. Most of the time osteopathic visits have been reported to be pleasant and relaxing!
A number of people often confuse osteopaths with chiropractors, but it is important to understand that the two professionals, while seemingly similar, are actually quite different! A chiropractor is a professional who wants to treat your spine and joints. Osteopaths want to work with you and help treat your entire body.