Back Care Awareness Week 8-12 October 2012

From 8-12 October 2012 it's Backcare Awareness Week, and this year the theme is 'Builder's Back Pain'. 

Focussing on the back problems builders encounter and the also the stresses and strains on construction workers as the building industry has the highest rate of back related injuries.

The aim of the week long event, which is organised by BackCare, the charity for healthier backs, is to raise awareness of the problems back pain can cause, as well as prevention and treatments.

You can visit the Backcare shop and order one (or all!) of their information packs, based on back problems found at home, at work and at play. They also have a great selection of back friendly bags to help ensure that you reduce the chance of any potential problems.

While we might all know the best way to pick up boxes safely, we tend not to think about the effect every day tasks like picking up shopping or children's toys have on our backs.

It's thought that 4 out of every 5 adults will experience back pain at some point in their life, so why not get an information pack and find out what you can do to prevent it?

For treatment information and advice about how to deal with your aches and pains before they turn into something more serious take up our Backcare Awareness Week offer - 3 Osteopathy Treatments for the price of 2 (new patients only).

Drivers at risk of whiplash

15 MILLION DRIVERS AT RISK OF WHIPLASH DUE TO BAD SEATING POSITIONS

Drivers who fail to wear seatbelts correctly are at risk of injury according to the British Osteopathic Association (BOA). While most people are fully aware that wearing seatbelts saves lives the majority are not aware that the way they sit in a car plays a huge part in their personal safety.

The result of a survey by the BOA, released ahead of Back Care Awareness week (8 – 12 October) has found over one in ten drivers (13%) sit too far back for their seatbelt to offer effective protection in a frontal crash.  To be effective, the belt should be sitting over the bones of the pelvis and not the stomach preventing internal injuries and in contact with the shoulder to prevent a serious neck injury.  Sitting too far from the belt can often lead to submarining - where the occupant slips under the belt which can cause catastrophic injuries.

Half (45%), 15 million, of all UK drivers do not drive in position where their head is close enough to the head restraint or they sit too far back for their seatbelt to be effective, so that in an accident, they would be at risk of sustaining a serious whiplash injury. Furthermore, only 6% of people adjust the head restraint regularly, despite the fact that most people travel in a variety of vehicles (as drivers, passengers and in taxis for example) and half of all drivers surveyed (51%) said they never adjusted their head rest at all.

Head restraints work by catching and supporting the head in the event of a rear end crash and so reduce the chance of permanent soft tissue damage. A correctly adjusted head restraint should be as close to the back of the head as possible and as high as the top of the occupant's head, meaning head movement in relation to their body is reduced as the car and seat is punted forward when hit from behind. In addition the driver's seat should be at the correct distance so that a properly positioned seat belt is low across the hips and pelvis, with the shoulder belt firmly across the chest and collarbone.

Receiving a serious chest injury as a result of being hit by an air bag during an accident is also a very real possibility for one in seven drivers (14%) who admitted sitting too close to the steering wheel. Drivers with a gap of less than 12 inches between themselves and the steering wheel when driving are at risk of receiving the full force of an airbag deploying in a crash involving the front of the vehicle.

Airbags have to inflate very quickly (some at over 200 mph) in order to protect the head and chest of drivers and passengers in the event of a frontal crash.  Therefore an airbag needs enough space in front of the steering wheel in order to inflate properly. People who are shorter than around 5' 2" (1.57m) often sit too close to the steering wheel and may be injured by the inflating airbag.  A safe distance is around 12 inches - the size of an A4 piece of paper placed lengthways.

Danny Williams, BOA Council Member, said: "While most of us are aware that seatbelts save lives, it's fair to say that the majority of us don't know that the way we sit in a vehicle also plays a huge part in our safety and wellbeing.
"The position of the head restraint, how far or close we sit to the steering wheel and how long we spend sitting at the wheel without having a break can cause long-lasting neck and back injuries."

Matthew Avery, Crash Research Manager at Thatcham, said: "Vehicle safety has moved on at a pace with numerous new technologies now available designed to help avoid or mitigate injury during a collision. Whilst many seats and head restraints perform well in protecting the occupants, this research goes to show that too many drivers are still subject to avoidable risks by not taking the time to adjust their head restraints correctly."

Reduce Anxiety and Stress with Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy - help for anxiety and stress disorders

Hypnotherapy is commonly used to relieve stress and anxiety, as people look for natural, safe alternatives to medication.  


Stress and anxiety are a normal part of our natural defences, and enable us to deal with demanding and taxing situations.  This may be in any part of our lives including in the home, family life or in the work place.  Chronic stress and anxiety are both considered medical conditions, due to the potential for them to lead to further health complications.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a form of psychotherapy that aims to make use of the untapped potential of the unconscious mind to effect real world changes.  This is primarily achieved through the use of hypnosis, which is an altered state of consciousness or trance.  This state can be used to relieve a range of conditions and ailments including: smoking, weight issues, poor sleep, concentration, pain, phobias and stress.  Most hypnotherapists will use their voice to induce a state of hypnosis.  It is not possible to become trapped in a trance, though you may feel the need to sleep if you are especially relaxed. 

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety often lead to one feeling overwhelmed, which is when the body’s natural defences are triggered, and the hormone cortisol is released into the blood.  This has the effect of raising heart and breathing rates – in preparation for the stress of the situation at hand.     If not properly managed this scenario can lead to a perpetual feeling of pressure or nervous tension, which can be exhausting for sufferers.  Addictions, phobias, poor work performance and poor sleep patterns can result. Both conditions can be better managed by including the following coping strategies into your life:

• Plenty of exercise
• Healthy diet and eating
• Ample sleep
• Sufficient rest and relaxation time; and by
• Limiting stress or stressful situations in your life 
• Other disciplines such as yoga, meditation and hypnotherapy are increasingly utilised alongside these techniques to aid recovery and healing.

Hypnotherapy often leads to a very relaxed state being reached, so is potentially beneficial in relieving stress and anxiety.

Read more about Hypnotherapy at Absolute Health clinic: click here

Special Offer for new Osteopathy patients!

Now that Summer is here, we are getting more active.  Playing more sports and working harder in the garden can contribute to muscle or joint injuries.  

If this happens to you, give yourself a few days rest and if your pain or discomfort isn't getting better after a week, don't wait any longer before getting help. 

An Osteopathy treatment can give your body a gentle nudge in the right direction to speed up your recovery.  

For a limited time, new Osteopathy patients will receive 15% off the cost of initial consultation and treatment (normally £46, discounted price £39.10).

Mention the Absolute Health blog offer to get your discount - valid until end of September 2012.

Back pain, sciatica and disc problems

Back pain affects almost everyone at some time, causing restricted movement and untold misery, stress and discomfort. It also causes millions of people to take valuable time off work, costing companies enormous sums in sick pay and lost production.

What causes back pain?

• poor lifting or incorrect carrying of heavy weights
• poor posture
• unsuitable seats or beds
• sports or other injury
• stress
• pregnancy
• general 'wear and tear'

Osteopathic manipulation has been recognised as highly effective in treating back pain, and the Royal College of General Practitioners issued guidelines for GPs in 1996 which recommended manipulation within six weeks of onset for the relief of acute low back pain.

Osteopaths are trained to identify and treat the specific cause of your back pain, and once you have been treated, they may also advise you on an appropriate rehabilitation and maintenance care plan to prevent a recurrence.

The bones of your spine protect the spinal cord; if they lose their normal motion or position, this can irritate the nerve roots that branch from the spinal cord to the organs and tissues of your body. Sciatica is a general term describing pain in the sciatic region, which extends from the base of the spine down the back and side of the leg. Unless there is a specific injury to this region, pain here is 'referred' from other areas. (The irritation of the nerve in one area can sometimes lead to pain, known as 'referred' pain, in other parts of the body). The nerves that supply the sciatic region come from the lower back.

In order for the spine to be flexible, the vertebrae are joined together by soft tissue structures known as discs and ligaments. Each disc is made up of two parts - a central soft core and outer rings of tough cartilage. The discs allow movement and also help to absorb shock. A slipped disc is the rather inaccurate term used to describe the condition, often in the lower back, where trauma or 'wear and tear' have caused damage to the outer rings of cartilage, so that the core is squeezed outwards. This can eventually result in a bulge which can press on the spinal cord, the nerve root or the nerve itself. It can cause excruciating pain, either in the back or referred elsewhere - for example in the lower leg or foot. Osteopathic treatment can mobilise the spine to reduce any inflammation around the spinal cord or nerves.

Trigger points (sometimes referred to as 'fibrositis') are very common and related to back pain. They occur in the neck or shoulders (often caused by bad posture or stress) or sometimes in the buttock area at the base of the spine. Painful 'knots' form within muscles which have gone into spasm - a reaction which the body triggers in order to tighten muscles round a problem area to prevent further injury. This is why the condition so often occurs in patients who have had a back pain problem for some time.

Your Osteopath will therefore use manipulation to adjust the relevant joint, and also deep massage and soft tissue work to relieve the condition. Since the 'knots' of muscle are often very tender, the soft tissue treatment may be painful at first.

"23 and 1/2 hours" - watch this video!

A Doctor-Professor answers the old question "What is the single best thing we can do for our health?" in a completely new way. Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital.


This video reminds us that the best way to stay healthy remains one of the simplest.  At least, there seems to be plenty of time to do it, when put this way!


Click on the following link to view Dr. Evans' website:
www.myfavouritemedicine.com/23-and-a-half-hours/


or watch the video here:

The Great British Pain in the Neck

• Britons are more likely to suffer from neck pain
• Massaging the spine is more effective than medicine in short and long term

People living in Britain are among those most likely to suffer neck pain according to an article* published in January 2012 which states those living in high-income countries are more susceptible to the problem than those living in low or middle-income countries. The study of neck pain treatment, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, also reveals that women are more likely than men to experience neck pain and that the problem is particularly prolific among office and computer workers.

Britons are exceptionally hardworking and driven with the UK ranked as the 13th most prosperous country out of the 130 countries measured in the 2011 Legatum Prosperity Index. Much of the work in high-income countries including the UK is conducted at a desk where ergonomics and stress are common factors that can result in neck pain and exacerbate existing conditions. 

According to the article, spinal manipulation, which is practiced by osteopaths and some other health practitioners, was more effective at relieving symptoms than medication. Medication, whether over-the-counter or prescribed by GPs, is often a popular choice among time-poor workers who are reluctant to take time off for expert treatment. However patients who were taught self-massage techniques rather than solely having to rely on treatment provided by professionals also benefitted more than those taking medication.

Kelston Chorley, Head of Professional Development at the British Osteopathic Association says: “These research findings are positive for individuals, employers and employees. Pain relief medication can be expensive and learning self-massage techniques mean individuals can be empowered to help manage their pain. Further, where medication is ineffective, this can result in ongoing problems that could have been resolved earlier and may even worsen as a result.  This can mean people have to take time off work for extended periods.

“An osteopath will usually provide some initial treatment to help correct any underlying cause for the condition and will always provide self help strategies for neck pain so patients can manage their condition in the future.”

The article also says that mobilisation, described by the BOA as repetitive movements of joints to free up restrictions and increase the movement of joints and surrounding tissues, may be a better first treatment for non-specific neck pain than manipulation, described as unlocking restricted joint and surrounding tissues with a single highly specific movement, which can be an uncomfortable experience for some patients.

Kelston from the BOA concludes: “In many cases of acute or chronic neck problems manipulation is not always the first line of treatment by an osteopath. Using a combination of soft tissue massage, mobilisations and self help exercises often proves to be a more appropriate solution than the “neck clicking” commonly associated with manipulation.”

About the British Osteopathic AssociationThe British Osteopathic Association (BOA) is the professional association for osteopaths in the UK, acting as an independent representative body whilst promoting osteopathy to the general public and government. The BOA is committed to supporting, protecting and caring for its members and promoting opportunities for individual and professional development in osteopathic practice. There are nearly 4,000 osteopaths on the UK register who carried out over seven million treatments last year, and many of these are members of the British Osteopathic Association.  For more information and to search for an osteopath, visit the website www.osteopathy.org

* To read the article in full visit: http://www.annals.org/content/156/1_Part_1/1.abstract?aimhp