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About 80% of American adults complain of back pain and it is one of the most common reasons for calling in sick to work. Some $50 billion is spent on back-pain care in the U.S. each year. Still, it is difficult to know when we’re putting too much strain on the complicated mass of bones, nerves, muscles, joints and ligaments. One expert, Kee Kim,chief of spinal neurosurgery at University of California, Davis, explains what the back is capable of and how posture and core strength play a part in its job.

Giving full motion

The back provides structure and support for body weight and protects the spinal cord and nerves running from the brain to the rest of the body, says Dr. Kim. It also allows the body to move. “Even when you are sitting, your back is working,” he says. And there is pressure on the back even during sleep, he says.

The back probably does more work than the arms or legs, says Dr. Kim, but there are no hard data to prove it and the amount of strain a back can take is very individualized. Good posture lowers the amount of work the back must do. “It’s not just that standing and sitting upright looks better. When you slouch forward at your desk, you are putting almost twice as much strain on the disks than if you were sitting straight up,” he says. Obesity also makes the back exert more energy. “We physicians encourage overweight patients to lose weight to help reduce stress on the spine and improve efficiency of the back,” he says.

Manual labor can create problems over time. “One study found that the prevalence of back pain was 40% among manual laborers as opposed to 18% among those who had sedentary jobs,” he says.

The core of the issue

The back doesn’t work independently, and strong core muscles can help it be more efficient. “If you have strong muscles surrounding the spine, both in the front and the back of the body, that helps lower the stress on your back,” says Dr. Kim. Weak muscles cannot support the spine as well, which may lead to degenerative problems, an abnormal curve and pain, he says.

Dr. Kim doesn’t recommend wearing a brace for more than a short job. “If you’re just moving house and it’s temporary, then a brace is a good idea,” he says. “But using it all the time is counterproductive because you are allowing the muscles to weaken.” A healthy adult male lifting correctly should be able to carry a 50-pound box without much difficulty and without a brace, he says. The key is to use the back as part of a system with the legs and core muscles, Dr. Kim says.

How much is too much

The general rule of thumb is that a fit person should be able to comfortably carry one third of his body weight, as long as it is balanced evenly. If a person isn’t in good shape, he should carry less than one quarter of his weight. An overweight person could be at risk for injury by even carrying a small percentage of his weight. “The length of time hasn’t really been worked out,” Dr. Kim says.

Through working out, you can train the back to lift more than your body weight, but you should do so under supervision of a professional. “Doing lifting exercises incorrectly can do more harm than good,” he says. “Heavy weight lifting can require hyperextension of the back, putting a lot of stress on the disks.”

Back pain “is a big problem and a lot of health-care resources are spent on it,” says Dr. Kim. “But most people can avoid chronic back pain or at least decrease it by elevating core strength and working on their posture.”

SOURCE: http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-much-work-can-the-back-do-without-strain-1436800016


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Practice Policy Update Regarding COVID-19

Dear Patients:

Our patients, employees and family are our top priority at Long Island Spine Specialists, P.C.

We ask you to not visit any of our locations if you have symptoms such as fever, sneezing, coughing and possible shortness of breath.

Please cancel your appointment and re-schedule once you are feeling better and are no longer suffering with symptoms.

Only non-symptomatic patients will be seen. No exceptions.

Accompanying family members – including children – are asked to remain in the waiting area and will not be allowed to enter the exam rooms.

During this time of high concern regarding the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) we are taking extra precautions to maintain the highest possible standards of safety and cleanliness. Please be advised that we are carefully following recommendations from both the CDC and WHO and are here to help guide you through this time if needed.

Some steps we are taking to keeping safe:

  1. We know how important cleanliness is and always maintain the highest standards of cleanliness. To further offer you peace of mind, we have increased the frequency of the cleaning of our office.
  2. Rest assured that hand washing is strictly followed. Hand sanitizer is available to all staff and patients.
  3. Additionally, if you have recently traveled to a country with high rates of the coronavirus or have been on a cruise, please reschedule your visit for at least 14 days from your return date. We will gladly accommodate your needs to reschedule. At that time, a telehealth interface can be arranged if necessary.

Find up-to-date and accurate information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and feel free to reach out with questions.

- Your team at Long Island Spine Specialists, P.C.

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