Back Pain Secrets Revealed at Massagemaster.net

2008-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

Easy Relaxation Techniques
By Dr. Michael Berke www.MassageMaster.net

Sit Down in a quiet & comfortable place for 10-15 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day. As you become familiar with this practice, you may make adjustments anytime of the day.

1. Clear your mind - no planning, no criticism, no judgment, no thinking!
2. Detach yourself from everything and anything you see or hear.
3. Slow down you breathing by taking 10-12 breaths per minute.
4. Count to 6 or 7 each time you inhale and exhale.
5. Thoughts may come and go into your head but don’t follow them.
6. Every half an hour – take 3 deep breaths. Deep breathing will center you and help combat stress.
7. Regular exercises 20-30 minutes a day, cardio vascular & strength training (upon your doctor’s approval) is of vital importance & will relax your body & mind.

If you have any questions related to this subject, feel free to email me anytime at relax@massagemaster.net Yours in Health, Dr. Berke

After 20 years of clinical practice treating all sorts of back conditions, I discovered & patented a powerful new way for people with Back Pain, Back Spasm & Stress to easily reduce their Pain, work on their Posture & massage their spine. Learn easy massage & back pain relief at home-"Imagine getting a massage anytime you want it". Dr. Michael Berke- Chiropractor/ Inventor www.massagemaster.net

Back Pain when overweight or obese

2008-02-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

Back Pain and Obesity

Dr. Michael Berke, D.C.
Massage Master.net, L.L.C.

According to the American Obesity Association, approximately 65 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are categorized as being overweight or obese. The truth is that obesity is becoming a global epidemic. I don’t want to dwell on the numerous causes of this problem (at some time in the future, I will write helpful articles regarding this subject) but I would like to help anyone who is overweight or obese understand and fight the causes of back pain and posture problems.
Most people know that obesity contributes to the development of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. However, did you know that obesity is a contributing factor to back pain? Being overweight or obese can significantly contribute to symptoms associated with osteoporosis, osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), degenerative disc disease (DDD), spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis.

The spine is designed to carry the body's weight and distribute the loads during rest and activity. When excess weight is carried, the spine is forced to absorb the burden, which may lead to structural compromise and damage. This is most applicable to the weight bearing joints, such as those of the lumbar spine, hips and knees.

One region of the spine that is most vulnerable to the effects of obesity is the lower back; the lumbar spine. Lack of exercise and bodily conditioning leads to poor flexibility and weak muscles in the back, pelvis, and thighs. This can increase the curve of the lower back causing the pelvis to tilt too far forward. Further, this is detrimental to proper posture and as posture weakens, other regions of the spine (neck) may become painful. Think of the mechanics of the back of a pregnant woman, weight (is this case a baby) pulls the abdomen forward, thus increasing the curve and pressure of the lower back.

You may try to dismiss the cause of some of these spinal disorders to the process of normal aging. It is true that with age body tissues can cause changes to spinal anatomy. However, if you are overweight or obese, chances are you have, or will have, back pain.
A sedentary lifestyle coupled with an unbalanced diet can affect the density, or strength of the bones (spinal vertebrae). When the structural architecture of a vertebral body is compromised, it is at risk for fracture. Vertebral fractures can be painful and disabling. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis, you have probably lost between 25-30% of desirable bone density. If the diagnosis is osteopeonia, bone loss has been in the range of 10-15%.
Obesity may aggravate an existing low back problem and contributes to recurrence of the condition. Unhealthy posture accounts for many cases of neck and back pain. A level of physical fitness is necessary to properly support the spine.

According to the Surgeon General's "Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity" 40% of adults in the United States do not participate in any leisure-time physical activity and less than 1/3 engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days.
Another consideration is where meals are eaten. In 1992, 38% of the food dollar was spent on foods eaten away from home. Today, it is much, much higher. It can be difficult to control what you eat and how the food is prepared (e.g. fried versus broiled) at a restaurant; especially at 'fast food' establishments.

If you are overweight, obese, or working at maintaining a healthy weight, there are many tools available to empower your efforts. First, I strongly suggest you see a qualified health care practitioner to diagnose the cause of the pain. Then, aside from the obvious necessary weight loss, you can start a careful program of stretching and exercises specifically designed for beginners.

If you have any questions related to this subject, feel free to email Dr. Berke at relax@massagemaster.net

"After 20 years of clinical practice treating all sorts of back conditions, I discovered & patented a powerful new self-care tool for people with Back Pain, Spasm & Stress to easily reduce their Pain and work on their Posture. Learn easy massage & back pain relief at home-Imagine getting a massage anytime you want it". Dr. Michael Berke- Chiropractor/ Inventor http://www.massagemaster.net/

Massage away Back Pain

2008-02-23T05:22:00.000-08:00

Back Massage - a proven method to relieve Back Pain
By Dr. Michael Berke Massage Master.net, L.L.C.

Causes - Back Pain
In 95% of back pain cases, the cause is linked to the way the bones, ligaments, and muscles of the back work together. It comes on suddenly, but can also be due to strain over time rather than a result of overdoing it just once. Most people who suffer from this sort of back pain are adults. The pain is often in the low back, and may also spread (due to nerve pressure) to the buttocks and thighs. It will come and go at different levels of activity.

Back Pain Triggers
1. Poor posture
2. Lack of exercise
3. Standing or bending down for long periods of time
4. Sitting in a chair that doesn’t provide back support
5. Sleeping on a mattress that doesn’t provide enough back support
6. Lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling loads that are simply too heavy, or done in the wrong way
7. A trip or a fall

Poor posture is the most common cause of back pain. Poor posture can weaken muscles and strain joints, leading to repeated episodes of pain. There are other causes of back problems that are much less common. Compression of a nerve root, which is usually caused when a vertebral disc becomes displaced or bulges out from its normal position, can cause the radiation of pain down the extremity. This is called a slipped disc. The pain is sometimes called sciatica when in the buttock, thigh and leg because the nerve that runs down each leg is called the sciatic nerve.
Ways to relieve - Back Pain
Pain in the upper back is usually located in the rhomboids, which are the muscles underneath each scapula (wing bones). The pain usually feels like a huge knot between your shoulders. To get relief, lay face down and pull your arm back so that the top of your hand is resting on your back. Your scapula will protrude out a little more to make getting to the rhomboids more accessible. Have your partner use good amount of pressure or a “trigger point” tool to stroke the muscle until it softens. Pain in the mid-back can be relieved by massaging the areas on each side of the spine. The spine frequently carries tension from day to day stress, emotional anxieties, and incorrect posture. Low back pain can be helped with a combination of stretching and deep pressure to the low back. A good stretch to do is to lie on the floor and bring the legs up to the chest one at a time. Hold the position for at least a minute.

Despite the common-sense notion that massage therapy can help ease back pain, few scientific studies have confirmed beneficial results - until recently. Since 1999, four major randomized, controlled trials and one systematic literature review have evaluated the efficacy of massage for treating back pain. The most recent (and perhaps most convincing) of the five appeared in the April 23, 2001 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine5, a publication of the American Medical Association. In their conclusion, lead author Daniel Cherkin and colleagues note: "Therapeutic massage was effective for persistent low back pain, apparently providing long-lasting benefits. Traditional Chinese Medical acupuncture was relatively ineffective. Massage might be an effective alternative to conventional medical care for persistent back pain."

Is massage an effective therapeutic treatment for back pain? No doubt about it. It's good to see that, slowly but surely, the research is proving what the massage community, and the people it serves, have always known. Please be aware that Back Pain can have other causes as well so I suggest that the first step is proper diagnosis by a health care professional.

If you have any questions related to this subject, feel free to email me at relax@massagemaster.net

After 20 years of clinical practice treating all sorts of back conditions, I discovered & patented a powerful new way for people with Back Pain, Spasm & Stress to easily reduce their pain and work on their Posture. Learn easy massage & back pain relief at home-Imagine getting a massage anytime you want it". Dr. Michael Berke- Chiropractor/ Inventor http://www.massagemaster.net/

Back Pain Prevention at your work station and computer

2008-02-19T09:03:00.000-08:00

Preventing Low Back Pain While Using a Computer
By Dr. Michael Berek Massage Master.net, L.L.C.

The best way to avoid back pain if you use a computer a lot is to get up and move around frequently. Take stretching breaks every 30 minutes to 1 hour, if you can. Sitting in front of a computer all day and poor posture may lead to muscle imbalances. The way you sit is important. To sit square in your chair, put your behind in the center of the seat. Your legs should bend at the knees and rest on the floor. If you have shorter legs, use a footrest or find a box to place under your feet. Use a chair with proper height to reduce back pain. Your chair plays a vital role in your back health since it provides the foundation for body support that will carry you through out the day. Adjust the computer desk chair to the height of your workstation.

Tilting the monitor up can help you avoid neck pain by keeping the chin up, thus maintaining the normal cervical curve. Almost everyone will develop problems with their cervical curvature if their not careful with their work station posture and sleeping posture. I’ve found that a lumbar support pillow or an ergonomic chair (a bit more pricey but often times worth it) works great to help reduce lower back pain. Most larger companies will provide special ergonomic chairs for those with special needs who may have a history of back and neck problems.
Sitting in front of the computer desk for long hours can increase muscle stress and put pressure on the spinal disks. Back pain leads to spinal stenosis that means narrowing of spaces in the spine that could result in increased pressure on the spinal cord. Of course, your overall muscle tone and flexibility (especially the back and abdominal muscles) plays a big part in your spinal stability and prevention of the start of back pain.
If you have any questions related to this subject, feel free to email me at relax@massagemaster.net
After 20 years of clinical practice treating all sorts of back conditions, I discovered a powerful new way for people with Back Pain, Spasm & Stress to easily reduce their Pain and work on their Posture. Imagine getting a massage anytime you want it". Dr. Michael Berke- Chiropractor/ Inventor http://www.massagemaster.net/

Back Pain & Posture Secrets revealed New Patented Self-Care Tool at Massagemaster.net

2008-02-17T18:14:00.000-08:00

Massage Master.net, L.L.C.

Hi, My name is Dr. Michael Berke and Im New at this & am just getting under way with my program. After practicing as a Chiropractor for over 20 years, my goal of helping people reduce & eliminate their Back pain and posture problems is being stepped up a bit.... Its a back breaking job....but rewarding to see people discover simple, effective things to combat their problems. Some years ago (in 1999 to be exact), I realized the need for something that my patients could use (and for my own back as well) to work out back pain and spasm that you just cant reach by yourself (I dont care how flexible you are). Anyway, I plan to blog about my experiences as a chiropractor and hope to share my knowledge. For Info about my New patented product available next month, visit http://www.massagemaster.net/