Bodytalk
Question: Any recommendations for minimizing my back pain? Back pain:
Symptoms, solutionsAnswer: I receive so many questions related to back pain, I thought I'd put together the following Guide to Back Pain for my readers. This is a composite of the most common causes of back pain, both chronic (long term) and acute (temporary).
It includes symptoms and possible solutions. These solutions are not mine, but are taken from the most current and up-to-date university publications with the latest in back pain research.
If you experience pain in your back after overexertion, or if pain develops a few hours after hard exercise, you're probably experiencing a back muscle strain. Rest for a few days and use pain relievers if necessary.
If pain, stiffness and tenderness in the back, buttocks or thighs is a common occurrence, or if you have difficulty moving or bending your back, you may have osteoarthritis of the spine, also called spondylosis. Take an anti-inflammatory for pain, rest, use heat and see your doctor.
You may have a ruptured, herniated, or slipped disk if you experience a sudden onset of pain, or if pain shoots down one leg after lifting a heavy object, sneezing, coughing or twisting suddenly. If the pain intensifies when you bend forward at the waist and eases as you lie down, get to the doctor as soon as possible. In the meantime, take a pain reliever, lie down, and rest.
Chronic low back pain that comes and goes is very common today. This pain is probably due to misalignment of the spine. If you're heavy, lose weight, get some massage treatments and see a chiropractor.
If you're a postmenopausal woman and experience a sharp pain in a specific place along the spine, you may have osteoporosis. See a doctor and schedule a bone density scan. Based on the scan results, your doctor may recommend hormone replacement therapy.
If you're four or more months pregnant and have low back pain, relax - you're not alone. This is a common complaint associated with pregnancy. To help relieve the pain, learn to lift properly, wear supportive shoes and sleep on a firm mattress.
If pain in the low back is accompanied by a fever, painful urination, nausea or vomiting, you may have a kidney infection. Don't delay seeing your doctor. Kidney infections are serious and immediate treatment is necessary.
Pain is not normal. It's our body's way of communicating that something is just not right.
Q: I want to buy a bike to ride to work. Which is better for city streets, a road or mountain bike?
A: It depends. If you're commuting in an urban jungle, jumping curbs, dodging potholes and riding over street trash, a mountain bike is a must. The cushioning and durability of a mountain bike's tires and frame are paramount for safety. The upright handlebars make the rider more visible to traffic and the traffic more visible to the rider.
On the other hand, if you're traveling longer distances (eight to 10 miles one way) on less populated streets, a road bike is probably the better choice. Its lighter frame and narrow tires make it ideal for maintaining higher speeds over longer distances without wearing the rider out.
If your route includes both types of terrain, there is a combination road/mountain bike available. But unless you travel long distances, stick to a mountain bike.
Stephenie Karony is a certified health
and fitness instructor, a personal trainer and the author of
"Body Shaping with Free Weights." Send questions to her at
P.O. Box 262, Wailuku Hi. Her column appears on Wednesdays.