Have you ever experienced waking up in the morning tired and sore? Have you ever found it a very stressing experience when you have just awakened and your neck is painful? It might be caused by your bed pillows. On second thought, they are definitely caused by lack of support from your pillows. If they are not firm and dense enough to support your neck as well as your head and shoulders, you will get neck pains. It does not matter what age, gender you are or what fitness level you have, if you use soft sagging pillows you will have a sore and painful neck in time.

It is very important for us to get enough sleep at night. There should be no interruptions or disturbances. It is crucial to get the at least 8 hours of sleep every night in order to have good health and good skin. Choosing the best bed pillows are very also very important. Why? A soft pillow will cause discomfort which will lead to sleepless nights which will cause exhaustion and tiredness during the day. In time, you'll probably lose your job because of poor performance. 3 months later you'll probably live in a cardboard. That is the worst case scenario but you never know. So, the key to a fruitful life and a good night's sleep is a good pillow.

These pillows are designed especially to prevent neck pain and also provide comfort. They will not leave you feeling nothing. They will give you comfort. There are specially made to cradle the neck and support the head. They are dense and firm for additional support yet soft for comfort during sleep. These pillows are contoured to the normal shape or framework of our heads and necks. They also promote good body posture when you sleep in your bed. Good body posture means that your head, neck, and spine are in perfect alignment. This position will not only prevents any discomfort and pain but also allow proper blood circulation.

There are a lot of pillows for neck pain. We should remember that not all neck support pillows are suitable for everyone. You need to pick the one that suits you. Anyway, the types of neck pain pillows include ergonomic pillows, memory foam pillows, water pillows, bucket pillows, and u-shaped pillows. Look around for more information before you purchase one.

So when you are feeling neck pains after a long night's sleep, you need to change your current bed pillows. It is up to you to find the best pillows for neck pain. But if your neck pain persists for a week or more, it is best for you to consult your doctor. This might be a sign of a more serious health problem. Anyway, try out a neck pillow first before you jump into any conclusions. To good health!

Exercise and stretching can be the best prescription for back pain management, but they must be conducted regularly and correctly to see results. Of course, there are over the counter and prescription medications for swelling and inflammation as well. And being at a proper weight for your height is important to a healthy back. A good exercise program, started and ended with stretching will not only help stop the pain, but also prevent injury in the future. Back pain management can be accomplished for both muscular and joint or disc back pain.

Every back is different, and each person moves in special ways, therefore, a specific exercise program cannot be given here without knowing the particular experience and movement of that person. A qualified physician in orthopedics, sports medicine and sometimes a general or family practitioner can give you advice for back pain management. Chiropractors or physical therapists are additional sources to get you moving without back pain. Once you have some specific exercises to follow, enrolling in a community class for yoga, Tai Chi or Pilates, or signing up at a gym for activities offered there may be a good plan to follow for back pain management as well.

The main goal of exercise for muscle pain is to make the muscles strong and flexible, gliding over the joints of your back to lessen the pain with movement. Six directions can be followed to increase the range of motion and they are bending forward and downward, turning to the right and left, and bending to the right or left. Using the muscles in a controlled and slow position can build new muscle while stretching out tight areas.

For disc and joint pain caused by degenerative joint disease such as arthritis or a slipped or herniated disc, there are directed range of motion exercises and spinal manipulative therapy to increase joint movement without invasive therapy. Movement is the primary stimulus for blocking the production and transmission of disc and joint pain. Range of motion exercises moves the joints and discs carefully back and forth in a comfortable way to reduce swelling and inflammation that cause pain. They are very similar to those exercises conducted for back muscle pain management and involve similar movements.

Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) was developed to increase motion in restricted joints to stimulate sensory nerves and block the production of pain. Another bonus of SMT is that it produces endorphins when conducted. Endorphins are the body's own natural painkillers. It is a relatively new therapy for back pain management, so be sure to do some research on the practitioner performing it. Chiropractors and specialized physical therapists typically administer SMT.

Once you have a program to follow, try to keep the exercise routine fun so that you don't slack off. Exercising to music or while watching television may distract you and make you feel as if you're not even exercising. Just follow a plan and track your progress. And when your back is feeling better, continue to do some exercise to keep your back in motion. If you do happen to skip a few days, don't beat yourself up. Jump back into the routine again and keep pushing for back pain management for life - without the pain.

Upper back pain, left shoulder pain and neck pain are a condition that is common to most Americans and they suffer from this sort of pain from time to time in their life. This pain is sometimes not too severe but could also be unbearable and beyond tolerance sometimes. Reasons for pain in the upper back, left shoulder and neck is often a problem with the shoulder joint. The shoulder joint is very susceptible to injuries like sprains, strains and tears. Because of this injury there can be inflammation of the joints, muscles, ligaments and of the bursa, causing immense discomfort and pain. A shoulder injury can give rise to pain in the upper back, left shoulder and neck region also. The motion of the arm is allowed by the muscles, joints and tendons of the shoulders and any injury to this portion of the body will result in immediate discomfort and difficulty in movement.

Causes of tendinitis
Tendinitis is a the connecting link of the muscles, tissues and bones which is a cord. Inflammation of this cord caused by too much usage of the muscles and any injury that might have occurred results in this kind of pain in the neck and shoulder regions. Upper back pain, pain in the left shoulder and the neck are caused by rotator cuff injuries. The area for the rotator cuff is very small and any inflammation with swelling can be the cause of a lot of discomfort and pain and also the arm that is affected will be weakened.

A change in lifestyle is a preventive measure
Sometimes a change in one's life style can prevent this sort of a problem with back pain and pain in the neck and shoulder. Of course, accidents cannot be prevented but you could try and lead a healthier life to avoid degenerative diseases and weakening of the muscles. Keeping fit and exercising regularly is one way to strengthen your muscles and avoiding these sort of discomforts and protecting your back and neck and shoulders. You should ensure that you are careful when lifting weights, keep a good posture and do not let stress cause you these sort of problems. In case there is some physical activity that you have to do that causes you discomfort, try and change the way you do it so that it does not cause you unwanted pain.

See a doctor if pain persists
For a persisting pain it is always better to seek medical advice. The doctor will probably do some diagnostic clinical tests and x-rays and scans to evaluate what the problem is. Once he is sure of what is causing the discomfort in the neck, back and shoulders, treatment will be provided. It may be a neurological problem or something to do with the muscles and ligaments.

Back pain is shared by all people regardless of race, and acupuncture has been around for a while now to help in easing the pain. All around the world, people have sought medical care at one time or another for back pain. There are a number of causes of back pain but mostly it's due to overstretching of the ligaments, or commonly called as "sprain". Sometimes it is caused by a tear or strain in the muscle. These situations can be brought about by injury, poor posture or a disease that has developed.

Nowadays people tend to turn to alternative medicine due to the prohibitive cost of health care, or sometimes due to the concern over the side effects of drugs. Of the various traditional options in the market today for the relief of back pain, acupuncture has emerged as one of the most effective and least expensive choice. Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese therapeutic method that has been around for centuries. It uses fine needles inserted at specific places in the body, which the Chinese call "meridians". They believe that these "meridians" correspond to the major body systems, and that the punctures are meant to release our body's vital energy called the "qi". It is believed that if the "qi" is unblocked and is allowed to flow freely in the body, it can correct whatever disorder a person is suffering from.

Acupuncture can be either distal or local. In distal therapy, the needles are inserted away from the area of pain. This is often used for instant relief of acute pain. Sometimes the needles will be complemented with cupping or electric stimulation. Acupuncturists would know where to find the points that will have impact on the pain and concentrate the punctures there. The frequency of the acupuncture sessions depend on the level of pain: as the pain dissipates, the sessions decrease as well.

There have been studies to support the effectiveness of acupuncture in removing back pain. A Swedish hospital released a study conducted on patients with chronic back pain where they concluded that long term relief is obtained through acupuncture, and that better sleep and an improved sense of well-being likewise resulted from acupuncture. In the United States, acupuncture is now widely accepted as complementary therapy for the treatment of musculoskeletal pains, including back pain. However, there are very few definitive studies on the subject due to the very low number of research on acupuncture.

Nevertheless, acupuncture has remained quite popular across the country, and many swear by its effectiveness in relieving all kinds of pains. It appears to be quite effective and has unbelievably very few side effects. Because it is only mildly invasive, it can be carried out alongside conventional pain treatment regimens. If you are one those people who have been using spending a considerable amount of money on conventional treatment of back pain, all to no avail, it may be high time for you to consider acupuncture. It is always better to keep an open mind while staying reasonably cautious about alternative therapies such as acupuncture.

Working all day in chair, sitting in your cubicle, quite a few problems can arise because of it. Being immobile and typing all day can create a lot of problems to your body. Sitting in a chair can actually lead to a lot of problems for your overall health and it is an issue that has only surfaced in the past few decades. Before that, there was virtually never anyone NOT moving. But due to new technologies, it has made are lives comfortable, too comfortable. Now, we hardly have to get up out of your chairs.

Here is a list of the common problems that you may encounter and the reasons why. Also, for each of them, I will give a solution as to how to prevent or reduce your problems.

1. Headaches

Cause: Working continuously without any breaks. Also it can cause eye strain from staring at the screen continuously.

Solution: Take breaks for a few minutes every hour. Get up take a walk, get a some fresh air. For your eyes, have a chance to look elsewhere else far away instead of a screen. You can also close your eyes for a minute and relax. You should check your monitor angle and also check your lighting as well.

2. Neck and Shoulder Pain

Cause: Sitting continuously in a chair will automatically create neck and shoulder pain. This can be caused by chair height, poor posture, monitor placement. There can quite a few reasons why.

Solution: Check your keyboard, monitor, and mouse distance. If you are reaching too far, or you feel you are too crowded, then you probably need some adjusting to do. You should also shift postures every once and awhile. Staying in one posture too long can cause you pain.

You can also stretch out your neck by doing simple office exercises such as neck rolls-rolling your neck in a clockwise motion to loosen up your neck.

For your shoulders, do shoulder rolls-cinch up your shoulders and roll them forwards and backwards. Try to get a full range of motion to give your shoulders a good stretch.

3. Wrist and Finger Pain

Cause: Poor posture, no keyboard rest, incorrect height can all lead to a painful wrist.

Solution: Make sure your wrists are not leaning against the table when you are typing. Also check your posture, see if you are in a comfortable position as well when you are typing.

You can also stretch your wrists out as well, by rolling you wrists back and forth. You can also shake it out, by having your hands loose. For you fingers. clench your fists tight and then release. You can also pull your fingers back with your other hand to stretch your fingers out too.

Many people in this country suffer from pain in lower left side of back.

Because the pain is only on one side of the back, many doctors have trouble finding the actual cause. Many people go through years of endless visits to the doctor and the hospital, expensive rounds of testing, dangerous drugs, and treatments that do nothing to cure the problem.

However, if you know the true causes of pain in lower left side of back, you can avoid going through these trials by choosing a treatment that addresses the true root of your spinal problems.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Other Intestinal Problems

Pain in left lower side of back may be caused by problems with your gastrointestinal system, including sensitivities to certain foods or other bowel problems.

If your pain only occurs after eating certain foods and is accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting, this inflammation may be the cause of your problems. However, there are other causes of bowel problems. Many people have intestinal problems accompanied by pain in left lower side of back because of a muscle imbalance. If this is the case, these problems can be resolved by muscle balance therapy.

Kidney Stones

It is easy to tell if the pain in lower left side of back is caused by this common problem. Usually, the pain will be accompanied by other symptoms such as problems urinating and blood in the urine. Luckily, most doctors test for this problem routinely through urinalysis, and it also shows up during MRI's and other imaging techniques.

Lower Back Problems

This is the most common cause of pain in lower left side of back. These back problems may range from misalignment, a herniated disc, or any other several different disorders. Regardless of the exact diagnosis, the cause is usually the same: a muscle imbalance. Just as a muscle imbalance can cause gastrointestinal problems, it can also cause spinal problems. When you treat this muscle imbalance, you will be eliminating the cause of pain in lower left side of back and therefore getting rid of the pain itself.

Muscle Imbalances

Many people misunderstand the role of muscles in the human body. They do not just aid in movement; they also provide a vital support for organs and bones. If your muscles are out of balance, even slightly, this will cause any number of physiological problems, all of which can then cause lower left back pain. Doctors tend to treat this pain with drugs, surgeries, and therapies that work with the back itself. Only by curing the muscle imbalance you can rid yourself of pain in lower left side of back for good.

Curing Muscle Imbalance

Luckily, a muscle imbalance can be treated with a simple, inexpensive, and flexible treatment, freeing you forever of all of these painful symptoms, including pain in lower left side of back. This treatment, called muscle balance therapy, is offered by a program known as "Lose the Back Pain", which will help you determine the muscle imbalance causing your pain and treat it in a customizable program that you can do in the privacy of your own home. If you have pain in lower left side of back, you owe it to yourself and your family to reclaim your healthy, active, pain-free life by trying this innovative, effective, and affordable program.

You may be unaware that your purse is causing you neck and shoulder pain along with occasional headaches. I too suffered from this problem a few years back before I realized it was my purse. I was paying costly chiropractor bills once a month for some relief that never lasted long. The stiffness in my neck and shoulders along with the headaches always returned.

If you chose to carry a heavy purse you could be putting yourself at risk for significant muscle, nerve and spinal injury. You may chose to go on with your day just ignoring the problem but eventually you will not be able to ignore it any longer. There are a few simple solutions that will help save your neck and back from damage.

Your handbag should not weigh more then 5 to 8 pounds after you have put your things inside. Find a handbag that is not heavy to begin with. Only carry things you need on a daily basis. Clean out your handbag once a week. Purchase a teardrop sling shoulder bag. These bags are made in an ergonomic fashion so as to reduce strain on the neck and shoulders. Alternate shoulders frequently. Wear the strap messenger style across the body Try to remember not to slump, it adds to the strain. Don't purchase a big bag. You will only be tempted to fill it.

I have done all these things. I now sleep better at night with out my neck and shoulder pain keeping me awake. Occasionally I try to switch off to a big purse but I am quickly reminded with the stiffness in my neck and the headaches that follow.

Use the simple tips above to help keep your back healthy. Go get yourself a teardrop sling shoulder bag with an ergonomic design.

The teardrop sling shoulder bag that I found has lots of pockets and I love it!

Everyone gets a little stiff neck once in a while, and yoga can wipe away the pain with a few concentrated exercises. First, though, you must be certain the pain isn't related to something more serious than a simple stiff neck. Instead of yoga, see a doctor if any one of the following is true:

- You neck pain has persisted for more than three days, or it keeps coming back.

- Your neck pain is accompanied by dizziness or nausea.

- The pain seems to radiate down into your arms or legs.

- The pain began with a fall or accident.

If your stiff neck does NOT meet any of the above conditions, these simple yoga exercises can help increase your neck's flexibility and strengthen the neck muscles. By exercising you speed blood and needed nutrients to the area, easing the neck pain gradually. Try these:

Neck Stretches

Sitting cross-legged, tall and straight, and inhale eyes forward. Exhale, moving chin to chest. Repeat this breath five times, the fifth time holding chin to chest breathing three times through the nose. Inhale, raising the head to center again. This time drop your right ear to your right shoulder during the exhale. Repeat this breath five times, the fifth time holding ear to shoulder for three breaths. Repeat this sequence with the left ear to left shoulder.

Half-Circle Rolls

Drop your chin to your chest. Slowly roll it up to your right shoulder, down to center, up to the left shoulder and down to center. Repeat this three to five times. Never roll the head in a full circle, as this can cause damage.

Shoulder Hunches

Hunch your shoulders up as high as you can, then relax them completely. Repeat five to six times. Next roll your shoulders in forward circles five to six times, then backward circles five to six times. Notice how relaxed your shoulders feel. Try this quick relaxation exercise any time you feel tension building.

Chest Expander

Stand with your feet together and your fingers interlaced behind your back. Inhale while raising your hands behind your back, squeezing your shoulder blades together and tucking your tailbone under to keep from over-arching your back. Hold this position for three to four breaths, then lower your arms slowly during the next exhale.

Arm Lifts

Hold your arms straight out in front of you, parallel to the ground with palms facing each other but not touching. Inhale while bringing them up next to your head. Exhale while you bring them down again. Repeat this four to eight times.

Press It

Place either palm on the back of your head. Simultaneously press the head and hand against each other for a count of ten. Move the palm to the forehead and repeat the pressing for another count of ten. Now place the right palm against the right side of your head and press head and hand together for a count of ten. Repeat with the left palm and left side of the head.

These yoga exercises are designed to relieve physical stress and related pain. The best pain relief is pain prevention, so be sure to watch your posture and set your workspace to avoid slouching.

After you have had your surgery back pain is one of the most common complaints that doctors hear. It is no wonder that back pain is such a frequent problem after a surgery, when you consider how much wear and tear our backs must take on any given day. Most back problems occur when the muscles surrounding the area become strained and sore. Therefore, remedies to relieve back pain after surgery is a matter of learning how to get relief. This is generally accomplished by first addressing the initial pain with the proper treatment plan, and then to prevent further issues by instituting a preventative program that will strengthen the back and reduce the risk of injury and pain in the future.

Finding the Right Remedy To Relieve Back Pain after Surgery Isn't Always Easy

The first and most thought of relief comes when patient prefer to take pain killers. Non prescription pain medication is widely used to relief from back pain after surgery, but for most it simply doesn't work well enough. In these cases, you have another option. Firstly, a doctor may be able to prescribe a more effective medication that will relieve a lot of your pain; however you should talk to your doctor about the risks of these medications including addiction.

Hot packs can work wonders as a remedy to relieve back pain after surgery, enabling joints and muscles to tighten up a bit, so when you take the heat pack off they loosen again, creating more tolerable if not unnoticeable relief. Many say to use a hot compress in order to relief, and this is a viable option. A hot pack will enable the muscles and joints to work themselves out of tension and therefore allowing for a more responsive outcome.

Exercising will contribute to great health overall and being used as a remedy to relieve back pain is no exception. Employing yoga or a light stretching exercise routine to your daily activities won't only help to eliminate back problems after surgery, but it will help to keep them from coming back.

Know More about Remedies to relieve Back Pain after surgery:

Did you know that alleviating the back pain after surgery can be as easy as lying on your bed in a certain position at night? It can be, and all it requires are a pair of pillows. Lie on your back, and place two or more pillows under your back. Next, go down your legs so that your feet are on the bed, but your knees are elevated. This can very much help the back pain.

For more information on remedies to relieve back pain after surgery, search the internet. There are a variety of highly regarded websites that you can choose from, which can give you ideas, many of these ideas provided by people who have had the same back pain. You are sure to find the right remedies with the proper research.

Dorn Spinal Therapy was developed by a gentleman by the name of Dieter Dorn in Germany in the 1970's. Mr. Dorn, a farmer, had no medical training and sought out treatment for relief of his long term back pain. He had the fortune to meet a healer who performed a gentle procedure on him that eased his pain by helping vertebrae and joints sliding back into proper alignment. He then decided to learn the technique himself, help friends and family suffering from bad backs, and eventually teach it to others. Only slowly but steadily this new treatment approach is taking on its journey outside of the European border into Australia, the United States and Asia. Unless you keep up on all of the latest alternative treatement news, this is probably the first time you are hearing about it.

As most of the literature on Dorn Spinal Therapy is in various European languages, it has taken a while to get the information translated and distributed to English speaking countries. The Internet gets most of the credit for the increasing awareness of this exciting procedure now. This treatment can offer relief to anyone suffering the effects of a dysfunctional alignment in their spine. Studies have shown that these dysfunctions can cause restricted movement, pain, headaches, tinnititus and other ailments. If you suffer from back or neck pain, you know what it means to have restricted movement and just what a negative effect it can have on your quality of life. Chiropractic treatments are the most popular form of treatment for back pain in the USA, Australia and UK, but it has its drawbacks as many back pain sufferers might have experienced. Within the medical establishment in the United States and most developed countries, alternative treatments for back problems do not get the respect they deserve and therefore those of us wanting natural treatments must seek them out or find a knowledgeable practitioner to guide us. There are hardly any chiropractors making us aware of a different treatment that they do not provide.

With chiropractic treatments vertebrae are forced into place, while the Dorn technique encourages alignment using the natural movements of the patient. For example, if you are suffering from lower back pain, the practitioner would instruct you to swing one of your legs and at the same time he or she would use light pressure to push the vertebrae into alignment. Having the patient use a muscle at the time pressure is applied makes this method extremely safe because when the muscle is engaged it will not allow the vertebrae to move too far. Will Dorn Spinal Therapy help you? There is only one way to find out.

Whether you are seeking relief from lower back pain, neck pain or even stress relief, Dorn Spinal Therapy is one treatment you should look into. This gentle, natural treatment leaves most patients pain free within only three treatments. And even if you have been told you need back surgery because there is nothing that can help you, you might want to think again and look for a Dorn practitioner to give this treatment a go before undergoing final surgery. You would not be the first one to be spared from surgery and live a happy, painfree life after discovering the power of this treatment.

Neck pain is very commonly shown by most people to be in the region of the back of the neck and between the base of the neck to the shoulder, primarily indicating the region of the trapezius muscle.

Trapezius is a big diamond shaped muscle with 3 parts: the upper, middle and lower portions. Trapezius forms the slope of the shoulder. It arises from the back of the skull and from the spines of the C7 to T2 vertebrae. It attaches to the outer one third of the collarbone and acromion and the spine of the shoulder blade. It receives nerve supply from the accessory nerve and the C1 to C4 cervical nerve roots.

The trapezius functions to bring the 2 shoulder blades together toward the midline, draws the acromion backward and rotates the shoulder blade upward. It functions to shrug the shoulder, pull the head and neck backward, bend the neck sideways and also to turn the neck to the opposite side. Therefore with pain and spasm of the right trapezius, the patient will have difficulty bending the neck sideways to the right side. The patient will also have difficulty turning the face (rotation) to the opposite side.

Most patients who complain of neck pain or shoulder pain will be invariably show the pain to be at slope between the base of the neck and the shoulder, in the region of upper trapezius.
With pain and tightness in the trapezius, patients may have symptoms of headaches, dizziness, neck pain and midback pain.

When the latissimus dorsi (C6-C8 roots) and the deltoid (C5, C6 roots) have pain or spasm and/or weakness, the trapezius will help in lifting by shoulder shrug. Similarly, the trapezius will shrug the shoulder for maintaining the arm out in space.

To properly release the tightness in the trapezius, the entire spine muscles from the skull to the lower back, the latissimus dorsi and the gluteus muscles have to be treated.
Trapezius muscle is usually so tight that it is very difficult to treat and to find motor points, especially in the lower trapezius.

© 2007 copyright www.stopmusclepain.com

Breast reduction can be a surgical procedure which is carried out to reduce the size of overly large breasts and to reduce sagging breasts. As with breast augmentation, this procedure is performed mostly on women, but men are known to have the operation as well. Breast reduction operations can help women with heavy, drooping breasts, who as a direct result of the weight of their breasts, could suffer from cervix, back, shoulder, circulation, or breathing troubles. The weight of their breasts could also cause irritation because of bra straps chafing the skin.

Breast reduction surgery can make the breasts smaller, lighter, and firmer. In some operations, it has been known for the surgeon to even cut down the size of the areola or nipples and alter their position.

It should be known that these procedures are mainly carried out on women with fully-developed breasts.It is not recommended for women who are hoping to breast feed, as it could lower the likelihood of feeding success and greatly lower the amount of breast milk created due to the surgery.

Two of the most popular breast reduction methods are the:

inferior pedicle vertical scar method

Both of these are very likely to allow both nipple sensitiveness and the likelihood of successful breastfeeding, compared with other methods of the past era.

The inferior pedicle method, sometimes known as a keyhole or Weiss pattern reduction, requires an anchor-shaped surgical incision which encircles the areola. This incision leads downwards, following the natural curve of the breast. Extra glandular tissue, adipose tissue, and skin is removed. Next, the nipple and areola are put into their new position. One of the downfalls of this method is sometimes the patient may end up with "square" appearing breasts, but this is a basic alternative for women with the biggest, most drooping breasts.

On the other hand, the vertical scar technique, also known as "the SPAIR" or "short  scar breast reduction", is at present gaining great popularity due to the minimum amount of scarring afterwards and a more rounded shape after surgery completion. To perform this, a doctor does what is also known as a "lollipop surgical incision" to the breast, ensuring the least amount of scarring. At the incision point, no horizontal incisions are done, and the scars are less likely to extend with time, as opposed to the Anchor-shaped method. This method has been known to have good long term results.

Liposuction has been used along with the additional breast reduction methods for quite some time, but the more novel liposuction only method is at present gaining popularity. All of the breast reduction processes include a breast lift in addition to the liposuction only process. 

Many women with very large breasts have been known to suffer from back pain, neck pain, shoulder grooving, skin rash under the breasts and in some cases an increased likelihood of migraine attacks. They always appear much bigger than they really are and have difficulty with exercise and with dressing. By undergoing a simple procedure like breast reduction such problems can be a thing of the past, allowing them to live a pain free life to the full.

Back pain can happen because some muscles are "too strong" while others are "too weak."  Your muscles are out-of-balance.  That's quite common.  Why does it happen?  Lifestyles, mostly.  The sitting disease gets us or we move our out-of-balance muscles in a way they don't happen to like.

You may have heard the advice:  "Strengthen your abdominal muscles."  While strong abdominal (stomach) muscles are good, sit-ups can be NOT so good.  Here's why:

When you do sit-ups, the movement removes the natural curve from your lower back; it makes it flatter.  The curve is good--it's there for a reason. When you do sit-ups, it's easy to strain your neck muscles. Sit-ups shorten your abdominal muscles.  Short muscles in front help flatten your lower back and take away your natural curve.  Short muscles in the front of your body make it harder to keep good posture.  Good posture helps prevent back pain.What are some safer options?

Suck in your abdomen.  That strengthens your muscles without aggravating any other part of your body. Do reverse crunches.  Rather than raising your head, reverse crunches curl your pubic bone toward your nose by using your abdominal or stomach muscles.  Your head never leaves the floor and nothing gets strained.How do you do a reverse curl?
Lay on your back, knees up. Move your knees so they are over your waist. Activate your stomach muscles (not your hips, legs or butt.)    Contract (squeeze) your abdominals and bring your knees closer to your face.  Your tailbone will leave the floor but your head does not.Remember the key to being pain-free is having muscular balance on all sides of your body.  If you have a strong back AND the front of your body is also strong--so all of the muscles are working in balance and harmony--you can get rid of your back pain.

If you are suffering from back pain, you probably have a very tough time in the morning when you get up from bed. The back may feel sore or stiff when you wake up. Therefore, you must be very careful about your body movement in such cases. For example, a simple way is to stretch your body long while taking a deep breath. Following is a brief rundown on how to get out of bed in a way that is good for the health of your back.

Step 1

The first step is to get closer to the edge of the bed while lying in your bed. Now, start bending your knees slowly in the upward direction in a way that your feet become flat on the bed. You have to do this while your still lying on your back.

Step 2

The next step is to roll onto the desired side while keeping your knees bent. However, there are a couple of things that you need to keep in mind in this regard. For example, while you are doing this, it is very important for you to make sure that you are moving your spine as a unit instead of twisting the same otherwise the movement may worsen your back pain. If you find it difficult to do, you should try imagining as if a wooden log or steel rod has been placed in your spine right from the shoulder area to the hip area. Do not try to apply much force to roll your body - let the gravity help instead. The key point here is not to tighten your ab muscles or back intentionally.

Step 3

Now, put both hands on your side on the bed and push yourself upwards up to sitting. While pushing your body in such a way, you should gently bend your legs at the knees and hips. Don't forget that iron rod in your spine - move your spine as a unit. Don't twist it. Try to anchor your position by using the weight of your legs. This way, the rest of your body will easily be pushed up without applying extra force or pressure from your spine or back. If you seriously want to avoid back pain, you should not hurry up. Go slow in a comfortable manner in order to accomplish the movement safely.

Now that you are in a sitting position on bed while your feet touching the ground, relax for a moment. But, make sure that you are sitting while balancing your body - don't put pressure on just one side of your seat. Since you were lying down for several hours and now the body is transitioning to the standing position, you should try to arch your lower back gently while sitting up tall. While you do so, make sure that your one leg is placed in front of the other. Such movements will get you some relief from back pain.

Do you find yourself in this scenario whereby you wake up early in the morning and the first thing you feel is pain at the neck and similarly when going to bed the last thing you experience is pain at the neck and you have always dreamt of a time when you will never feel pain again?.

I want to inform you that stress, tension and fatigue is mostly what makes you feel these pains at the neck, and all these sums to one conclusion, that you misuse your muscles and significantly it means you have lost the natural ways of handling your muscles to work for you right way.

Apart from the above mentioned cause of your neck pain, injury at the neck because of an accident is another aspect that makes you suffer from chronic neck pain. Oftentimes, these pains remain for months, even years before understanding how you can improve your situation.

Sometimes, after engaging in activities, you may start feeling pain at the neck or in most cases after you are through with the activity at hand, you suddenly feel this pain which might be excruciating and you will agree with me that some of these activities are: you feel this sudden 'crook' in the neck, because you held the telephone in a wrong position speaking for a long time, painting a ceiling in most cases for a long time, a stiff/inflexible neck when you woke up, because you did not place your neck in the right sleeping position, stretching your neck in an awkward direction because you want to do some exercise on your neck, for no reason one day you just found yourself with neck pain, and so on.

The activities above that causes pain on your neck can be corrected by applying certain techniques that are natural to give you that relieve from stress, because if you do not handle the stress issue, it might result to fatigue in the muscle which you will experience as pain. To permanently beat that stress and learn how to re-educate your muscles, visit the blog that explains the benefits of this technique and how you can be free from pain. All you need to do is take action and you will see positive results.

Many of us have poor posture in our workday environment, which can lead to pain in the neck and shoulders, and even headaches. A constant rounded shoulder position and forward head position can cause this pain. Most of the time we don't pay attention to our posture, as long as we feel comfortable and it is not causing us pain. However, what we don't know is that when we are sitting for a long period of time with the wrong position, it can put too much pressure on our muscles, which can then cause the muscles to tighten. This can then cause neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. We can also feel numbness and tingling in our arms and hands. There are some things that you can do to prevent these injuries from occurring.

Check your posture

Stop slouching! Your shoulders should be down and well rested. They should not be rounded forward because this results in a curved chest and rounded back form. Your head should be at the center of your spine and neck. Do not put your chin down and forward as this may result in a major curve in your cervical spine. Try using a mirror at your desk so that you can observe or check your posture. If you want to see how your posture is while actually working, an option would be to have an office co-worker take a picture of you using a digital camera while working at your desk. This will enable you to see if you are using correct posture.

If you know that you are already using the wrong posture, be conscious and try to work on using proper posture. This will really help to prevent putting stress on your muscles. Also doing proper positioning will avoid placing pressure on your spine, which can lead to headaches and neck pain. If you practice proper posture consciously, it will eventually become second nature.

Here are some exercises you can do to decrease the discomfort in the neck and shoulders:

Guidelines: Three neck work outs 3 times a day in the morning, lunch, and afternoon breaks. Maintain every posture for ten to fifteen seconds

Make 3 sets of the following:

Steps

Rotate neck right and left Bend neck to the left and right sides, as to try to touch ear to shoulder; maintain each side for ten to fifteen seconds Move your shoulders slowly up, and back, then down

Do these exercises regularly to decrease the risk of developing tight muscles, which can lead to neck and shoulder pain, and headaches. They may seem easy but it is your perseverance, patience, and discipline that will enable you to achieve these and prevent further injuries.

The most important thing to remember: Do not abuse yourself. If you know that you need some time to rest, then don't deprive yourself to relax. Just like a computer, if it is used almost 24 hours a day or if you store too many software or files in it, it could get overloaded and eventually shuts down. Just like this, if you work too much and don't allow yourself time to relax or take care of yourself, you too can be injured. It is up to you to prevent these injuries, so that you don't have to experience pain, and spend your time and money being treated.

A body in alignment stays in alignment unless acted upon by a force. The force that takes bones out of alignment is very subtle, so subtle that over the years you don't even know it's happening. Muscles gradually become tighter through under use, some more than others, pulling some bones out of alignment. When it comes to the cause of back pain, it's probably best to work on the following assumptions.

- Back Pain is eminently fixable.

- Back Pain goes with a body that is generally in poor condition. For many people a good physical conditioning program, one which includes the aerobic, strength and flexibility elements of fitness will restore function to normal in a short period of time.

- Back Pain goes with a body that's 20 of more Kg over weight.

- Back Pain has a cause. Find the cause and treat it. Back pain rarely comes 'out of the blue'. It's asking a bit too much to keep blaming bad luck. There is a cause. If you can't find the cause, your search for the cure is likely to be fruitless.

- If you can't work out the cause yourself, and it is often difficult to analyse your own posture, go to someone who can, someone who has a good eye for spotting misalignment, someone who can give you a thorough postural assessment. This may be a masseur, yoga teacher, physiotherapist, osteopath, fitness practitioner, physical educator, doctor..., but certainly make sure it is someone who has a good reputation in the field of postural analysis.

- It's a big ask expecting your back to get better by having someone do something to you. Soon or later you have to do something to yourself - like the exercises, which strengthen, loosen and bring the body back into correct alignment.

- Most big problems start of as small problems that you don't address.

- The most likely cause of back pain is misuse of one sort or another, usually over a long period of time. If you've spent 20 or more years sitting down at a desk all day and don't have a regular and systematic strength, flexibility and postural alignment program you can be certain that you're on the way to musculo-skeletal dysfunction; that's if you don't already have it.

- Getting someone to give you an anti-inflammatory tablet and a rub down might give you a warm feeling under your singlet for a couple of days but it won't provide the long term fix which comes with strengthening and loosening the muscles that are designed to keep your body in correct alignment.

- Bones do what muscles tell them to do. If you have back pain, the pain is telling you that the muscles designed to keep your vertebrtae in correct alignment are not doing their job properly. Some of those muscles are far removed from where the pain is. The pain is telling you to realign the bones.

- Treat back pain as a symptom of dysfunction not a cause.

- The cause of back pain is rarely at the site of the pain (trauma excepted).

- Most people have slight postural imperfections, which end up causing pain in other parts of their body. You can spot these imperfections quite easily.

- Postural imperfections are magnified by such things as slouching over the computer, holding the phone between ear and shoulder, and by hand and foot dominance in the sports most regularly played. For many men, placing their wallet in the right back pocket of their trousers twists their pelvis every time they sit down. After 20 years they're permanently twisted and wonder why they've got a crook back. The last thing you want is a therapist getting their hands on your wallet!

- An X-ray and an MRI scan are probably less useful tools for the diagnosis of the cause of back pain than the eyes, the hands and camera. The latter is more likely to provide you with graphic illustration of the nature of your dysfunction.

- It's not the chair, it's how you sit in it. Once you habitually change the natural 'S' shaped curve of your spine into an habitual 'C' shape curve you're setting yourself up for lower back, neck and shoulder pain.

- If muscles are not getting stronger they're getting weaker. If they're not getting looser they're getting tighter. People without a regular and systematic strength and flexibility training program run the risk of back pain.

- Don't ask what your therapist can do for you; ask what you can do for yourself.

- Don't leave it to a therapist to take full responsibility for your dysfunction. If you do something to yourself, like strengthening, stretching and managing your posture better, there is a good chance you'll restore poor function to good.

- Therapy helps speed up the rehab process but it doesn't take the place of the things you need to do for yourself.

- An anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant are unlikely to cure your back pain!

- Some therapies when used on their own only provide temporary relief from the symptoms but are not aimed at fixing the underlying cause of the dysfunction.

- It is poor form for someone to do something to you without giving you some insight as to what has caused your dysfunction and without supplying you with exercises to go with the therapy.

- It is an advanced case of stupidity not to do the exercises that a good therapist provides.

- Stretching is necessary but not sufficient. You need to strengthen the muscles which support your body in correct alignment, with specific strength exercises as well as the general exercises that come as part of a regular and systematic strength training program.

- Nutritional supplementation may make a significant contribution to easing back pain, like, glucosamine, chondroitin sulphate, brassica juncea, green lip mussels and vitamin B5.

- There is a synergistic effect when it comes to restoring poor function to good. Use a wide range of modalities, regularly and intensively to speed up the rehabilitation process. Most people spend less time in two years than an elite athlete would spend in two weeks. That's why they never get better.

- Stacking a range of modalities up one on top of the other and increasing the intensity of the rehab process may speed up the recovery process. This is what sports people do to get better quickly.

- If you're on workers compensation for back pain, treat the rehabilitation process as a full time job. If you're used to spending eight hours at work, spend eight hours doing what athletes do to get better quicker.

John Miller

Your back hurts. It hurts a lot. You ask, "What are the exercises to stop the back pain now?" or you plead, "Give me information on back pain exercise!"

Surprisingly, too much rest during an encounter of back pain will often make the condition worse. A day or two of rest should be followed by specific back pain exercise for complete recovery.

How Can Exercise Stop Back Pain?

Careful, thoughtful back pain exercise will help distribute nutrients up and down your spinal column, feeding your muscles, ligaments, nerves, and joints. Specific back pain exercise will stretch you back, making it supple. Other back pain exercise will strengthen your back, and make it strong. Weakness and stiffness, increased by rest, can be overcome by back pain exercise.

Exercises to stop the back pain now will also prevent future back pain, since you will be increasing your back's ability to handle extra stress or injury.

CHOOSE EXERCISE, NOT REST, TO STOP BACK PAIN NOW

Before you begin back pain exercise, check with your health care provider. Not every back pain exercise will be right for you. If your injury is sever, a spine care specialist will recommend specific exercise techniques to meet your need. Your back pain exercise program should work the entire body, even though your primary target is the back.

What Are the Exercises to Stop Back Pain Now?

Once you decide that back pain exercise is essential, you will want to choose appropriate exercises. We recommend a doctor's advice, and suggest that you show your doctor these possibilities.

1. Back Pain Exercises - Stretching

Stretching muscles, ligaments and tendons is essential for back health. Whether or not you are currently experiencing back pain, regular stretching of the back will give strength to overcome or prevent injury and trauma to the back. If yours is chronic back pain, plan on regular, daily stretching for as much as six months to give your back the flexibility and strength it needs. You may want to schedule more than one stretching session per day, but work carefully. Eventually, you will find that back pain exercise keeps back pain from recurring.

Set goals (expectations with due dates) for each muscle group. Decide a date by which you want each of these muscle groups to be strong. Write down each date, and determine to meet it.

Warm Up First for Safe, Efficient Back Pain Exercise!!
If there is any pain, stop or take it more slowly.
Cool down after your back pain exercise.

* Gluteus muscles. The muscles in your buttocks support flexibility in your hips as well as your pelvis. Back pain exercise should include these muscles daily.

The gluteus stretch. Sit in a straight back or folding chair. Move your bottom only forward several inches from the chair back. In that position, lightly press your feet against the floor. Now squeeze your gluteus muscles together, and hold for 5 minutes. This stretch allows you to get back pain exercise while watching TV.

* Hamstrings. Located in the back of each leg, your hamstrings help give you correct posture.

The hamstring stretch. Place one foot on a chair, keeping the other leg straight. Bend over until your chest touches the knee of the foot on the chair. Keep your chest on the elevated leg as you slowly back the other leg away from the chair. Hold your stretch for 20 to 30 seconds. This stretch gives good back pain exercise without equipment.

* Piriformis. The piriformis syndrome is caused by the piriformis muscle irritating the sciatic nerve. You feel pain in the buttocks, and referred pain from the back of your thigh to the base of the spine. Many people call this lower back pain "sciatica".

The piriformis stretch. Lie on your back, right hip and knee flexed. Grasp your right knee with your left hand, and pull the knee towards your left shoulder. In this position, grasp just above the right ankle with the right hand, and rotate the ankle outwards. Repeat with your left side. You might want to do this back pain exercise with gentle music.

* Psoas Major. Lower back mobility can be greatly limited by a tight Psoas Major. This muscle often causes back pain that makes it difficult to kneel on both knees, or to stand for extended periods.

The Psoas Major stretch. Kneel on your right knee, left foot flat on the floor, left knee bent. Rotate the right leg outward. Place your hand on the right gluteus muscle and tighten the muscle. Lean forward through your hip, careful not to bend the lower spine. You should feel the stretch in the front of your right hip. Hold for about 30 seconds. Repeat with your left leg. If you have young children, include them in your back pain exercise.

2. Back Pain Exercises - Strengthening

Back pain can be stopped now, and greatly avoided in the future, by decreasing lower back stress. These exercises develop critical muscles in the abdomen, lower back, and gluteus. Both of these back pain exercises are learned better when working with a trained physical therapist, but if you are careful, you can learn them alone. Although you may do daily stretching back pain exercises, it is important to take a few days off each week from strengthening back pain exercises.

Lower Back strengthening. Begin by lying flat on your back on the floor. Do not push your back down on the floor. Bend both knees. Pull your navel (belly button) in toward your back while keeping your back relaxed. As you breathe out, stretch your arms upward as though you are reaching for an overhead chandelier. Gradually raise head and shoulders from the floor until your shoulder blades are barely touching the floor. Hold the position one to two seconds. Repeat 8 to 12 times. If you feel pain with this back pain exercise, stop or try to do it more gently and slowly.

3. Back and Leg strengthening. This is one of the McKenzie Exercises, named after a New Zealand physical therapist. Lie on your stomach, and push up off the floor with both hands, raising only your chest. Keep your pelvis flat on the floor. Raise your back to a comfortable stretch and hold for 8 to 10 seconds. Repeat 8 to 12 times. You should feel no pain with this back pain exercise, only a pulling up of the spine.

It is strongly suggested that any back pain exercise be done only after seeking professional medical advice.

If you are experiencing shoulder back pain when breathing, then you are probably in a lot of discomfort. This type of pain can be very distressing and uncomfortable, and can occur every time a deep breath is taken. Some people who are experiencing this problem simply try to stop taking deep breaths, as this is when the pain can really kick in. However, this only provides temporary respite from the pain and it is important that a long term solution is sought.

Of course, in order to determine the right solution you need to work out the cause of the problem. If you experience this pain for a few days and then it subsides it may be down to something as simple as a pulled muscle that has eased. However, if the pain persists after a few days it is important to seek medical advice, as the cause of the shoulder back pain could be something more serious.

What can cause this pain when breathing?

There may be either serious or simple reasons behind the pain that you are experiencing. If you are unsure as to the nature of the pain and it fails to subside in a reasonable amount of time you should see your doctor. A medical professional will be able to perform various tests and scans to see what is causing the pain. Once this has been done he or she can discuss the treatment options depending on what the problem is.

Some of the things that could trigger shoulder back pain when breathing include:

Problems with the lungs. Any issues relating to the lungs can result in pain when breathing, and people that smoke are especially susceptible to such problems. This type of problem will be picked up by your doctor when scans are performed. Issues with the cervical spine. Any pressing or pressure on the cervical nerves can result in pain when taking a deep breath. Again, this is something that your doctor should pick up in during the diagnostic process. Muscle strain. The answer to your pain may be far simpler. It could be that you have pulled or strained a muscle in the upper back or shoulder area. Taking deep breaths may be putting increased pressure on the muscle, thus causing the pain.

Can stretching help

If you have any concerns about the cause of your pain it is important to see a doctor so that the cause can be identified. However, in order to ease the discomfort that you may be experiencing some gentle stretching could help. If the problem is due to a trapped nerve stretching could help to ease the pain, stretch and muscles, increase blood flow, and improve mobility.

Body pains especially neck, lower back, shoulder pain and knee pain are very common with more than 90% of all people experiencing such body aches at least once in their life time. Most structural related pains are associated with improper body posture such as excessive bending and seating postures that affect your neck and back.

There are diverse ways of treating structural aches including medication and in some extreme cases surgery. However, one of the more effective ways of dealing with these pains is physical therapy. Physical therapy entails both passive and active processes.

Passive Physical Therapy

Passive therapy, as opposed to active therapy are the processes that are done onto your body by a physiotherapy without involving exercising.

Massage

Deep tissue massaging is ideal for neck, back and shoulder pain relief as it applies sufficient pressure on tissues to relief pain and muscular tension. Massage is especially ideal for the simple conditions especially those associated with poor posture. However, to resolve the main cause of the condition, it is important to train the patient the right body postures to protect them from the re-occurrence of the conditions. If the pains are severe, massaging may not be ideal as it may cause further discomfort.

Heat Therapy

Heat therapy is very effective in treating aches since it helps relax muscles and allows for better blood circulation which in turn provides more oxygen and nutrients to the affected areas. Though heat therapy will not resolve the cause of the aches, it will help reduce it to manageable levels. Heat therapy is especially effective in resolving both back and shoulder pain.

Electric Muscle Therapy

Electric muscular therapy helps reduce muscular discomfort and body aches by reducing muscular tension. This therapy process also triggers the body to produce more endorphins that are used by the body to naturally relief pain. Electric therapy is mainly used for neck, hip and knee pain.

Hydro-therapy

Water is known to be a pain reliever and it simply helps muscles to relax as the water massages your body. Relaxing in a water bath helps in reducing structural discomfort especially back and shoulder pain. However, there are advanced hydro-therapy machines available with some physiotherapists to aid in relieving body aches.

Ultrasound

This is a physical therapy process that uses machine generated ultrasound waves to increase general body temperature and thereby allowing for better blood circulation. Improved blood circulation increases oxygen levels in the affected areas and therefore speeding the healing process.

Active Physical Therapy Treatment

Active therapy involves personal exercising of your body to relax muscles and improve blood circulation. These exercises may be used hand in hand with medication. However, in some more severe conditions, the victim may not be able to perform these exercises and therefore, other treatment processes may be used.

Abdomen Muscles Exercises

Abdominal muscles play a major part in maintaining body structure and stability. These muscles help support the back muscles that in turn help in supporting and protecting the spinal cord. Abdominal muscle exercise is therefore ideal for back and shoulder pain relief. These exercises include captain chair, bicycle maneuver, exercise ball crunch, vertical leg crunch and torso track exercise.

Muscle strengthening

Muscular strengthening exercises are exercises that work to build your muscular strength and thereby protecting your body structure from excessive strain and pressure in your daily chores. Furthermore, some structural pain conditions may be averted by the muscle strengthening processes.

One of the most common ailments that people get as they age is back pain. As you age, your muscles begin to deteriorate which can often lead to more stress on the lower back. Chronic pain in your lower back is very painful and frustrating to millions of people who suffer from it daily. Many people are on medication to help reduce the pain the face. Back pain management is the best way to get your pain under control.

Constant pain in your back is often caused by a wide variety of different reasons. Some people have back aches because of a sports injury that occurred when they were younger, while others may have it because of bad posture, or natural deterioration of their muscles around the back. No matter how your pain is cause, the end result is the same for most people- constant pain and agony.

If you are experiencing back aches and you have no idea what caused it, you should try doing exercise to strengthen your lower core muscles. The core muscles are very important for a healthy back because they help hold everything together. Core exercises are especially useful to strengthen the lower back muscles. Have a stronger muscles group will help tighten up the back, removing some pain that people might face.

Going to see a good physiotherapist is important if you are looking to find someone to help give you back pain relief. They can often teach you different back pain management techniques that you can use to help reduce your pain.

Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain complexities
Neck Pain and Lower Back Pain are the 2 most common forms of pain in the human anatomy, yet the cause of either can be complex at times due to so many different causes. One of those is often very difficult to diagnose, frequently overlooked, and is therefore labeled as a secret or hidden cause. That hidden cause or secret source of Neck Pain or Lower Back Pain is known as Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome. Facet Joint Pain or Facet Syndrome, is a chronic pain syndrome or condition directly related to pain in the facet joints.

What is a Facet Joint and what is Articulation?
A Facet Joint is a posterior spinal joint that interfaces two adjacent upper and lower vertebrae together. Also known as a Zygapophyseal Joint, the Facet Joint provides for motion known as "Articulation" within defined ranges of motion. The articulation of a Facet Joint includes bending forward: flexion, bending backward: extension, and twisting: Cervical or Thoracolumbar rotation. The joint is stretched and unloaded during flexion and compressed or loaded upon extension. Facet Joints are also joint range limiters to prevent damage to spinal discs from excessive range of motion movements.

What is a Synovial Joint?
Zygapophyseal joints are Synovial Joints- the most common joint in the human body. A Synovial Joint is characterized by having a joint capsule, joint capsule fluid-synovial fluid to lubricate the inside of the joint, and cartilage on the outside of the joint between the upper and lower adjacent surfaces of each vertebra to allow a smooth gliding movement.

What is Facet Arthritis?
Facet Arthritis or Facet Arthropathy is a degenerative arthritis-facet joint inflammation that can be one of the syndromes of Zygapophyseal Joint Pain. Both chronic pain conditions can be caused by wear and tear, degeneration of the cartilage surfaces, joint capsule or associated vertebral discs, injury or trauma, incorrect posture-excessive forward head posture, or abnormal spinal curvature such as Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back.

Factors affecting Joint Movement
The Zygapophyseal Joint must be able to move smoothly without restriction. Zygapophyseal Joint Pain is often experienced when the joint becomes "stuck" or "fixated" in the open or closed position or in the partially open or partially closed position. The Zygapophyseal Joint Pain dysfunction can cause the muscles surrounding the problem to become hypertonic-extremely tight in order to "splint" or support the problem. Conversely, the musculature that surrounds the joint could have a problem that is causing the joint to become stuck open or closed, resulting in Facet Joint Pain.

What are some Facet Joint Pain causes?
Some causes of Zygapophyseal joint pain are: Wear and tear, Degeneration of Cartilage surfaces, Joint Capsule or associated Vertebral Discs, Injury or Trauma, Incorrect posture, Excessive forward head posture, Forward Pelvic Rotation, Abnormal spinal curvature, Hyperlordosis-excessive arch in the lower back, Scoliosis-Lateral Lumbar spinal curvature.

What are the Lower Back Facet Syndrome Symptoms?
Lower back facet joint pain symptoms include lower back pain or tenderness, increased pain upon side bending or twisting or arching the lower back or torso, deep dull aching pain that moves to the buttocks or the back of the thighs, and/or stiffness or difficulty with certain movements, such as standing up straight or getting up out of a chair. The initial onset of pain might be related to a rotational spinal injury or a spinal injury involving hyperextension of the spine.

What are the Neck-Cervical Facet Syndrome Symptoms?
Zygapophyseal Joint pain neck symptoms include Neck Pain, Headaches, Shoulder Pain, and/or difficulty side bending or rotating the head. Ensure that the Facet Joint Pain Assessment clearly indicates the pain scale for the associated problems. Find out if there is a history of whiplash or any other kind of neck injury.

Is the Facet Joint moving freely, or is movement restricted and if so, how?
That is one of the most important questions that needs to be answered. There is a special test known as the spring test which can test for basic joint movement.

What Exercises will help to relieve my Facet Joint Pain?
If excessive lower back curvature - Lumbar Lordosis, and hypertonic hip flexors and hypertonic lower back musculature is causing compression of the lumbar facet joints, stretching and strengthening exercises to reduce joint compression and help prevent joint fixation will be required to reverse the postural distortion that has occurred. If the cervical (neck) spine is affected by excessive forward head posture and hypertonic neck musculature, there are strengthening and stretching

Back pains can be very aggravating. The soreness may be found in the upper or lower portion of the back. The tenderness found in between the lower back and the neck and where the spinal column connects with the ribs commonly referred to as right side upper back pain. The muscles become worn-out and the ligaments are frayed. The muscle might become taut and rigid. The manifestations vary for each individual. A patient may have muscular contraction. Some might experience twinges in the muscles. Upper body movements can set off the pain in specific spots of the upper back. Neck and shoulder movement or even a touch on the affected parts may activate the right side upper back pain. The pain might even shoot up to the right shoulder blade.

Right side upper back pain is caused by different factors. These may be due to a misalignment or dislocation of rib joints, muscle strain, the joining of a disc or facet to the cervical spine, incorrect posture or referred pains from organ dysfunctions. Severe and razor-sharp pain can be felt in the right side upper back of the body.

Misalignment or dislocation of joints can bring about jagged pain which can be felt even if a person just takes a deep breath. Strained muscles are usually due to excessive repetitive movement, extended use of or heavy demands on the muscles. A throbbing soreness on the other hand can be felt if a patient suffers from right side upper back pain resulting from poor posture. A person who spends an extended period of time doing computer work might encounter this type of problem especially if he has poor posture. Since the movements of a person who constantly work on the computer are repetitive and tedious, the strain is usually on the same set of muscles causing it to overwork thus the persistent pain. Referred pains from some organ dysfunction also produce right side upper back pains or thoracic spine. This is especially true if a patient suffers from disorders in the stomach, spleen, heart, gallstone, and pancreas and so on.

Treatment for right side upper back pain would also vary depending on its cause. The medical practitioner has to identify the root of the right side upper back pain and treat it accordingly. Some medical practitioners may recommend traditional ways of handling the pain such as anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, ice packs or stretching exercises. Other kinds of strenuous exercises are to be avoided to refrain from causing more damage or strain on the muscles. Chiropractic care can also alleviate the pain by employing methods such as mild pumping or putting moderate pressure on the affected parts thus separating and treating the right side upper back pain. This is also known as the flexion distraction technique.

It is recommended that a patient who suffers from right side upper back pain must consult a competent medical practitioner for a thorough physical examination to determine the exact cause of the problem. Without proper medical care and attention, right side upper back pain might worsen and leave the patient incapacitated.

Why low back pain is increasing amongst kids.

Low back pain, neck pain in children is increasing in an alarming rate and back pain is no more a problem of old and obese people. Degenerative disc disease is actually a form of arthritis and has identified to be a common cause of lower back and leg pain in children Even 50 years before back and neck pain was a rare pediatric condition.

Recent statistics shows that low back pain is responsible for approximately 23% of most school absenteeism and the number becomes 29% once we include sports injury.

Parents need to address the pain management of their kids properly because childhood low back pain triggered depression and other psychological problems.

Prime Causes of Low Back Pain in Children?

Poor posture, misalignment of vertebrae, trauma, emotional stress and sports injuries, have the same affect on children and adult.

Today's children carry backpacks that weigh 10-20% of their body weight and carrying of this extra weight normally triggers the neck and back pain.

A research was conducted in England involving children between the ages of 11 and 14 to find out the relation between low back pain and stress amongst the kids and teenagers. Research report shows that revealed that children with higher levels of psychological and social challenges are much more likely to experience low back pain than their peers.

Should You Consult Chiropractic For Back Pain

If you consult an Orthopedic Care unit, possible common treatments will be Cortisone Shots, Anti-inflammatory Drugs or back surgery. All of these has side affects and requires recovery time.

One of the most popular treatments for back pain is Chiropractic Care. The chiropractic approach consists of physical manipulations of bones and joints in an attempt to line things back up and it's recommended typically 2-3 times per week.

Chiropractic treatment is an excellent way to enjoy natural relief of back pain. A professional chiropractic doctor can address subluxation (where vertebrae become misaligned) with great success. A proper attention to subluxation also helps to address frequent earaches, headaches, infant colic, and neck pain and carpel tunnel syndrome

If your child is suffering back pain due to vertebral misalignment, chiropractor will painlessly adjust the vertebral column without potentially harmful drugs or invasive surgery. Chiropractor will recommend appropriate exercises to relieve low back pain.

Cause of Lower Back Pain can arise out of complex origins and symptoms including identified muscle trauma, or a hitherto unknown non-traumatic event. Moreover Lower back pain can originate in regions other than the back and eventually find its way to the muscles or other structure in the lower back. The origins of lower back pain are many and varied, including congenital disorders, inflammatory disease, and circulatory disorders among others.

Physicians are hard pressed to pin down the accurate cause of a patient suffering from lower back pain owing to the complex composition of the human spinal. The spinal chord is a three-dimensional puzzle made up of bone, discs, muscles, ligaments and tendons and a myriad of other tissues that can easily mask the precise Cause of Lower Back Pain. Moreover, psychological causes like anger, fear, anxiety, frustration, depression and various other psychological states make it even more difficult to pinpoint and treat lower back pain. These can cause back pain or can also be the associated symptoms of lower back pain existing concurrently with pain.

The cause of lower back pain is of various types. The emotional components stated above also complicated the diagnosis of the malady and sometimes lead to a wrong diagnosis resulting in needless surgery. Back pain is grouped into two categories: Acute and Chronic. A back pain that is sudden in origin is called Acute and can be caused by internal organ disease, cancer, arthritis, fractures, trauma, and infections around the spine. Chronic back pain is more constant and patients might have to endure it for months before finding any relief in their lower back.

Some of the common disorders that are cause of lower back pain, result in lower back pain can be listed as under:

Mechanical Disorders: In this case a specific part of the spine experiences pain owing to damaged to the ligament or a joint in the spine.

Developmental Disorders: An irregularity in the formation and growth of the skeleton cause lower back pain resulting in a conservative treatment like surgery, which is necessary to prevent long-term disability.

Inflammatory and Infectious Disorders: These are not common cause of lower back pain, but nevertheless are very important because not only they are difficult to diagnose by also result in serious consequences if not diagnoses early.

Another rare occurrence is the cancerous tumor in the spine or spinal chord, which result in lower back pain. The most common symptom of a spinal tumor is pain. And, last but not the least, an injury to the spine results in a trauma like condition which in turn gives rise to pain in the back. It is very important to note these disorders as major cause of lower back pain in the final scheme of things that will help you to understand this disorder better.

Neck pain is another stereotypical symptom of stress. Compared to headaches which develop and become more painful as the effects of stress grow stronger, neck pain is most noticeable when attempting to go back to a healthier state.

This might seem strange at first, but on second thought it is to be expected. Stress causes our minds, hearts and bodies to become tense. When you are under such tension for a long time, this stressed state becomes the new 'normal' state. All aspects of our being constrict into a smaller, less capable form to sustain less damage from the tension of stress.

Just observe the body of a person who is under constant stress: bent back, drawn-in neck, tense shoulders - overall bad posture. After this stressed pose has become the new norm and the person tries to assume a healthy posture again - pain sets in.

You can quickly judge how much stress a person has been under lately by touching and exerting small pressure on the neck and shoulder area. If the person finds it painful or if the muscles feel like concrete, remind them to take steps toward making their lives less stressful. (Hopefully they will take steps on their own to change their situation.)

A good massage is a efficient, semi-pleasant way to relieve the tension of the body in the short term and alleviate neck pain and shoulder pain. Such a massage may feel very painful at first, but as tension is relieved a state of deep relaxation should set in.

Do you suffer from neck ache and constant neck pain? And have you tried neck massage, medication like muscle relaxer and have gone to a chiropractor? If you have done all that and the pain still persists, it's time to take the proactive approach. If you are suffering from chronic neck pain and are looking for a long term solution to your neck pain relief, consider Pilates. Research has proven that Pilates can be your solution to achieving immediate relief. Pilates can be a great program to help you heal faster. If your muscles always seem to be tense and tight, it can work to relieve stress and tension.

Why Are My Muscles so Tense?

Muscles can become tense for any number of reasons. Stress and tension are big contributors. If you are an athlete with a vigorous training schedule, your muscles may be working overtime. They become hard, knotted and tense without being stretched. Sitting behind a desk all day and looking at a computer screen has caused many people to complain of muscle and neck pain. Other factors like a build-up of protein can also cause painful knots and restrict mobility. Accidents and injuries can also cause scar tissues and create tightness. Muscles that are tense are short and weak. Healthy muscles are long and strong. Pilates as a total body conditioning regime focuses on strengthening, stretching and adding core endurance. All these key factors contribute to gaining results.

How Does Pilates Relieve Neck Pain?

As mentioned above, Pilates works on strengthening your core. The routines are very specific and yield specific results. By using slow, deliberate movements, muscles are stretched and strengthened, easing tension and soreness. Muscles are able to relax as they get stronger and healthier. You will also learn proper breathing techniques. All these contribute to effective pain relief. Breathing will relax your whole body, easing tension. Good posture means you are not hunched over or putting undue stress on your neck and shoulders.

What are Some Specific Exercises I Can Do?

There are some very effective neck pain exercises you can do that will ease tension and stiffness. These exercises can be done at your work desk. It is important to keep your neck moving at every two hours. As long as you keep your neck mobile with movement, the neck is less tired and less likely to seize up. You can do simple neck related movements like Neck Rolls and Side Stretches.

Neck Rolls

Move your neck sideways, right to left. Rotate it side to side clockwise, switch direction. 10-15 repetitions are usually sufficient.

Side Stretches

Stand with your feet hip width apart and bring your left hand with fingertips near your right ear; turn your head towards your left shoulder while stretching your right arm out. Hold the stretch for a few seconds and then switch sides.

Pilates pain relief exercises are an effective natural remedy for any type of muscle soreness due to an injury or an accident. Muscles are like brain tissues: use it or lose it. It's important to build up strength as they heal so they will not atrophy as in shrank but be strong for years to come. These exercises are a critical part of your everyday routines, even when your body is healthy and vibrant. You will notice your posture improve, your agility sharpens and you can move with ease and grace. Being fit and toned is an important goal for anyone. You can do them in the comfort of your own home or at your desk since most people spent more than 8 hours at work daily. When you see and feel the difference in your body, you will know to make Pilates a regular part of your healthy lifestyle.

We use our necks regularly and this can cause us neck pain. Neck pain should not be ignored because it can be the cause of a serious illness or could even lead to a serious illness. If you are experiencing neck pain, you need to be aware of what activities could have caused it.

Below are common causes of neck pain:

1. Your posture could be to blame. If you have bad posture when you are sitting, standing, reading and working it can stiffen your neck and cause pain.

2. A severe fall or blow could cause one of any number of injuries that cause pain in the neck.

3. Car accidents might also injure your neck and/or spine, causing pain.

4. Lifting heavy weight can also be the cause as it can add more pressure to the neck.

5. A good neck support when you are lying in bed is necessary; if you don't have enough support for your neck, it could be the reason for pain.

6. Degeneration may be the reason too. As we grow old, our neck and spine degenerate because of wear and tear.

7. Bone spurs may be the culprit as they disturb the alignment of the vertebral discs in your spine.

8. Spinal column problems could be to blame as well.

Obviously, the causes of neck pain can be many. Likewise, there are many treatments for neck pain as well. But the best one will depend on the severity of your case and the cause of it.

1. Rest: Bed rest for the first two days of your neck pain, regardless of its severity or the cause of it, can help.

2. Physical Therapy: You can also get therapy from physical therapists who will address the risks involved and recommend things you can do to prevent flare ups and actions that can be taken to get relief in the future.

3. Hot and cold therapy: You can apply heat to your aching neck. If heat doesn't work, you can try using a cold compress instead.

4. Exercise: Regular exercise can improve your overall health. It can also help in reducing neck pain. You can do this after you have rested but make sure it's just a light exercise. This can improve your feeling and the flexibility of your neck and spine.

5. Massage: Massaging may also help you feel soothed from your neck pain. You can even do this on your own.

6. Medications: You can find pain relievers over the counter or prescribed by doctors to relieve the pain.

Any of these neck pain therapy options can help, but make sure you consult with an expert first before proceeding.

There's an epidemic of musculo-skeletal dysfunction in our community. Ask any group of people Who here has either got a crook back, stiff neck, 'cold' shoulder, bung hip, game leg, dicky knee or sore wrist?' and at least 50% of people will put their hand up.

The good news is that in 80% of cases it's not a medical problem, it's a fitness problem. Chances are you're not strong enough or flexible enough to keep your body in good alignment. The solution? You need a good strength and flexibility training program to straighten yourself up. There are two key principles involved here.

Tight muscles pull bones out of alignment. That's the bad news. The good news is that by loosening tight muscles the bones to go back into alignment. If you do the right exercises, long enough and often enough, there's a better than even chance you'll straighten yourself up. Poor function will be restored to good. You'll start to feel better. Your pain will go away. All you have to do is find the right exercises. The cause of the pain is rarely at the site of the pain - so a rub down, crunch, electric shock and a hot wheat bag on the spot where it hurts may give you some temporary relief but won't treat the cause of the problem. Over the years it will just get worse.

With lower back pain there's a chain of dysfunction. Tight calf, hamstring and buttock muscles take your pelvis out of alignment. When that happens, the bones above it are taken out of alignment as well. It puts pressure on the muscles, tendons, ligaments and discs in your lower back. They 'feel the pinch.' You tell people you've got a crook back.

If you can loosen up your calf, hamstring and buttock muscles and get your self sitting up straighter. you'll square your pelvis up and take the pressure off the bones of your lower back. Then there's that better than even chance that millimeter by millimeter, your lower back pain will start to go away. In the meantime stay tuned, highly tuned and if it's weak strengthen it; if it's tight loosen it.

Have you ever wonder what is the difference between doing Pilates exercise and Pilates exercise for pain relief?

Because doing Pilates the right way is not only essential but it also ensures the benefits are maximized with regards to pain relief. There are Pilates exercises designed for body conditioning, core engagement, flexibility, muscular endurance and strength and more. Pilates exercises for pain relief are entirely different and they require more specific instructions and proper supervision. Therefore learning Pilates from a qualified instructor or trainer who has experienced in rehabilitation is still the best option.

Surely one can learn Pilates online through podcasts as well as from training guide manuals, DIY books, and DVDs. However for pain relief of the neck, shoulder, back, and knees, it is important to work together in regular sessions with a Pilates instructor in a one-on-one sessions for better results.

Working in Pilates private training with an instructor can provide personalized guidance. An instructor can quickly make corrections to the students' wrong moves thus avoiding the possibility where students pull a muscle, or worse injure themselves in the process.

Working with the right professionals means they are knowledgeable and reliable in introducing new equipment. They also give right instructions on the usage of the machines such as the pilates reformer.

Here are some Pilates pain relief exercises tips that can be done together with an instructor for the specific different types of body pain.

Pilates Neck Pain Relief Exercise

-Adjust the neck into neutral centre position.
-Inhale and turn the head to one side.
-Exhale slowly. Inhale again while stretching the neck and then exhale as the head rotates.
-Return to center position.
-Repeat the same movements while this time turning to the other side.
-Perform the exercise twice in every side while consciously ensuring proper neck alignment.

Pilates Shoulder Pain Relief Exercise

-Lie down in neutral position.
-Lift the arms in vertical position with palms facing one another.
-Stretch the arms to the ceiling with the elbows soft and relaxed.
-Stretch one arm further to elevate the shoulder blade off the mat.
-Drop the shoulder blade slowly to the floor while keeping arms to the ceiling.
-Do the same movement five times on each side.

Pilates Back Pain Relief Exercise

-Lie down on your back.
-Stretch the legs out or bend the knees.
-Try to raise the head and legs off the floor for a couple of inches.
-Should the movement places stress that is too much to bear on the lower back, raise head and place the feet on the floor while bending the knees.
-Relax the neck throughout the exercise.
-Extend the arms and do raising and lowering movements on them for just a couple of inches.
-While at it, inhale for five counts and exhale for five counts.

Pilates Knee Pain Relief Exercise

-Lie supine and extend both legs.
-Raise one leg toward the ceiling.
-Do leg circle five times in clockwise motion
-And five times in counterclockwise motion.
-Do the same on the other leg.

Here is a list of the top 10 most common causes of neck pain and how to fix them so you can get rid of your neck pain once and for all:

#1 Misalignments in the spine - This is number 1 because it puts pressure on nerves which can cause muscle tension and more. I recommend seeing a good Chiropractor; first he can tell you if this is in fact your problem, then he can help correct it. Postural exercises and a good neck pillow will also help correct the problem.

#2 Poor Posture - Posture is a window to your spine and if you have poor posture that is what your spine looks like and inside - misaligned ! Look at yourself in the mirror or have someone else look at you from the front and the side. From the front your spine should be straight, shoulders even and hips even. From the side your spine should have smooth flowing curves, ear even with your shoulder and shoulder even with your hip socket.

#3 Bad sleeping habits - Sleeping on your stomach is the worst because you have to turn your head ninety degrees to the side to breathe. Sleeping with a pillow too thick or thin can be a major problem also. Get a good neck pillow to sleep with. Read #4 for our pillow recommendation.

#4 Not using a good pillow - A proper neck pillow is the best like the Cervical Traction Neck Pillow - it keeps the proper neck posture when sleeping on your back or side.

#5 Muscle strain and tension - Makes it difficult to move and creates inflammation, putting pressure on nerves causing pain. Try to perform occasion neck stretches to loosen the muscles and avoid motions or positions that are painful.

#6 Stress - Most people carry their stress right across the back of their neck. Stress, in fact doesn't exactly cause anything, but it exacerbates anything and everything. Try your best to relax or take a beak from work if you are starting to get stressed. Take a couple deep breathes and smile, you'd be surprised at how much this helps.

#7 Work or Computer Station Set-up - If you are forced to be in an awkward position or have continued poor posture it creates misalignment and muscle strain therefore nerve pressure. The nerve pressure causes pain. Move around periodically and do some neck stretches to relieve tension starting to build.

#8 Improper exercise or work out, maneuvers - Sometimes lifting to much weight or not using proper mechanics or posture when working out can cause a major episode of neck pain. The most common mistake I see is people pulling on their neck when doing abdominal crunches. Keep your eyes at the ceiling and focus on crunching with your abs, not your neck.

#9 Putting your neck in awkward positions for extended periods - This relates to the previous 2 reasons for neck pain. Doing this creates tension - things like sleeping in awkward positions, reading with your head down, too many hours in one position at the computer, are just a few. Try to eliminate these things as much as possible.

#10 Lack of stretches before physical activity makes it easier to strain a muscle - Just like before you started gym class or basketball practice, you always did stretches 1st. Most seem to neglect the old stretching routine. It only takes second and could prevent many needless days of suffering.