Archive for August 2017
The Dreaded Trigger Point
First of all, what is the myofascia?
We are glad you asked: it is a good thing to know about, since it covers you from head to toe. Fascia, or myofascia is the continuous, dense layer of tissue that covers every muscle and bone in your body without beginning or end. It covers the inside of your body like a superhero’s suit and it is designed with superhero strength: the fascia has a tensile strength of over 2,000 pounds. In its normal state, the fascia is soft and flexible; and it stretches and moves with your body throughout the day without your awareness. In fact, the only time we do become aware of our fascia is when it causes us pain…
Radiculopathy: Nerves Under Pressure
Radiculopathy is nerve compression
Modern medicine knows comparatively little about this irritating condition that occurs when nerves exiting the spinal cord are compressed. Symptoms of radiculopathy include:
- Pain and weakness in the affected area
- Referred pain in other parts of the body
- Feelings of tingling or numbness
- Weakness in the extremities
We most commonly detect radiculopathy in the lumbar and cervical segments of the spine, and the most common risk factors for radiculopathy include:
- Physically labor intensive jobs
- Tasks that involve repetitive trauma
- Overly-sedentary lifestyles
White Collar Back Pain
Office work has become the predominant source of back pain in the 21st century
The stats don’t lie: more than a million workers in the US are affected by back pain related complaints each year; and the umbrella category of back pain is responsible for more lost work hours than any other musculoskeletal complaint. While it may make more sense that nurses or construction workers suffer pain due to the demands of movement involved in their jobs, white collar workers face the opposite problem: the demand of no movement, which is proving to be just as insidious when it comes to the spine.