We are all aware of the toll that work can take on our bodies and especially our backs. Recently some state agencies in Kentucky have decided to prevent these work related issues by allowing their workers to have paid exercise breaks!
Department of Financial Institutions employee Lisa Clark said being able to extend her lunch break to work out has been so beneficial she hasn’t had to visit her doctor for low back pain and fibromyalgia, which causes body-wide pain, in a year.
Others state that having a exercise break during the work day has improved not only physical abilities but mental as well.
At least three other agencies also allow employees to exercise on the clock including; The Department of Military Affairs, The Department of Veterans Affairs and The Personnel Cabinet, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Personnel Cabinet spokeswoman Crystal Pryor says the “wellness breaks” are cost effective because they result in “reduced absenteeism, increased productivity, higher employee morale and lower health care costs for the Kentucky Employees’ Health Plan, the state’s self-funded insurance program.”
A study published last year by the Harvard University found that “medical costs fall about $3.27 for every dollar spent on wellness programs, and absentee day costs fall by about $2.73 for every dollar spent.”
Different state agencies have different rules for using the program. Some employees can exercise up to five hours a week; others are limited to 90 minutes each week. Employees can participate only if their workload on a given day allows and only with approval from a supervisor.
What are your thoughts on this? Do you think that exercise breaks during the work week would be beneficial to your physical and mental abilities? I know I do! To read more about this topic visit FOX news!
People who have sciatica are always on the quest for new and exciting treatments for sciatic pain. There are many forms of alternative therapies for sciatica and low back pain available. In fact, using essential oils and aromatherapy is considered to be a natural sciatica treatment. There is still a small amount of doubt amongst the general population regarding its ability to be as effective as it claims. But health experts would go as far as saying that essential oils are more effective in pain relief than other synthetic medicine or drugs. Read more below to learn about the benefits of aromatherapy and essential oils as a safe and effective treatment for sciatic pain.
Essential oils have the ability to target not just the physical aspect of the pain, but the mental aspect as well. For instance, if you are suffering from chronic pain in your lower back applying a therapeutic massage using essential oils will help relieve the soreness and pain. This is due to the balancing and soothing effect of the oil. On the other hand, you also get to inhale the aromatic essences of the oil, which helps calm you and give you piece of mind. Pain is sometimes a sensory thing; hence, the less you think of the pain, the less you are going to be affected by it. This is why essential oils are considered very effective in pain management.
Essential oils also offer effective treatment against muscle pain and arthritis. They encouraging blood flow into specific muscles of the body affected by pain. The presence of warmth in your muscles cater to soothing those muscles. Some of the essential oils that you can use to treat muscle pain with topical treatment include jasmine, melissa, chamomile, ginger, birch, and marjoram.
Essential oil choices that are effective in the treatment of sciatic pain include: thyme, sage, mountain dittany, horsebalm, and rosemary.
As we all know getting an adequate amount of sleep is crucial! Sleep enables our brains to work at optimum levels by using skills like memory, speech, problem solving etc. Without sleep these skills can be impaired. The average amount of time a person sleeps is about 8 hours. For people that suffer from sciatica and low back pain, sleep can prove to be a little more complicated. Many find that they can’t get comfortable and feel restless. When they do sleep it is painful and they do not feel rested the following day. Below are some tips for those who suffer from sciatica and sciatica related symptoms on how to sleep with a bad back.
How to sleep with a bad back : 5 Tips
1. Try sleeping with a pillow between your knees when on your side.
2. If you only get sciatica on one side try sleeping on the opposite side to the pain.
3. Some people with back pain and sciatica will find that sleeping on their back is better. If so try using a small towel under your hips to give you more support. Also a pillow under your knees may feel good.
4. Sleeping on your stomach seems to be generally advised against by health care and back pain websites as it can put pressure on your back and cause too great a curve in the neck and spine.
5. If you find working the pillows too much of a hassle you may like to think about a full body pillow to help you maintain a good sleep position.
In addition to the above sleep tips, make your bedroom a place of peace and quiet. No work should be here, no kids’ toys, no clutter. Ensure that your bedroom is at the correct temperature for you. Try to dim the lights about an hour or so before you go to bed. Try the age old remedy of a few drops of lavender under your pillow to help relax you. Play relaxing music or a de-stress CD every night as you go to sleep.
There are many different alternative treatments for sciatica. One way to treat sciatica is to use supplements such as minerals. Below you will find explanations of a few minerals that can help to treat your sciatica effectively.
Calcium
Keeping bones strong by reducing the risk of osteoporosis may be a useful alternative treatment for sciatica and sciatica associated pain. Calcium has long been identified as a mineral that plays a key role in preventing bone disease. A study in the June 2009 issue of “The British Journal of Nutrition” notes that ongoing supplementation with calcium, along with vitamin D, results in decreased bone fragility and bone loss in elderly individuals. Dietary sources which have calcium include: broccoli, cabbage, kale and dairy products such as milk and cheese. Magnesium
Another great mineral for sciatica is magnesium. Your body contains about 25 g of magnesium, over 60 percent of which is used in your skeleton, states the Linus Pauling Institute. Magnesium affects your bone matrix and bone density, keeping bones strong. It also plays an important role in maintaining healthy nerve function by facilitating the transport of ions, such as calcium and potassium, from cell to cell. Dietary sources of magnesium include: green leafy vegetables, nuts and unrefined grains.
Potassium
Potassium is considered both a mineral and an electrolyte, an ion capable of conducting electricity. The Linus Pauling Institute cites a study that shows potassium may help promote a more alkaline environment in your body, preventing the leeching of calcium from your bones to neutralize a high acidic environment caused naturally by metabolism and by foods you may eat. This may prevent osteoporosis. Proper body functioning depends on strict potassium controls in cell membranes. Multivitamins normally provide not more than 99 mg of potassium. Vegetables and fruits are a rich dietary source.
There are many other types of alternative treatments for sciatica but eating healthy is a good start to living a healthy, sciatica free life! If you would like more information visit our blog post on natural sciatica treatments.
Apparently children aren’t the only ones who like to play with mud!
Mud treatment is becoming more and more popular around the world causing grown ups all over to indulge in this exciting and messy medical wonder. But did you know, that mud treatments aren’t only used for super soft skin, they may also be beneficial as sciatic pain remedies…
Research has shown that mud treatments can be beneficial in improving blood circulation, detoxifying skin, purifying skin, blackhead and blemish removal, anti-aging treatment and natural healing of certain medical disorders such as sciatica and low back pain therefore making it an effective natural sciatica treatment!
The mud used in spa treatments is not the typical kind found in a person’s yard, but more of a combination of several types of minerals and clay. There are several different types of mud treatments, each using a different variety of mud. Each type of mud is beneficial for different conditions or symptoms. Research has shown that peat mud may be beneficial as a sciatic pain remedy.
Peat is a type of mud containing water, sulfur, humic and fulvic acids and cellulose. Peat therapy can be used as a sciatic pain remedy and is also beneficial in treating other medical concerns such as; relief of musculoskeletal pains, eczema, detoxification, insomnia, relaxation, arthritis, sciatica, fibromyalgia, infertility, immune system stimulation and common aches and pains.
Peat mud can be added to warm or room temperature water, or applied as a hot or cold pack, depending upon the desired results. This type of mineral treatment can be performed at a spa, or in the comfort of one’s own home. The most important applications of peat are baths and body wraps.
Since ancient times peat bath applications have proven their beneficial effects for relaxation and articular pathologies. Each year in Hungary, more than 50,000 peat baths are given with 90% producing therapeutic results.
There are many different sciatic pain remedies available to consumers, and it can be daunting trying to pick the right one… But I must personally say, that a mud bath would be on my top ten list of choices as an exciting new alternative treating sciatic pain!
Sciaticalm™ is a sciatic pain remedy that alleviates the symptoms of Sciatica from the inside-out! Homeopathic Sciaticalm tablets are specially formulated to speed directly to the area of back pain, working quickly and effectively to reduce the compression of the nerve. Sciaticalm gives you fast relief from acute sciatic pain attacks, plus it helps with long-term reduction in the frequency and severity of your sciatica attacks.
Sciaticalm is currently offering up a free product to one lucky individual! All you have to do is visit us on Facebook and answer the question listed on our Poll tab on the left hand side the page. Each person who answers the poll will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE 1 month supply of Sciaticalm! The winner will be announced August 22nd, so hurry up and enter! You may also have friends answer the poll in your favor to up your odds…
Sciatica symptoms result from sciatica, a condition in which the sciatic nerve, is impinged, irritated or inflamed, causing pain and discomfort. The position where the sciatic nerve is affected will determine where the sciatica symptoms are felt but it could be anywhere from the lower back to the lower leg, usually only on one side of the body. While there could be a range of sciatica symptoms you might experience, there are some symptoms that are the most common. With sciatica, you may experience one or more of these sciatica symptoms:
Pain in the lower back that may radiate down one side into the leg or foot.
Pain that is felt in one side of the buttocks.
Numbness or weakness in the foot or toes.
Pain when moving the foot or leg.
Leg or buttocks pain that is exacerbated by sitting.
Pins and needles in the feet or toes.
Tingling or a burning sensation traveling down the leg or in the foot or toes.
A shooting pain that starts at the lower back or hip and travels down the back of the thigh into the lower leg.
I found the video below on you tube and I think it has a good explanation of sciatica symptoms as well as sciatica itself. Sometimes a visual aid can be helpful when trying to understand this condition and how it affects the spine and lower back.
A lot of people believe that relaxation is the only benefit of an Epsom salt bath, but this is not the case. Epsom salt baths are one effective and easy remedy for lower back pain. Below you will find some listed benefits of Epsom Salt as well as an explanation of why Epsom salt baths are an effective remedy for lower back pain.
When you’re under a lot of stress—both physical and mental—your body’s muscles can tense up and create painful or restricted movement. This can lead to injuries as well as overall body fatigue. To combat this, Epsom salts baths can be utilized. Benefits of Epsom salt baths include draining out the toxins that are built up by tension and helping to release the overall soreness within the body.
For people that spend the majority of their day sitting down, hunched over a desk the benefits of Epsom salt baths can be amazing. With this remedy for lower back pain, the body learns to relax again at the end of a hard day and readjust to a more normal position. Combining warm water with an Epsom salt bath is the perfect way to end a hard day at the office.
So we have gathered that Epsom salt baths are an effective remedy for lower back pain, but what else do they do?
Enhance the overall appearance of your skin by drawing out the unnecessary oils and allowing the skin’s chemical properties to come back into balance.
Some users of an Epsom salt bath have noted that they aren’t getting calluses and corns on their feet as often.
Other healthful properties that have been suggested include the prevention of eczema, psoriasis, minor skin irritations, itching, insect bite pain, burning sensations, and dry skin.
When using Epsom salt in your bath, try adding a few drops of your favorite scent. You can instantly be taken to another place and away from your stress. Turn on some soft music and let your mind and body sink into the tub, freeing itself of soreness, tension, and stress. This can be a remedy for lower back pain as well as a recipe for great relaxation!
A recent article in the Herald Scotland discussed the the fact that millions of people who suffer with chronic low back pain could now be offered relief from sheep… Yes I know, sheep… it sounds strange, but the article further explains how synthetic discs made from sheep tissue may serve as an excellent resource to those who need disc replacements due to pain in low back!
Experiments performed on rats have already shown great success. Professor Lawrence Bonassar, of Cornell University, New York, used tissue engineering techniques to create a biological disc from sheep cells that is composed of a gelatinous core surrounded by collagen proteins. Researchers transplanted the synthetic discs into the spines of laboratory rats. Using scanners, it was verified that implanted discs resembled natural ones and fitted properly within the space occupied.
In last weeks article farmers teased one another that these animals, who have given them pain in low back for centuries may now actually be beneficial in the treatment of it!
When summertime hits our automatic reaction is to “get to it” and have fun! But for many, summertime activities can cause back pain. Causes of pain in back can include many different seasonal activities however, for those of us that live in a cold winter climate summertime is when our energy explodes and therefore is a time where we are more susceptible to back injury. Causes of pain in back can include simple activities such as; gardening, mowing the lawn, exercising etc. It is important for everyone to exercise caution in the summer months and to not overwork themselves. This caution will help you to avoid the simple causes of pain in back during the early summer months.
Tips to Avoid Summer Back Pin Include:
Gardening/Yard Work…
According to research, two of the most common causes of pain in back during summer are gardening and lawn work. Raking, pulling, twisting, and lifting heavy bags can all lead to back pain symptoms. The answer? Pace yourself. Your flower or vegetable garden doesn’t need to be planted in one day. Take breaks and, to avoid pain, try not to bend at the waist. Also, pay attention to good posture and stretch to avoid back pain. Read more about gardening as one of the most common causes of pain in back>>
Sandals, Heels and Wedges…
Footwear, including high heels, wedges and flip flops are also related to causes of pain in back. Since a flimsy pair of flat flip-flops can lead to back pain symptoms, choose a sandal that supports your arch and keeps your foot stable with support around your heel and the front of your foot. Steer clear of wedges and high heels as these types of shoes may also cause your back and feet discomfort.
Taking it Slow…
When the sun finally comes out to stay we tend to get a little too excited and push ourselves too far too fast. It is important to gently introduce exercise back into our daily routines once summer hits, and to not put too much stress on our muscles by jumping in too quickly. Once you are ready to exercise start off slow, set small goals and short distances, increase them over several weeks time. Be sure to avoid these causes of pain in back by using the simple precautions above, and you will not be sorry!
We are all aware of the toll that work can take on our bodies and especially our backs. Recently some state agencies in Kentucky have decided to prevent these work related issues by allowing their workers to have paid exercise breaks!
