Back Support / Cervical Collar / Neck & Back Braces

How to Reduce Back Pain

The best way to cure back pain is to reduce the amount of sedentary activity in your daily living. Once you’ve gotten to the core of the problem and decreased the amount of sitting done per day, whether at home or at work, you’re ready to implement other proven strategies to reduce back pain.

1. Wear a Back Brace.

   A back brace, also referred to as a spinal brace, can provide individuals suffering from chronic back pain with much-needed posture support. Since bad posture is a leading cause of back pain, using a back brace is a smart method of relieving stress on the spine and alleviating back pain.

   Do back braces actually work?

   Yes; a back brace really does support muscles and bones in the lower back area! Through providing muscles with much-needed support, a back brace relieves and often even eliminates back pain. The support provided by the back brace allows your body to de-stress, relax, and heal from the strain it had. And, at the same time, a back brace will train the back to assume the proper posture.

2. Wear a Back Support Belt.

   Lower back support belts will reduce pressure on the spine and help keep it stabilized. They can help improve back posture and manage pain in the lower back.

   These belts are often worn when doing strenuous activities that exert the back. They are used by athletes, and by workers in various industries who carry heavy loads. Back belts can prevent injuries to the lower back.

   Since wearing a lumbar support belt can fill a person with a false sense of security, someone wearing such a belt should be extra cautious, and he should always think twice to make sure he isn’t carrying too heavy of a load.

   A premier benefit of using a back pain belt is that it keeps a person conscious of his movements, and reminds him to use the healthy parts of his body rather than the hurting parts as much as he can. This helps sore muscles heal. Wearing a belt can also improve overall posture.

   A lower back support belt should only be used for part of the day, since wearing it all day can cause back muscles to become weak.

3. Straighten Your Posture.

   Slouching leads to back pain, and perpetual slumping can trigger chronic back pain. To keep your body in the right sitting position, here’s what you can do:

   • Use a back brace for posture support, as mentioned above. Alternatively, you may choose to wear a back belt periodically as a way to stay mindful of your efforts to improve your posture.
   • Place a lumbar pillow behind your lower back (between you and the back of your seat), relax your shoulders, and lean them against the back of your chair. Take care to keep your feet flat against the floor.

   If you’re working at a computer, pull the keyboard closer towards you. This will help you to keep your shoulders against your chair while you work.

4. Sleep Right.

   There are several recommended positions for those with back pain. The first choice is to sleep on your back in a way that maintains the curvature of the spine. A wedge pillow is often used in achieving this purpose.

   If you find lying on your back to be uncomfortable, you can try lying on your side instead, with a pillow between your knees and a small pillow at the gap between your waist and your mattress. (If there’s no gap, skip the pillow there.) If you’re sleeping on your side, switch off sides to prevent scoliosis and muscle imbalance.

   Another important thing to do is make sure your mattress is firm, but not hard. Using a less-than-ideal mattress is actually one of the main causes of back pain!

5. Use Heat and Cold Therapy.

   If you’ve recently suffered a back injury, treating the affected area with ice therapy for several days and then transitioning to cold therapy can help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. When using an ice pack, cover it in a towel. Lightly press the heat/cold pack onto the affected area for not more than 20 minutes, and repeat several times per day.

6. Try Massage Therapy.

   Massage therapy can offer temporary relief from chronic back pain. However, the benefits of massages aren’t usually long term; they generally last between half a year and a year.

7. Go for Physical Therapy.

   By attending physical therapy sessions, you can learn specialized exercises to strengthen your core. Increasing core strength reduces back pain over time. A physical therapist can also show you how to keep your spine properly aligned as you walk, sit, and stand.

8. Do Exercise.

   Walking, yoga, and swimming are all effective strategies for reducing back pain.

9. Treat the Emotional Source.

   Back pains can stem from a psychological issue. Trying Doctor Sarno’s method or going for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help decrease or eradicate back pain.

10. Try Biofeedback.

    By teaching your mind to control its response to pain, biofeedback helps you moderate muscle tension, blood flow, heart rate, and breathing. This can reduce back pain intensity by 30 percent!

11. Go to a Doctor.

    If none of these natural cures for back pain are working for you, medication may be necessary. Your physician may prescribe pain relievers, antidepressants, opioids, or muscle relaxants to relieve the pain.

    He may also consider adding acupuncture or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) treatment, methods of nerve stimulation which are known to stimulate nerves to lower the amount of back pain.

    If the pain is severe, he may suggest you try spinal injections or undergo surgery. (Both of these carry risks.)

Shoulder, Neck and Back Support

With the prevalence of technology, careers that necessitate sitting in one place, generally in front of a computer screen, for most of one’s waking hours, are undeniably common. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, 9-10 of the average adult’s waking hours are spent in a sitting position.

Sitting has been called “the new smoking,” since staying sedentary for such a long span of time day after day can trigger many health issues, including the following posture problems.

Back Pain:

Sitting for long periods of time increases the pressure on the spine. This can often cause temporary back pain, and is a leading cause of chronic back pain. Back pain is the most frequent cause of work-related disability.

Strained Neck:

Many individuals with office jobs find unconsciously strain their neck as they bend forward toward the computer or cradle a phone to their ear.

Sore Shoulders:

The same causes of a strained neck often lead to sore shoulders, as well. It can lead to permanent imbalances.

These problems can be painful and are a leading reason for missed work days. Are you suffering from any of these issues? Read on for some tips on reducing shoulder, neck and back pain.

How to Relieve Neck and Shoulder Pain

Poor posture, tilting your neck to look at your phone, sleeping in an awkward position and having tense muscle due to stress are the three biggest triggers of neck and shoulder pain. Shoulder pain is also commonly caused by aging, arthritis, meningitis or by experiencing a fall.

There are many easy ways you can help eliminate uncomfortable soreness or stiffness. One great approach is to try some stretches. Stretching your neck and shoulders can help relieve any stiffness. Here are a few stretches to try:

• Roll your shoulders around 10 times.
• Bring your left ear down to your shoulder 10 times.
• Bring your right ear down to your shoulder 10 times.
• Clench your shoulder blades, and then relax them 10 times.

Other ways to relieve pain include the following tips:

1. Apply an ice or cold pack. The first 2-3 days, use a cold compress, and after that, start using a heat compress on your neck.
2. Take pain relievers. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen both relieve muscle pain, and can help your neck feel better.
3. Get a neck or shoulder massage. Massage therapy can knead out the knots of tension, and help you feel better. AvaCare Medical offers a selection of massage products, so that you can give yourself a massage at any hour of the day.
4. Switch pillows. Using a special neck pillow can help relieve neck pain. Also, ensure that your mattress is firm.
5. Use a soft neck collar. A soft cervical collar, or a neck brace, can help relieve the discomfort of a stiff neck.
6. Go to the doctor. If none of the aforementioned tips seem to be helping, and you don’t feel any better, a visit to your local physician may be in order.

Do Neck Braces Help with Neck Pain?

The neck brace can help relieve neck pain by helping your neck support your head, and thereby removing pressure from the neck. A neck brace will give the soft tissues in your neck a chance to heal properly. A neck brace following spinal neck surgery will keep your neck muscles properly aligned while you heal.

Soft cervical collars are much more popular than rigid cervical collars, since both provide about the same range of motion, but soft collars are much more comfortable, and pose less risks.

At AvaCare Medical, you can find just what you need to cure your neck, back or shoulder pain, whether you require clavicle splints or clavicle straps for fractures, or a back brace for postural support. Shop now, and enjoy unparalleled service.