Back Care Awareness Week With TEMPUR®

A Closer Look Into Your Spine

One of the most intricate parts of our bodies is our spine, which should be well looked after. It keeps us upright and allows our bodies to move; almost every task we complete daily involves moving our backs. A healthy spine likes frequent changes as opposed to repetitive movements. It is important to remind ourselves and make others aware of our back and how vital it is to take care of it in order to avoid lower back pain, sciatic pain and back pain in general.

Spinal Structure

A few words about the structure of our spine: it is divided into five sections based on function, mobility, and curvature. Curvature refers to the degree to which something is curved.

• Cervical: allows the head to rotate
• Thoracic: connects the ribs, curve is more inward
• Lumbar: pronounced in women, returns to convex shape
• Sacrum & Coccyx: form a smaller concave curve
• It is important to note that the cervical and lumbar parts are most at risk of experiencing an injury due to the increased amount of movement.

Back Pain In Depth

There are different causes of back pain; those include sprains, strains, lack of physical activity, posture problems as well as spinal damage and health conditions.

• Short term pain: lasts a few days through to a few weeks
• Chronic pain: lasts longer than twelve weeks
• Sciatic pain: caused by irritated nerve affecting one side, starting from lower back spreading down one leg

Signs You Have ‘Back Trouble’

• Numbness in both arms, legs and bottom
• Pins and needles in both arms, legs or bottom
• Reduced muscle power
• Sudden bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction
• Sudden shooting pains or leg pains

Lifestyle factors can also cause you to experience back pain. For instance, obesity and smoking.

• Obesity: extra weight can put stress on the back
• Smoking: can restrict blood flow leading to faster degeneration

Back Pain In Golf

In golf, players tend to experience a lot of back trouble so much so lower back injuries account for 15.2% to 34% of all golf injuries. Because golf is a game of muscle memory and there is a lot of repetition in the movement it can lead to inflammation, strains as well as other back-related injuries.

Golf Tips To Protect Your Back

• Adjust your swing, warm-up, and approach to golf according to your age
• Warm up before tee time
• Stay fit and active when not playing golf
• Always stretch

Healthy S Shaped Spine

A healthy spine should resemble a letter S from the side and be straight and upright from behind. Take time throughout your day to remember to be more upright when walking, standing, or sitting.

Office Posture

Follow these steps to help position yourself in your chair especially at the office:

• Ears over shoulders
• Sit all the way back into the chair
• Ensure hips are at a 90-degree angle
• Elbows by your side
• Wrists resting comfortably
• Knees are at a 90-degree bend
• Feet are flat

Follow these steps to adjust your screen to an appropriate height:

• Do not look up or down at screen
• Place screen directly in front
• Raise screen 5-10 inches for proper height
• Use separate mouse and keyboard to ensure proper wrist positioning
• Screen should be arm’s length away

Other Useful Tips

• Stay hydrated
• Nutrition is key
• Exercise daily

Sleep Ergonomics With TEMPUR®

Sleep positioning matters: positioning yourself correctly ensures that your neck and back are aligned and supported. Due to this choosing the correct mattress and pillow is of the utmost importance. One factor that aggravates back pain is a mattress that does not suit the user’s body.

•  Too high: cause lower back pain
•  Too low: cause delayed pain reaction

TEMPUR® Mattress

A TEMPUR® Mattress allows the spine and joints to rest in their natural positions. If you are a side sleeper, the correct way to sleep is with a pillow in between your knees. However, if you sleep on a TEMPUR® mattress there is no need to place a pillow between your knees. It is also important to note that the TEMPUR® Mattress was developed by NASA space technology, and features the TEMPUR® Material that adapts to your body as you sleep, offering uncompromising comfort and support all night long.

Do you experience any discomfort or back pain? How do you take care of your back?