North American Spine Magazine Nov 2012 issue by North American Spine

North American Spine The Leader in Minimally Invasive Spine Care

Prevent Herniated Discs

School-Wise Backpack Tips

Also in this issue: ›› Smoking Stalls Spinal Surgery Recovery ›› Good Sense Horseback Riding to Avoid Spinal Surgery ›› Sciatica Prevention with Gentle Yoga ›› Eat Your Way Away From Degenerative Disc Disease ›› Music Therapy May Help Herniated Disc Healing ›› Tennis Ties to Degenerative Disc Disease ›› Spinal Stenosis Sidelines Football Players and Seniors Alike

North American Spine Courtesy Magazine | November 2012

Prevent Herniated Discs School-Wise Backpack Tips

ÂŠ Can Stock Photo Inc. / Robhainer

In recent years there has been an increased interest in kid’s back pain related to carrying heavier backpacks overloaded with books, sports gear, water bottles and laptops. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) approves the use of backpacks to carry school gear, as long as it is done properly, as they help evenly distribute heavy loads across the larger muscle groups in the body. To protect your youngster’s developing spine, follow some preventative backpack guidance from the AAOS: ›› Choose a lightweight backpack with wide, padded double-shoulder straps; padded back panel; and a waist strap or wheels. Alternate hands when pulling rolling packs. ›› Use the pack properly, by tightening both straps to keep the load evenly distributed and close to the body. Don’t overload, and teach your child to lift the pack with her legs and build core muscle strength to help support the spine. ›› To avoid carrying textbooks, keep a second set at home or use a tablet reader. Be sure to address any concerns with pain. Talking with your child is the best tip you can follow to know how he or she is feeling and what you can do to help.

Smoking Stalls Spinal Surgery Recovery and Spurs Back Pain

It has been said the eyes are the windows to your soul. Could it be said your spine health is a window to your wellbeing? We always hear how important healthy eating is for spine health as well as overall health. A lesser-known fact is that smoking can increase your chances for developing spine problems. Cigarette smoking and nicotine have long been known to hinder surgical recovery and increase back pain risk. A 2000 research study published in Spine found that nicotine interferes with vascular regeneration (needed to get healthy blood flow to the site), bone metabolism and growth. A 2004 study also published in Spine, from researchers at the Institute of Orthopaedics & Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, UK, found that nicotine plays a role in breaking down the cellular matrix of vertebral discs, making them more fragile.

According to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s website, before you have spine surgery, quit smoking to give yourself the best opportunity to heal properly. If you don’t require surgery, make sure you quit smoking to protect your spine health.

Good Sense Horseback Riding

to Avoid Spinal Surgery

The daughter of one of our nation’s mayors recently won an equestrian event after undergoing spinal surgery only one year ago, according to the New York Times. A 1996 Italian study, reported on PubMed, found equestrian sports are among the riskiest – including rugby, motor sports and diving – for the spine. Had it been a United States study, we wonder if football would be on the list! Professional riders, competition jumpers and recreational horseback riders are all at risk for back injuries. The American Medical Equestrian Association says correct riding posture is critical to prevent low back pain and injuries. This requires correct positioning and hip flexibility, which comes from proper saddle fit, core strength, strong and flexible hip flexors and supple hamstrings. This allows the rider to properly absorb the horse’s motion and energy. So if you plan to saddle up soon, seek medical attention for any low back pain, and make sure to wait for your doctor’s go-ahead if you already have a condition like a herniated disc. Once you properly treat your lumbar pain, you should look forward to wind whipping through your hair and riding off into the sunset!

Sciatica Prevention with Gentle Yoga

Did National Yoga Month inspire you to try the ancient practice with trendy outfits and nifty accessories like blocks and mats? Physicians sometimes prescribe yoga to strengthen the core, as a conservative treatment for back pain like sciatica. Here are some common yoga varieties: ›› Ashtanga Yoga – ‘power yoga.’ Requires strenuous and fluid movements and should be avoided if you have back pain.

›› Lyengar Yoga – This focuses on alignment and movement and is the best option for those with back conditions as it allows needed adjustments, by incorporating nifty gizmos like blocks. If your doctor recommends yoga for your sciatica, give it a try! After all, 19 million ‘yogis’ in the U.S. can’t be all wrong!

›› Bikram Yoga – ‘hot yoga.’ Heat helps increase flexibility for stretching muscles and connective tissues. Avoid Bikram if you have cardiovascular disease or back pain. ›› Hatha Yoga – the most popular style focusing on postures and breathing. This can be a good choice for low back pain as long as you listen to your body and practice within your limitations.

Eat Your Way Away From Degenerative Disc Disease No, this isn’t a prescription to eat fast food! Good nutrition may help ward off degenerative disc disease. Nutrition obviously plays a large role in maintaining overall health but interestingly it is also important for your spine health! Some important nutrients for spine health include: ›› Water – helps keep your vertebral discs hydrated ›› Calcium – helps prevent the loss of bone mass during the aging process that can lead to vertebral fractures ›› Vitamin C – helps develop collagen so that cells can form into tissue for tendons, ligaments and vertebral discs during the healing process ›› Iron – necessary for cells to receive oxygen and purge carbon dioxide for optimal health. It also helps with producing myoglobin for supporting muscle health ›› Vitamin A – this anti-oxidant boosts the immune system, aids in the body’s efficient use of protein and helps the body repair damaged tissue and form bone in the back Good nutrition also results in healthier bodyweight. We featured a story earlier this year about research from Hong Kong that confirmed obesity and excessive body weight as risk factors for worsening degenerative disc disease. So, to avoid back surgery and improve health – EAT nutritiously!

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Music Therapy may Help Herniated Disc Healing

Whether the pain from a herniated disc will be treated through conservative therapy or ultimately require surgery, managing stress can help your treatment and recovery. Music therapy has been shown to be powerful for those battling various disabilities, including chronic pain. According to Wikipedia, music therapy has comforted for centuries – from Hippocrates who played music for his patients, to early modern music therapists who performed for World War I hospitalized veterans. According to the American Music Therapy Association, music: ›› Lowers anxiety ›› Reduces muscular tension ›› Enhances a patient’s perceived usefulness of treatment Last year, Prevention featured an article about an Austrian study indicating that subjects with herniated discs experienced 40 percent less pain with music therapy than those who received conventional treatment alone. If your doctor gives you the thumbs up, you may want to incorporate music therapy into a holistic or medical treatment plan for your herniated disc. Find a trained and certified music therapist, or if you are a ‘do-it-yourselfer’, turn on some classical or new age music and practice stress relieving breathing as you drift away from pain! © Can Stock Photo Inc. / pretoperola

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Tennis Ties to DEGENERATIVE Disc Disease and Low Back Pain

This year’s U.S. Open tennis news included at least two reports of players suffering with low back pain from herniated discs. These elite athletes often play through searing pain which would have the rest of us fleeing the court and possibly the sport altogether! In tennis, musculoskeletal overuse injuries like muscle strain, herniated discs or degenerative disc disease are common. Reasons for lumbar pain and injuries in tennis may include: ›› Serve: requires the player to hyperextend the lower back, while rotating the spine, which compresses the lumbar discs. ›› Ground strokes: requires repetitive rotational forces on the spinal column. ›› Explosive movements: while extending the hitting arm, places the spine, connective tissues and supporting muscles under strain. ›› Asymmetrical spinal loading: the dominant arm will typically lead the same side of the body with more power and speed. Protect your spine when playing tennis with proper technique. Be sure to stretch and strengthen, for flexibility and core support. Most importantly, if you have low back pain during or after tennis, do as many wise pros have done…forfeit the game but not your health, so that you too can make a successful comeback!

Spinal Stenosis Sidelines Football Players and Seniors Alike

ÂŠ Can Stock Photo Inc. / Kzenon

Spinal stenosis, the painful narrowing of the spinal canal or foramina, spares neither old nor young. Usually associated with older individuals, younger folks can also develop this condition. Reported by the Athens Banner-Herald’s online site, OnlineAthens.com, a former University of California Trojan football player was barred from playing upon being diagnosed with spinal stenosis. Since transferring to the University of Georgia Bulldogs, he is back in the game as a linebacker. For some people diagnosed with spinal stenosis, treatment options may include: Non-Surgical ›› Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication ›› Rest and cold/heat therapy ›› Physical therapy and stretching ›› Acupuncture ›› Prescription medication and corticosteroid epidural injections Surgical Decompressing the spinal cord or nerve root impingement may become necessary when conservative treatments fail and symptoms are disabling or causing permanent nerve damage. ›› Laminectomy – removing part of the vertebral bone ›› Spinal Fusion – (with a laminectomy or alone) joining vertebrae with bone graft or implant materials ›› Discectomy – removing disc material pressing on spinal cord or nerve roots ›› Foraminotomy – enlarging vertebral openings (foramina) through which nerve roots exit the spinal column As always, educate yourself and speak with your physician before you begin a new treatment plan.

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