Fibromyalgia turns a whisper of pain into a scream. It is a condition caused by the amplification of pain by the nervous system. Light stimuli become painful and average levels of pain are experienced as much more severe. The brain’s normal processing of pain becomes impaired, leading to intense discomfort, fatigue, anxiety and many associated…
It’s Stoptober again – and you probably already know many reasons to quit tobacco and become a non-smoker. We hardly need tell you again about cancer, strokes and heart disease. But did you know that smoking affects the musculoskeletal system too? It increases the risk of developing conditions in joints and bones and makes recovery…
When suffering from back pain, it’s not surprising if all you want to do is rest. However, low-impact exercise is actually one of the best things you can do to improve your symptoms. Often high-impact exercising can be too painful if you’re suffering from spinal issues, so walking is a great option to make sure…
The term arthritis covers many joint conditions. The symptoms are usually stiffness, reduced mobility and often (but not always) pain. Arthritis often appears after a long period of dysfunction and it can be a result of injury, wear and tear, autoimmune disorders or genetic predisposition. Osteoarthritis is the commonest type of arthritis and is almost…
If you suffer from back pain, the hours spent cramped in an airline seat can be agony. Hand luggage can be heavy and awkward getting into overhead lockers. When you arrive at your destination you have to deal with hauling heavy bags off the luggage carousel and dragging them thought the airport an into a…
Would you be surprised to learn that the pain in your back reflects your general wellbeing? In fact, your pain threshold is not fixed at all and you can take control of it. Research into back pain shows that the ‘usual suspects’ of posture or weak core muscles aren’t as important as once thought. Like…
Are you planning a long road trip this summer? Read on for our tips on how to look after your back in the car! Remember, it can really help to make sure you’re not holding stiffness in your lower back before you drive. Get into the routine of doing some stretches every day – you…
Ice therapy can help with back pain or another injury like a sprained ankle if applied early enough. After a couple of days, heat can be more beneficial – here’s why… If back pain comes on suddenly with lifting or bending, for example, it is often due to a vertebral joint sprain which causes muscle…
Bank Holidays can mean relaxing, perhaps a barbecue in the garden – and catching up on DIY jobs. Unfortunately, Do-It-Yourself projects are responsible for about 200,000 accidents in the UK every year. As the bending, stretching and balancing acts involved in tasks around the home tend to be unusual, not surprisingly unprepared muscles easily get…
Were you always told to ‘sit up straight’ or ‘stop slouching’ when you were growing up? Unfortunately, it’s just too easy as adults to fall into bad habits and forget the importance of good posture. Standing or sitting with poor posture for prolonged periods of time places additional stress on your lower back – a…
