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Specialists recommend using all precautions when preserving the health of people. That means taking into account work habits in any space, including an office. In fact, there are many hours that professionals spend in these spaces, mainly sitting on their desks.

The first physiotherapist to do a study on the subject was the New Zealander Robin McKenzie and his method for maintaining the back maintaining a correct position and a series of simple stretches that can be done by oneself.

The period of time in which the muscles remain inactive is especially harmful to health, and can have dire consequences in the long term. That is why it is necessary and important to use accessories that provide comfort while you are working.

These objects include lumbar cushions , which are much more effective than standard chairs when promoting a neutral posture and improving the comfort measure of workers. Thus, in a recent study led by Diane E. Grondin in which the effects of this utensil were measured, arriving at the conclusion that the comfort that was obtained was remarkable in comparison to its the user did not use it.

The main indicator of the benefits of this type of cushion was the change in the lumbar position carried out by the worker. In particular, the support with the lumbar support was much closer to the neutral position than the standard chair. The measurement of the pressure points improved significantly. However, the subjective changes in comfort were not remarkable.

Finally, it should be noted that the conclusions of this study seem to indicate that a lumbar support of this type objectively improves the lumbar position, and with it the distribution of pressure on the intervertebral disc and the musculoskeletal structures involved.

This improvement occurs both in healthy subjects and in those with low back pain, so in the field of the office are configured as a more than adequate support to improve the health of workers.

But in addition to the use of physical measures and cushions to help us, the ideal is to combine them with a series of simple lumbar stretches, this combination is the right and ideal.

Low back pain is a frequent process caused by injuries to the lumbar spine and spinal nerve roots.

Its incidence is estimated between 65-80%, and is the most frequent cause of incapacity for work in people under 45 years of age.

Acute low back pain

Related to multiple causes such as:

  • Intense efforts, which cause localized pain with spinal muscular contracture not irradiated.
  • Vertebral fractures, falls on the legs or forced flexion, being more vulnerable patients with osteoporosis, Cushing's disease, osteopathies, hyperparathyroidism, bone metastasis, multiple myeloma and Paget's disease.
  • Protrusion of the lumbar intervertebral discs, especially L5-S1 and L4-L5, which causes back pain, abnormal postures and limitation of movement. The involvement of the nerve roots produces pain that is usually unilateral and is accompanied by disorders of sensitivity.
  • Syndrome of the articular intervertebral veneers, by compression of the nerve roots without discopathy.
  • Diseases of the hip, which can produce radiated pain to the buttocks and knees.

Chronic back pain

Frequently associated to:

  • Lumbar spondyloarthrosis, by degenerative process of the lumbar vertebrae that produces exostosis, narrowing of the medullary canal and compression of the nerve roots.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis, with lumbalgia irradiated to the thighs, limitation of movements and rigidity, which evolves to decrease thoracic mobility and dorsiflexion flexion.
  • Psoriatic arthritis, Reiter's syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease produce a similar pattern of limitation of movements.
  • Spondylolisthesis produces recurrent low back pain that can often radiate to the lower extremities.
  • Inadequate postures can cause back pain due to overload of muscles and ligaments, although they may be secondary to disc alteration. Lumbar hyperlordosis that occurs due to standing for a long time, the forced inclinations of the back and neck in poorly placed computers and without footrests or sitting badly can cause low back pain.
  • Static alterations of the lower extremities by flat feet or cavities, which force the spine to compensate for posture, produce lower back pain.
  • Scoliosis and unbalanced lower limb asymmetries establish pain.

Medical treatment is causal and symptomatic with analgesics, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories.

Tips

  • Rehabilitation and recommendations to prevent exacerbations include advice on driving.
  • While the patient is experiencing symptoms, such as pain, loss of strength and sensory disturbances, he can not drive.
  • Rest, physiotherapy with massages and recommendations to prevent exacerbations including advice on driving are advised.
  • A driver who sits inadequately behind the wheel may favor the onset of back pain, or worsen the existing one.
  • The patient, therefore, should avoid low, soft chairs and cushions below the knees.
  • The vehicle must have a high, comfortable seat, with straight backrest and a good support of the rescuer.
  • The pain and the neurological or movement limitations will cause the doctor to discourage driving.
  • If the patient is going through a period of anxiety or stress, all the symptoms are accentuated and the control of the vehicle decreases.
  • The drugs used in the symptomatic treatment of these clinical pictures frequently have a sedative effect, as is the case with benzodiazepines and major tranquilizers.
  • The doctor must warn the patient that, even if he has improved the symptoms and can already drive, the maintenance treatment can produce important and dangerous side effects, which can delay the start of driving until the doses decrease or the treatment is withdrawn .

Non-traumatic compressions of the spinal cord

Its origin is multiple, extradural due to vertebral or intradural metastasis due to benign extramedullary tumors, neurinomas and meningiomas.

  • The lesional syndrome is manifested by the involvement of one or more roots at the level of compression, with root pains that are usually alive, fixed, resistant to treatment and exacerbated by the Valsalva maneuvers. Hypoesthesia in band, amyotrophic paralysis and abolition or inversion of the tendon reflex can be associated, a determining sign in the compressions of the cervical cord.
  • The sublesional syndrome produces motor disorders that initially alter the gait intermittently, with hesitation of one limb and fatigue of the leg after movement, unilateral at the beginning and then bilateral. Later the disorders become permanent and the march is rigid, spastic and finally impossible. Sensitive signs are pressure pain and multiple paresthesia distal to the level of the lesion, and are usually delayed with respect to motor signs. The thermal and pain sensibility is more altered than the position sensitivity. The sensory symptoms slowly aggravate until ending in a complete anesthesia of the sublesional area. Sphincteric disorders are relatively late and produce an imperious and frequent urge to urinate that will limit driving.
  • The spinal syndrome is characterized by segmental stiffness of the spine, mainly cervical and lumbar, painful deformation and pain at the pressure of the spinous processes.

Tips

  • Loss of strength, pain, and motor and sensory disturbances impede movements for the proper control of vehicle controls, so you can not drive.
  • The pain and the neurological or movement limitations will cause the doctor to discourage driving.
  • While the patient is experiencing symptoms, such as pain, loss of strength and sensory disturbances, with interference in safety at the wheel, he can not drive.
  • Surgical decompression of the spinal cord requires a more or less prolonged period of functional recovery and safety, in which it is not possible to drive until the specialist reports favorably on it.
  • The specialist will indicate in each case, depending on the treatment required for each disease, the capacity of the patient to be able to drive, and will inform about it in each revision.
  • If there are sequelae, they should be assessed for possible interference with the driving and will be informed of them, as well as the possibility of recovery over time.
  • After the surgery, the period of convalescence is left to medical criteria to be able to drive without limitations.
  • The permanent disabilities can be evaluated with the report of the specialist doctor, to try to adapt the vehicle to the driver and allow the driving with the restrictions that the law establishes for each case.

Lumbar supports can help correct your posture and eliminate lower back pain. It´s easily transportable and can be used on just about any seat.

No matter whether you’re working in the office or taking a long road trip, a support cushion can make your day or trip much more comfortable.

Spina-Bac is the best lumbar supports to help correct your back problems and eliminate pain.

You can use this support in the office, car, couch, or whenever you plan on sitting for long hours. The support itself can be adjusted up or down to provide your back with the precise support it needs.

Portable lumbar back support

Spina-Bac can be manually placed to fit the proper areas of the lumbar region and can be used in conjunction with most types of chairs to best fit the individual's need. You can use in chairs at home, in the car, etc.

On Spine-Health's website you can read :

Office Chair Lumbar Back Support is Important

The lower portion of the spine, just above the buttocks, naturally curves inward toward the belly (the lordotic curve). A lumbar back support helps promote good posture by simply filling in the gap between the lumbar spine and the seat, supporting the natural inward curve of the lower back.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Low back pain (LBP), also known as lower back pain or lumbago, is a common disorder involving the muscles and bones of the back. It affects about 40% of people at some point in their lives. Low back pain may be classified by duration as acute (pain lasting less than 6 weeks), sub-chronic (6 to 12 weeks), or chronic (more than 12 weeks). The condition may be further classified by the underlying cause as either mechanical, non-mechanical, or referred pain.

In most episodes of low back pain, a specific underlying cause is not identified or even looked for, with the pain believed to be due to mechanical problems such as muscle or joint strain. If the pain does not go away with conservative treatment or if it is accompanied by "red flags" such as unexplained weight loss, fever, or significant problems with feeling or movement, further testing may be needed to look for a serious underlying problem. In most cases, imaging tools such as X-ray computed tomography are not useful and carry their own risks. Despite this, the use of imaging in low back pain has increased. Some low back pain is caused by damaged intervertebral discs, and the straight leg raise test is useful to identify this cause. In those with chronic pain, the pain processing system may malfunction, causing large amounts of pain in response to non-serious events.

The treatment of acute nonspecific low back pain is typically with conservative measures such as the use of simple pain medications and the continuation of as much normal activity as the pain allows. Medications are recommended for the duration that they are helpful, with acetaminophen (also known as paracetamol) as the preferred first medication. The symptoms of low back pain usually improve within a few weeks from the time they start, with 40-90% of people completely better by six weeks.

A number of other options are available for those who do not improve with usual treatment. Opioids may be useful if simple pain medications are not enough, but they are not generally recommended due to side effects. Surgery may be beneficial for those with disc-related chronic pain and disability. It may also be useful for those with spinal stenosis. No clear benefit has been found for other cases of non-specific low back pain. Low back pain often affects mood, which may be improved by counseling and/or antidepressants. Additionally, there are many alternative medicine therapies, including the Alexander technique and herbal remedies, but there is not enough evidence to recommend them confidently. The evidence for chiropractic care and spinal manipulation is mixed.

Signs and symptoms

In the common presentation of acute low back pain, pain develops after movements that involve lifting, twisting, or forward-bending. The symptoms may start soon after the movements or upon waking up the following morning. The description of the symptoms may range from tenderness at a particular point to diffuse pain. It may or may not worsen with certain movements, such as raising a leg, or positions, such as sitting or standing. Pain radiating down the legs (known as sciatica) may be present. The first experience of acute low back pain is typically between the ages of 20 and 40. This is often a person's first reason to see a medical professional as an adult. Recurrent episodes occur in more than half of people[2] with the repeated episodes being generally more painful than the first.

Other problems may occur along with low back pain. Chronic low back pain is associated with sleep problems, including a greater amount of time needed to fall asleep, disturbances during sleep, a shorter duration of sleep, and less satisfaction with sleep. In addition, a majority of those with chronic low back pain show symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Causes

Low back pain is not a specific disease but rather a complaint that may be caused by a large number of underlying problems of varying levels of seriousness. The majority of LBP does not have a clear cause[1] but is believed to be the result of non-serious muscle or skeletal issues such as sprains or strains. Obesity, smoking, weight gain during pregnancy, stress, poor physical condition, poor posture and poor sleeping position may also contribute to low back pain. A full list of possible causes includes many less common conditions. Physical causes may include osteoarthritis, degeneration of the discs between the vertebrae or a spinal disc herniation, broken vertebra(e) (such as from osteoporosis) or, rarely, an infection or tumor of the spine.

Women may have acute low back pain from medical conditions affecting the female reproductive system, including endometriosis, ovarian cysts, ovarian cancer, or uterine fibroids. Nearly half of all pregnant women report pain in the lower back or sacral area during pregnancy, due to changes in their posture and center of gravity causing muscle and ligament strain.

Low back pain can be broadly classified into four main categories:

Musculoskeletal - mechanical (including muscle strain, muscle spasm, or osteoarthritis); herniated nucleus pulposus, herniated disk; spinal stenosis; or compression fracture.

Inflammatory - HLA-B27 associated arthritis including ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Malignancy - bone metastasis from lung, breast, prostate, thyroid, among others.

Infectious - osteomyelitis; abscess.

Pathophysiology

Back structures

The lumbar (or lower back) region is made up of five vertebrae (L1-L5), sometimes including the sacrum. In between these vertebrae are fibrocartilaginous discs, which act as cushions, preventing the vertebrae from rubbing together while at the same time protecting the spinal cord. Nerves come from and go to the spinal cord through specific openings between the vertebrae, providing the skin with sensations and messages to muscles. Stability of the spine is provided by the ligaments and muscles of the back and abdomen. Small joints called facet joints limit and direct the motion of the spine.

The multifidus muscles run up and down along the back of the spine, and are important for keeping the spine straight and stable during many common movements such as sitting, walking and lifting. A problem with these muscles is often found in someone with chronic low back pain, because the back pain causes the person to use the back muscles improperly in trying to avoid the pain. The problem with the multifidus muscles continues even after the pain goes away, and is probably an important reason why the pain comes back.[14] Teaching people with chronic low back pain how to use these muscles is recommended as part of a recovery program.

An intervertebral disc has a gelatinous core surrounded by a fibrous ring. When in its normal, uninjured state, most of the disc is not served by either the circulatory or nervous systems – blood and nerves only run to the outside of the disc. Specialized cells that can survive without direct blood supply are in the inside of the disc.[15] Over time, the discs lose flexibility and the ability to absorb physical forces. This decreased ability to handle physical forces increases stresses on other parts of the spine, causing the ligaments of the spine to thicken and bony growths to develop on the vertebrae. As a result, there is less space through which the spinal cord and nerve roots may pass. When a disc degenerates as a result of injury or disease, the makeup of a disc changes: blood vessels and nerves may grow into its interior and/or herniated disc material can push directly on a nerve root.[15] Any of these changes may result in back pain.

Pain sensation

Pain is generally an unpleasant feeling in response to an event that either damages or can potentially damage the body's tissues. There are four main steps in the process of feeling pain: transduction, transmission, perception, and modulation. The nerve cells that detect pain have cell bodies located in the dorsal root ganglia and fibers that transmit these signals to the spinal cord.[16] The process of pain sensation starts when the pain-causing event triggers the endings of appropriate sensory nerve cells. This type of cell converts the event into an electrical signal by transduction. Several different types of nerve fibers carry out the transmission of the electrical signal from the transducing cell to the posterior horn of spinal cord, from there to the brain stem, and then from the brain stem to the various parts of the brain such as the thalamus and the limbic system. In the brain, the pain signals are processed and given context in the process of pain perception. Through modulation, the brain can modify the sending of further nerve impulses by decreasing or increasing the release of neurotransmitters.

Parts of the pain sensation and processing system may not function properly; creating the feeling of pain when no outside cause exists, signaling too much pain from a particular cause, or signaling pain from a normally non-painful event. Additionally, the pain modulation mechanisms may not function properly. These phenomena are involved in chronic pain.

Diagnosis

As the structure of the back is complex and the reporting of pain is subjective and affected by social factors, the diagnosis of low back pain is not straightforward.[8] While most low back pain is caused by muscle and joint problems, this cause must be separated from neurological problems, spinal tumors, fracture of the spine, and infections, among others.

Classification

There are a number of ways to classify low back pain with no consensus that any one method is best.[8] There are three general types of low back pain by cause: mechanical back pain (including nonspecific musculoskeletal strains, herniated discs, compressed nerve roots, degenerative discs or joint disease, and broken vertebra), non-mechanical back pain (tumors, inflammatory conditions such as spondyloarthritis, and infections), and referred pain from internal organs (gallbladder disease, kidney stones, kidney infections, and aortic aneurysm, among others).[8] Mechanical or musculoskeletal problems underlie most cases (around 90% or more),[8][18] and of those, most (around 75%) do not have a specific cause identified, but are thought to be due to muscle strain or injury to ligaments. Rarely, complaints of low back pain result from systemic or psychological problems, such as fibromyalgia and somatoform disorders.

Low back pain may be classified based on the signs and symptoms. Diffuse pain that does not change in response to particular movements, and is localized to the lower back without radiating beyond the buttocks, is classified as nonspecific, the most common classification. Pain that radiates down the leg below the knee, is located on one side (in the case of disc herniation), or is on both sides (in spinal stenosis), and changes in severity in response to certain positions or maneuvers is radicular, making up 7% of cases. Pain that is accompanied by red flags such as trauma, fever, a history of cancer or significant muscle weakness may indicate a more serious underlying problem and is classified as needing urgent or specialized attention.

The symptoms can also be classified by duration as acute, sub-chronic (also known as sub-acute), or chronic. The specific duration required to meet each of these is not universally agreed upon, but generally pain lasting less than six weeks is classified as acute, pain lasting six to twelve weeks is sub-chronic, and more than twelve weeks is chronic. Management and prognosis may change based on the duration of symptoms.

Spina-Bac can help you to prevent Low Back Pain (lower back pain) and Lumbago, anywhere, anytime!

Spina-Bac has a rigid base plate, 5 special steel springs and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts in height and depth to the contours of your back.

High quality polyether padding and elegant fabric cover in 4 different colours give excellent comfort and durability. Ergonomic design, firmness and adjustability enables you to sit safe and well supported, wherever you sit.

Spina-Bac has been developed to retain the natural S-shape of the spine during sitting.

The practical backrest has a robust and solid design, so that it easily supports the weight of the entire upper body.

The Spina-Bac cushion can be individually and easily adapted to the needs of your back. Choose the most comfortable sitting angle and adjust the cushion. This allows you to virtually optimize each seat and to keep the S-shape of your spine.

The Spina-Bac cushions are equipped with a regulator with notches that allow you to adjust the height and depth of the back support with 6 different settings.

Thanks to this built-in regulating mechanism, you can easily and quickly adjust the desired support spots on your back. Every spine is different. The characteristic of the S-shape varies from 2 to 4 cm. This individual shape can only be retained with the help of a support cushion like the Spina-Bac cushion that offers various possibilities of adaptation.

Spina-Bac backsupport, internationally recognized since 30 years, designed by Swedish orthopedic experts for relief and prevention of backpain when sitting.

When you’re pregnant your body is changing fast in a very short time. Especially the back receives an increased load when the belly is growing and the pelvis gets less stable. Spina-Bac was very helpful in creating a comfortable position in front of the computer at work during my whole pregnancy.
A new-born child eats frequently and for long durations and it is common that you breast fed more than eight hours a day in the beginning. Spina-Bac helped me find good positions when breast feeding and thereby I avoided tense muscles and pain in my neck and back. - Sara B., Sweden


Spina-Bac has changed my life – now I can sit everywhere without an aching back.
I take my Spina-Bac with me everywhere.


Spina-Bac makes every chair perfect to sit in, even my soft couch.


With Spina-Bac I enjoy driving my car for hours without getting tired in my back.


My Spina-Bac makes it possible to sit and read in bed without getting back-pain.


It is so nice to sit down, lean back and relax with my Spina-Bac.

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