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Has this ever happened to you? You're in the middle of your everyday activities
when suddenly - zing! - You feel something pull in your neck or back. When the
pain sets in, you start to ask yourself, "How did this happen?" and "What do I
do now?" Most likely, the cause of your pain is muscle strain. It's one of the
most common causes of back and neck pain and is often the result of excessive
physical demands on the back.
How did this happen?
Muscles help support the spine, hold it upright, and control movement during
rest and activity. Several layers of fibrous tissue, called fascia, cover the
muscles. When muscles are injured or inflamed, they become painful and frequently
shorten to prevent further injury. This spasm may be perceived as a knot or
bundle and effectively reduces a muscle's range of motion. "Trigger points"
are muscles in spasm that become very sensitive to touch.
What do I do now?
It's important to determine the exact cause of your pain and to rule out a more
severe injury or other condition that may have similar symptoms. For this reason,
people with severe back or neck pain, especially if it lasts more than a few
days, should see their doctor. If not treated properly, a cycle of increased
muscle spasm, pain, loss of motion, and function can result.
Initial treatment of back and neck muscle pain usually includes bed rest and
pain medications. Your physician may also refer you to a physical therapist,
who will help you recondition and restore strength and flexibility to the injured
muscle through therapeutic exercise. Your physical therapy may also involve
the use of a variety of other treatment methods such as heat/cold therapy, massage,
ultrasound, or joint mobilization.
Even after your physical therapy is complete, you should continue to do the
exercises at home. This will keep your spine healthy and help prevent future
injuries.
Deep Muscle Massage at Home
For instances of occasional muscle pain, you may want to include deep muscle
massage into your regular spine health routine. Talk to your physical therapist
about how to find a massage therapist with expertise in deep muscle massage
in your area. There are also a number of products available that allow you to
self-administer a deep muscle massage, particularly in those hard to reach areas
of the neck and back.
Recently, we had the opportunity to evaluate a new device called the Theracane,
available through Relax
The Back. This is a high quality fiberglass cane with a large rounded hook
that resembles a Shepherd's staff with two straight handles oriented at 90-degrees
to the main shaft. Located about the cane are six round knobs that serve as
contact points to administer a deep pressure massage.
Theracane from Relax The Back
Visit www.relaxtheback.com
We found the device surprisingly easy to use while self-administering an effective
massage, particularly in hard to reach areas of the back, like between the shoulder
blades. Fortunately, at the time of our evaluation, one examiner was personally
experiencing pain in his left shoulder and neck. He found the Theracane was
quite useful in providing effective short-term relief from muscle pain.
Further, Relax
The Back provides a 15-page instruction manual, complete with 55 detailed
drawings. The manual demonstrates how to use the Theracane to administer pressure
to the trigger points of the chest, neck, shoulders, back, hips and legs using
one of the six specified knobs.
The Theracane represents an inexpensive way to administer a deep pressure massage.
It is small enough to be packed in any roll-on luggage, thus its portability
is a welcomed tool for the weary business traveler. Best of all, it allows patients
to actively participate in an activity that can produce pain-relieving results.
This may impart a certain sense of control or independence to the individual
afflicted with pain.
For More Information
Information about the Theracane, and other products from Relax The Back can
be found be visiting www.relaxtheback.com.
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