Scoliosis is a condition that affects the spine and can appear in adults or in children. It is characterized by a curvature of the spine to either the left or the right. While the most common place for the spine to be curved is the chest area, the lower back is also a place that it can bend.

Unfortunately, there no known cause for scoliosis. It can range from moderate to severe and some patients have even required surgery to correct issues caused by it. Most children, however, do not require a specific type of treatment because it is usually something that they outgrow as they age. But, for those who do require treatment, leaving the issue as is, can cause serious damage to the heart, lungs, spine, pelvis or chest.

Testing

There are many ways that you notice the signs of scoliosis, especially in children. For starters, the shoulders may not be the same height or the head may not be centered directly above the pelvis region. Also, you may find that the ribcage is not symmetrical or that one shoulder blade is higher than the other. For babies, you may see that they seem to lie consistently to one side.

To test for it in an adult, there are a few steps that you can go through to determine if you have scoliosis. To begin with, you will need one or two people to look at your back through the process. You will then lean forward as you are keeping your feet together. Eventually, you should bend at the waist 90 degrees.

The person who is observing your back will stand behind you and note any curvatures that they see in your spine. Some, with more extreme cases of the condition, may even be able to look in a full length mirror to help them determine if their hips are out of line.

Keep in mind that while this may help you determine if there is a curvature, you will not be able to determine the severity of the condition unless you receive a diagnosis from your doctor. Since there are many health concerns involved for those with scoliosis, it is important that you visit with your doctor if you believe that you have this condition.

Causes

While about 80% of cases are caused by unknown circumstances, there are some theories that have surfaced for the remaining 20%. Some of these may be due to conditions that are related to the nerves and muscles, like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. Since children with these issues are often not able to walk upright, scoliosis can develop.

Other cases are caused when children are born with the condition due to the spine not developing properly when they are still in the womb. Others develop it through genetics, bad posture, leg length, carrying heavy backpacks, and exercise. Regardless of the cause of the scoliosis, it is important that you have it checked out by a doctor.

Sciatica can be very painful for those who suffer from it. It is caused by an irritation to the sciatic nerve, which is the longest nerve in the entire body. Normally, this pain is felt starting in the lower the back and then travels behind the thigh and radiates below the knee. There are several treatment options available, but they vary depending on the severity of the sciatic pain.

At times, pain from the sciatic nerve is caused due to a lumbar disc herniation. This disc will press on the nerve, which can cause pain. Pain can also be caused by a pinched nerve as well as irritation from adjacent muscles, bones, tumors or an infection.

If you are suffering from sciatic nerve pain, it is best to see your doctor as soon as possible to discuss treatment options. However, there are times when it is not possible to see your doctor immediately and you will need to relieve pain until you are able to schedule a visit. Here a few ways pain can be alleviated without a visit to the doctor.

1. Rest

The first step to relief is rest. This is especially important if you have recently gone through an injury that has caused sciatic nerve irritation. Resting will help speed the recovery process and prevent further irritation.

2. Ice

You can also apply ice to the area that is in pain. Ice can help to eliminate swelling as well as reduce tension. This can help to remove some of the discomfort from sciatic pain until you are able to get to the doctor. Leave the ice packs on for around ten to twenty minutes and repeat three or four times each day.

3. Medication

Medication can also help to remove the pain as well. Purchasing over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines can reduce swelling and irritation. However, your doctor may elect to prescribe you pain medication when you engage in an office visit.

While you may be able to manage your pain at home you will need to visit with your doctor in order to determine what needs to be done to correct the issue permanently. Scheduling a prompt visit can prevent future complications from occurring.

Many people are prone to back pain, and experience difficulty spending too much time in one position when sleeping or sitting. Back pain is one of the most common ailments experienced in the United States with 80% of adults experiencing back pain at least once in their lives. People commonly experience back pain from spending too much time sitting down in the office or at home, not getting sufficient exercise, or from a sports injury.

Although back pain affects many people, there are also a great deal of ways to prevent it, and treat it while maintaining a higher quality of life. Here are some simple steps you can take to start alleviating back pain.

1. Exercise

If you have never exercised in your whole life, now’s the time to start. Even simple exercises like stretching your limbs can relieve body aches. Walking is also a helpful way of keeping your back straight. Depending on the severity of your back pain, it is important to consult your physician before you begin engaging in more intense workouts.

2. Practice Good Posture

Correct posture is often misconceived as sitting up straight all the time, but it is much more than that. It is important to keep your back straight as much as possible, but not to overarch it because this will also cause back pain. It is important to avoid slouching and putting too much pressure or weight on your back. A few simple tips that can be taken to reduce the strain on one’s back are not bending over the sink while brushing your teeth, and utilizing correct technique when picking up objects. This can be done by not picking up objects while your back is straight, but bent and utilizing the legs and knees.

3. Apply Ice & Heat

If you have injured your back, it is recommended to periodically apply ice on the injured part for the first 48 hours after sustaining the injury. After that heat can be applied in the form of a heating pad or patch. If it is not injured but you experience constant back pain, applying hot compress on your back while resting can help reduce the pain.

4. Stop Smoking

Smoking has many negative effects on the body. It does not only damage your lungs, but can also be a cause of back pain. Nicotine constricts the small blood vessels and this hampers the delivery of blood to the soft tissues which is a cause of back pains.

5. Relaxation Techniques

Breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, or tai chi relax the mind and reduce muscle tension in your body. It will relax your back and reduce pain.

Celebrities are people that we look up to and strive to be more like in a number of ways. However, there are many celebrities that have bad habits that we should all avoid. For example, there are a great number of celebrities who have bad posture, which can have a huge impact on their health.

Some of the celebrities that you should avoid copying their bad posture habits are:

• Kiera Knightly
• Justin Bieber
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Bill Gates
• Miley Cyrus

Each of these celebrities has a posture that probably has their chiropractors in fits every time that they enter their office. Not only can bad posture provide you with back pain, but it can have lasting effects on the body as well.

In fact, having bad back posture can cause problems with your immune health as well. For those with depression, it can also make symptoms worse. In addition to health problems, it can affect your career because your attitude will not always be at its best.

There are a number of reasons that people develop bad posture over time. With the increase that we have seen in technology, it is no wonder that slouching at our desks or over our cell phones is a leading cause of these types of issues.

When you are looking to correct your posture, you will find that there are many different methods in place to help you do so. One method that has been used for centuries is simply training yourself to stand and sit straighter. Placing books on one’s head and walking with them in place several times a day is one old fashioned method that has proven quite successful.

However, these days there are several exercises that can help with posture as well. Many of these exercises focus around building up the muscles in the back so that you will have a better chance of having good posture.

Seeing a chiropractor regularly can also help realign your spine and help improve your posture. Because of the negative effects of bad posture on the body, this is necessary for anyone with bad posture. Not only will it help them to feel better physically, but it will help them to develop a need to repair the bad posture that they have.

Celebrities around the world can be seen on a regular basis displaying signs of bad posture. However, for these individuals in particular, it is not common to see them standing or sitting in a position that will keep their back straight and secure.

If you find yourself mimicking these or any other celebrities who have bad posture, it is best to select methods to help improve it immediately. Bad posture can be painful and create many other issues for us in the future, along with the health risks mentioned above. Make sure that you see your chiropractor, so that you can learn more about the benefits that good posture will have on your future.

Many people rely on neck cracking to help eliminate pain that they may be feeling in their joints. While this cracking, which is often accompanied with a popping sound, can help bring some relief and can be somewhat relaxing, there can actually be harm in doing it as well.

Side Effects of Cracking your Neck

There are many negative health concerns that can be experienced when you crack your neck. For starters, it can cause neck pain because it can actually decrease the mobility of your neck after some time. Since the cartilage is worn down during the cracking process, inflammation and neck pain can occur.

It can also lead to osteoarthritis in the future because it causes a great deal of stress on the joints. Ligaments are forced to stretch excessively and this can lead to instability of the bone bridges between the vertebrae. Eventually, this can lead to permanent damage and irreversible joint stabilization issues.

Studies have also shown that those who habitually crack their neck are at a greater risk of having a stroke at a younger age; younger than 60. This is because damage can occur to the blood vessels and cervical arteries that are near the neck and cause blood clots. While it is likely that a stroke caused in this manner will be minor, it can cause a great number of additional health concerns as well.

Relief

There are many things that you can do to receive the same benefit of neck cracking without going through the neck cracking process. Exercise is one of the best methods that you can use to eliminate issues with the joints. To exercise the muscles in your neck, you can lower your head until your chin touches your chest. Do this several times a day to help eliminate neck pain due to tight muscles.

Joint movement is also important when you are looking to eliminate the need to crack your neck. When your joints are not moving properly, they will be stiff and crack when you move them. However, by exercising muscles that are weak, you will strengthen them and inevitably eliminate these issues.

Lying down flat and using hot compresses are also helpful approaches to use when you feel pain in your neck. They can be done first thing in the morning to eliminate that morning stiffness you feel when you get out of bed.

Alternatives

Stretching is one of the best ways to loosen up your joints and helps you to crack your joints in the right way. You should seek a licensed chiropractor’s assistance to help you with your back pain as well.

Not only will your chiropractor be able to eliminate the need to crack your neck, but they will be able to offer you guidance as to the proper way to crack your joints and exercises that you can do to help eliminate neck pain. Even though cracking your neck can seem like a good idea at the time, there are many health risks to consider and you should avoid doing it at all costs.