The current opioid epidemic is the deadliest drug crisis in American history. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost as a result, and many of these prescriptions have been written for patients presenting with spinal pain.

 

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As our bodies mature with age, our workouts need to be accommodating. Here are a few key pieces of advice for keeping your workouts more help than harm.

https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/4-ways-your-workout-should-change-1336859824185398.html

Starting a running habit can introduce a number of positive benefits into your life. Knowing these few simple tips will help you reduce the risk of injury and avoid common mistakes.

http://running.about.com/od/getstartedwithrunning/tp/runningtips.htm

The Oregon Health Authority is awaiting results on a recent decision to allow Medicaid patients to access physical therapy and other alternative therapies for low-back pain. According to a policy brief by the Health Care Cost Institute, lowering barriers to physical therapy would decrease the odds of low-back pain patients ending up in emergency rooms, using imaging and having opioid prescriptions. 

http://www.bendbulletin.com/home/4042346-151/access-to-physical-therapy-lowers-cost-of-health

Summary: As smartphone use increases across the globe, the incidence of ‘text neck’ may be rising. Text neck results from the head being placed in a flexed position while looking at a smartphone or mobile device. Increased flexion positions of the cervical spine can put as much as 60-70 pounds of pressure on the spine and related structures. Over time, this can result in significant injury to the spine, particularly the cervical region. The problem appears to be particularly significant for young people who tend to spend many more hours per day on their mobile devices. Researchers say it is important to remember not to flex the neck when looking at a smartphone and to only look down with the eyes.

For more information…

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/11/20/text-neck-is-becoming-an-epidemic-and-could-wreck-your-spine/