The aspect of ageing which plays on the mind a bit is not the increasing creakiness or the paunch or the ailments which one reads about but the actual "shape of the spine", I suppose.
I'm referring to spinal curvature or kyphosis and it seems to me that that's the thing we should be on guard against in our late 40s, perhaps getting into an exercise regimen with that as one of the factors. Mother's wisdom seems to have been right after all: "Stand up straight, pull your stomach in and have you got clean underpants?"
As a daily undies changer, I objected to that last bit.
There was a mechanic I used to take my car to in Russia and he was beginning to have spinal problems. Now, it occurred to me that he only needed stick one leg backwards, straight in line with the upper body, as he leant over the engine and it would take a lot of pressure off the lumbar region. Ditto with bending down - bend your knees instead and keep the back straight and so on.
But that's the lumbar area. For the upper back and shoulders, I should think a good anaerobic regimen, not too punishing, might be the trick, strengthening all muscles in the area, doing side exercises, "shruggees" and all the rest of it - any gym can give you a chart.
Apart from that, being conscious of posture seems to be the way to go, especially at the computer seat. Laptops can be bad and it seems to me that if you can get your ergonomics working so that your back is straight and leaning slightly forward, not back, with your feet in an appropriate position, it might help.
Also a good diet to counteract osteoporosis which can also affect the spine. Exercise helps with that too.
ReplyDeleteYes - diet is so vital. Exercise is also a given.
ReplyDeleteCan't recommend an Inversion Swing highly enough... especially having found using one extremely effective over the past 15 years. My goodness, this is a subject for a blog all on its own.
ReplyDeleteI'll look into it. It could be a blogpost on its own - you going to do one?
ReplyDeleteDo look into it James... decompressing the body has many health benefits. A blog about back problems would certainly make a change from arse pain politicians. A simple test would be to strip down to your clean Y Fronts or Union Jack thong and have a good look at yourself in a full length mirror. EG look at your shoulder level... is it straight? Place your index fingers on your nipples... are they equal? Also Hips... wrist joints at rest... knees and ankles. It's not unusual to find them out of alignment by inches.
ReplyDeleteApologies James. When I bought my equipment years ago it was called an inversion swing table. It would now more accurately be called an Inversion Table. An inversion swing although very useful,is a different piece of kit.
ReplyDeleteAnd lots of water to keep everything well lubricated.
ReplyDeleteNever forget the water.
Also, strengthening the core muscles is important ,too to maintain a healthy spine.
Water - single greatest factor in my troubles some weeks back. Once the water started being taken again, it all came good.
ReplyDeleteMy wife was diagnosed with FHS - Forward Head Syndrome...
ReplyDeleteI have exactly the same symptoms as her - muscle pain under the shoulder blades...
Biggest tip from the doc..??
Move your laptop screen to normal head height - look level 10 hrs a day instead of looking down and tilting your head forward...
It is simple but true advice...!
Worked a treat...
Good advice and I'll hae to think how to achieve that.
ReplyDelete