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Excess weight may be a risk factor for lumbar spine depletion

Excess weight may be a risk factor for lumbar spine depletion

The excess fat accumulated in the belly can be a problem for both the back, forcing the spine and causing pain. A study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism helps to prove this relationship: adults who are overweight or obese are significantly more likely to suffer from lumbar spine intervertebral disc degeneration than those with normal weight. conclusion, researchers from the University of Hong Kong in China recruited 2,599 participants, 1,040 men and 1,559 women with a mean age of 42 years, and observed them between 2001 and 2009. Recruitment occurred regardless of whether or not the volunteer had back pain .

At the end of the study period, 73% of the participants presented with disc degeneration, with 76% of the men showing more suffering from this disease. than women, with 71%. Age was also a risk factor - the older, the greater the chances of having this degeneration. In relation to the body mass of the participants, 7% were underweight, 48% were in the normal weight range, 36% were overweight and 9% were obese.

The severity of wear due to disc degeneration was more pronounced in those who were above of weight or with obesity. For the authors, this is because weight gain increases the physical load on the intravertebral disc and the chronic inflammation of fat cells, which may play an important role in this type of degeneration. Researchers point out that disc degeneration is a complex process involving both structural and chemical changes of the intravertebral disc.

Further studies will be needed to define exactly what the impact of overweight to the health of the spine is. Previous research has already indicated that weight plays an important role in back pain. This study allows one to conclude that one of the possible causes for such pain is the degeneration of the lumbar spine.

Seven Tips That Help End Back Pain

Next, check out some tips from physiotherapist Claudio Rubens, which teaches how to protect the lumbar spine from day to day to increase the sense of well-being.

1) Maintain good spine posture

The lumbar spine has a natural curvature that we call lordosis, which is characterized by be a slight concavity in our back. Keeping the "neutral position" is nothing more than maintaining that curvature in carrying out our daily activities. In this position there is greater stability of the spine, the muscles are in a position where a slight contraction can maintain the proper position of their vertebrae, the ligaments are protected because they are not overly stretched and the intervertebral disc (structure that is located between the vertebrae, acting as an impact absorber) is protected from possible herniation, such as the dreaded and painful herniated disc.

2) Carry objects close to the body

When we carry objects, especially heavy objects, the closer we keep them our lower body will be the force we will have to do, and the lower the burden that our lumbar spine will impose. As an example, take a backpack and hold it with your arm stretched out, then bend your arm and see how easy it is for both your arm and your back.

3) Sit properly

No sitting with your hips and knees bent at 90 degrees. In this position, we lose the natural curvature of the lumbar spine, the lordosis we mentioned in item one. To maintain this healthy curve of the spine it is necessary that the angle between our thighs and our trunk is a little more than 90º. And how to achieve this? Placing a support under the butt so that the height of your hip is slightly above the height of your knee. A folded pillow is the best bet. This helps maintain the neutral position of the lumbar spine so it will be more protected and you will be more comfortable.

4) When working seated, perform intervals

Raising yourself from time to time when sitting down is essential to reduce spine overload. After standing for a few seconds, stretch, stretch your body up and back, take a deep breath. Try to avoid tilting the torso ahead (this overloads the spine in a similar way as if you were sitting).

5) Maintain physical fitness

Maintain good conditioning of your back and abdomen muscles, but do not neglect the rest of the body. With your buttocks, thighs, legs and arms strengthened your spine will be even more protected from possible problems. Another important tip is to try to maintain good body flexibility.

6) Avoid bending the spine shortly after waking

Our intervertebral disc, when lying down for a long time without moving, tends to accumulate fluid in its nucleus. If we bend our spine forward when too much fluid is on the disc, the pressure against the disc will be large, and we risk the fluid rupturing the disc, causing a hernia. If we want to perform such exercises, we should wait about an hour after we have gotten up.

7) In case of pain, seek a professional

If you are feeling any pain in your lumbar spine, see a specialist. Lumbar pain can have several origins. Identifying what is really happening is critical to proper treatment.


Meningitis: 5 Facts You Need to Know About Meningococcal Disease

Meningitis: 5 Facts You Need to Know About Meningococcal Disease

2 In Brazil alone, 1,084 cases were reported in 2016, according to the Ministry of Health. 3 Statistics show that mortality is significant: in the year 2013, on average, one death occurred every eight minutes around the world. 4 Invasive Meningococcal Disease (IMD) is caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, which has 13 Serogroups A, B, C, W and Y are the most frequent cause of meningococcal disease.

(Health)

Different blood pressure in each arm may indicate cardiac risk

Different blood pressure in each arm may indicate cardiac risk

A study published in the online edition of the magazine Lancet has shown that measuring systolic blood pressure in both arms can be an effective way to detect silent vascular problems. The analysis was led by researchers at Exeter University in England. Is your blood pressure healthy? To reach this conclusion, the researchers reviewed 28 previous studies that had measured the pressure of the participants involved in the right and left arm.

(Health)