Minimally Invasive SpineCARE® Shares Tips for Reducing Back Pain

DALLAS - June 18, 2013 - PRLog -- According to the North American Spine Society, four out of five Americans will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Some back pain is caused by factors people cannot control, like genetics and accidents, but some can be prevented. The spine specialists at Minimally Invasive SpineCARE® say people can minimize back and neck pain through simple principles, which can help improve a patient’s health in other areas as well.

Dr. Douglas Won, founder and director of Minimally Invasive SpineCARE, says one easy way to improve spine health – which might surprise people – is to quit smoking.

“If you can stop smoking, you’ll improve your overall health and help strengthen your back at the same time,” explains Dr. Won. “Smoking can restrict blood flow to vital spinal tissues, depriving them of oxygen and important nutrients, which decreases your body’s natural ability to heal. Also, in our experience, spine patients who smoke usually have a lower pain threshold than non-smokers, so back pain feels more intense.”

Dr. Won says the first step for improving spine health and overall wellness is proper body mechanics.

“Many things can negatively affect the back, like twisting while lifting groceries out of the car or moving a heavy object. Body mechanics like this seem so small, yet they can make a huge difference,” notes Dr. Won.

A few suggestions for maintaining good body mechanics include stretching before exercising or other strenuous activities, pushing heavy objects across the floor instead of pulling or lifting them and maintaining good posture as often as possible.

Another significant factor that can improve your back and neck health is exercise.

“Exercise is important for your spine as well as your general health, but it can be hard to get motivated,” says Dr. Erica Whitlock, a chiropractor with Minimally Invasive SpineCARE. “Ask a friend to join you. Whether you’re playing basketball or going to the gym, exercising with a friend can be fun, and you’re more likely to stick with it because you’ll keep each other accountable.”

But be careful not to overdo it, especially in the beginning, she cautions.

“Establish a regular routine, but don’t overexert yourself. If you don’t know how much is too much, or you’re not sure where to begin, ask a health care professional for a gradual exercise program to get you started,” advises Dr. Whitlock.

Dr. Whitlock adds that both core strengthening and cardiovascular exercises are important for back health. Cardiovascular exercise has another benefit for relieving back pain – it can help reduce body weight.

"Excess weight is known to significantly increase back pain as well as the frequency of disc herniations and other spinal pathology," notes Dr. Vinko Zlomislic, a spine surgeon with Minimally Invasive SpineCare. "Furthermore, obesity is a risk factor for development of diabetes and other cardiovascular health risks. That's why it's important to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet."

Dr. Zlomislic recommends patients talk with their doctors or nutritionists to determine an ideal target weight and dietary program to help them reach that goal. However, he stresses that good nutrition has other benefits too.

“Good nutrition can help you reach your target weight, but it also gives you more energy, makes you feel better about yourself and aids in the healing process. It even helps reduce stress,” he explains.

Stress can create discomfort throughout the body and is a frequent culprit of back and neck pain. When stressed, the body tightens muscles. This can result in spasms, “muscle knots” and pinched nerves that are painful and can lead to more serious problems. Stress also inhibits the body’s ability to heal.

“Taking good care of your body strengthens it against injuries and illnesses, and in those instances where it needs it, it makes it easier for it to heal,” concludes Dr. Zlomislic.

Minimally Invasive SpineCARE® is a nationally acclaimed, fully comprehensive spine center for surgical and non-surgical treatments. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Minimally Invasive SpineCARE has 14 clinics in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. Services include pain mapping and other diagnostic services, adult stem cell therapy, surgical procedures, non-surgical treatments, and chiropractic and physical therapy. For more information, visit www.SpineCareDFW.com, or call 1-888-600-6474. Connect with Minimally Invasive SpineCARE on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SpineCareDFW), Twitter (twitter.com/#!/spinecaredfw) or YouTube (www.youtube.com/spinecaredfw).

###

Media Contact:

Krista Simmons

TrizCom Inc.

817-492-9143

krista@trizcom.com

Minimally Invasive SpineCARE® locations:

1851 Medical Center Drive, Decatur, TX 76234

1001 Robbie Mince Way, Desoto, TX 75115

9330 Poppy Drive, Ste. 500, Dallas, TX 75218

8750 North Central Expressway, Ste. 1750, Dallas, TX 75231

800 Eighth Avenue, Ste. 440, Fort Worth, TX 76104

4400 Heritage Trace Parkway, Ste. 208, Fort Worth, TX 76244

8501 Wade Boulevard, Ste. 270, Frisco, TX 75034

5224 South State Highway 360, Ste. 230, Grand Prairie, TX 75052

4301 North MacArthur Boulevard, Ste. 101, Irving, TX 75038

6850 TPC Drive, Ste. 116, McKinney, TX 75070

4716 Alliance Boulevard, Pavilion 2, Ste. 218, Plano, TX 75093

1600 Republic Parkway, Ste. 100, Mesquite, TX 75150

801 West Interstate 20, Ste. 224, Arlington, TX 76017

649 North East Alsbury Boulevard, Burleson, TX 76028