To brace or not to brace?  When you are experiencing low back pain, an easy solution is to pick up a back brace to support your spine. The theory makes sense as a back brace helps your spine from moving too much. When you are in pain, such as a lower back pain due to a muscle spasm or arthritis in back, your back feels weak and needs the extra support. It makes logical sense that when your lower back hurts to move, a brace can reduce your back pain by limiting this movement.
There is this counter-argument that when your body relies on a back brace, your muscles get weaker from disuse. If you are suffering from back pain, the fear of your back muscles getting weaker is not a friendly thought.  If you ask any Physical Therapist or Chiropractor, you will hear a strong “NO!” It will sound like there is no wiggle room. Black and white answer.
Why are weight-lifters wearing those belts to lift then? Does that make them weak to lift heavy? Huh?  There are times we go to Walmart or Home Depot, to see the warehouse employees wear back braces as a uniform. Are they more at risk of hurting themselves or weakened their posture?
In an analysis of many research related to this topic called a Cochrane Database Systematic Review, Negrini S in 2015 showed that there are not many conclusive articles that support a strong yes or no position to wearing a brace or not. As a Holistic Spine and Sports Medicine Physical Therapist Clinic in Long Beach, California, we have heard this question many times “What are your thoughts of wearing a back brace for my back pain (or posture)?” (more…)
Many know that Rosemary is a culinary herb but unaware of its medicinal purposes like pain relief, cognitive boost, and for anti-aging skin care. Rosemary, also known as Rosmarinus officinalis, has been dated all the way back to the Romans, Egyptians, and ancient Egyptian civilization. There is a myth where the Virgin Mary is said to have spread her blue cloak over a white-blossomed rosemary bush when she was resting, and the flowers turned blue. The shrub then became known as the “Rose of Mary”. Rosemary has an anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-fungal, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory medicinal property as shown in 
Cyber Monday is becoming a bigger phenomenon in our modern society as we shift towards the internet of things. Smartphones have hyper-drive cyber Monday even busier, however, our bodies are not designed for spending hours on the small phone devices or at a desk looking for these deals.
This article will dive into 3 exercises that are designed to help keep your upper body limber so you do not get any unwanted tendinitis, stiff neck syndrome, or nerve irritation. Yes, we have seen an uptick in this diagnosis more and we would like to explain why these exercises are important and how it can help you enjoy your Christmas and online presents for yourself.
Movement is movement. There are no differences when the body is having trouble moving, whether it is due to pain or a major stroke. Okay, I understand I am making a big exaggeration. When you understand how to help people move and have done it successfully for many, I would like to share how your tension or pain is no different than how a stroke patient moves.
Here is this month’s food that we are highlighting. Our family eat these on a regular basis and as a father who is somewhat in charge of cooking, I put these three ingredients in a crock-pot. Scroll below the 3 ingredients on why putting these three together can be a simple and powerfully healthy recipe.
Everyone knows that exercise is important. Did you know that exercise impacts all but one system in your body? Exercise makes you look and feel younger. When you are in acute or chronic pain, there are no clear guidelines besides rest…and maybe more rest (until infinity and beyond). Okay. I have two children so I could not resist sneaking in Toy Story quotes. This article intention is to help you make a better decision since this is the one puzzling common theme when someone seeks medical expertise due to pain or not feeling good.
The truth is that medical schools do not educate doctors on how to teach exercise prescription effectively. As a performance specialist and Doctor of Sports Physical Therapy, I have studied exercise intensely. There are three cohorts that might be able to help you when you are trying to learn how to exercise safely while in pain: ones that have done it themselves through trial and error, ones that have gone to school to learn how to do it, and ones that have experienced both.