What you need to know
What are bedpans and urinals?
Bedpans and urinals are devices that allow people to have a bowel movement or urinate while they are in bed. A man uses a bedpan for a bowel movement but may prefer a urinal when he urinates. Women usually use a bedpan for bowel movements and urinating.
Why does a person need to use a bedpan or urinal?
A person may need to use a bedpan or urinal because he cannot walk to the bathroom, He may have an illness, injury or surgery that make him unable to walk. A person should regularly urinate and have bowel movements to help prevent other health problems from occurring. There may be only a small amount of time between the urge to urinate and urination. The caregiver must be quick to respond to the toileting needs of the person in bed.
What kind of bedpans and urinals are there?
There are several different kind of bedpans and urinals available. Some are metal and other are hard plastic. There are bedpans for people who cannot raise their hips. This may include people in body cast or with hip fractures. Some urinals are made for men and other are made for women. Some urinals are reusable and other are thrown away after each use. You can buy bedpans and urinals at medical supply. You may also be able to take home the bedpans and urinal from the hospital.
How do i get ready to help a person use a bedpan?
Gather you supplies:
￫ A basin with warm water
￫ Disposable gloves
￫ Toilet paper
￫ Towels
￫ Wash cloths or wet wipes
￫ Run warm water over the bedpan and dry it. A metal bedpan retains heat, So check to make sure it is not too hot before putting it under the person.
￫ Sprinkle baby on the edge of the bedpan to make it easier to slide under the person.
How do i help a person who can raise his buttocks to use a bedpan?
￫ Put on disposable gloves.
￫ Place a waterproof pad under the person's buttocks to protect the bed from spills.
￫ Raise the head of the bed a little if it is allowed by the healthcare provider.
￫ Support the lower back of the person with you other hand, place the curved edge of the bedpan under the buttocks of the person.
￫ Raise the head of the bed until the person is in sitting position, Sitting upright makes having a bowel movement or urinating easier.
￫ Give the person privacy if possible.If the person is weak do not leave him alone.
￫ When the person is done, lower the head o
Monday, 5 June 2017
THERMOMETER FOR FEVER
how to read a digital thermometer for fever
IF you thing you or you child may have a fever, you need to check you temperature. If you do need to call the doctor. he will need to know how high you fever. So be sure you know how to check it the right way. After all there are several different type of thermometers and it is easier to get it wrong than you may think.
Type of thermometers
￫ Oral - digital or manual
￫ Rectal - digital or manual
￫ Axillary - digital or manual
￫ Tympanic - digital, takes temperature in the ear
￫ Temporal - digital, takes temperature on forehead
Checking the temperature
If you using s digital thermometer, simply press the button to turn it on.
￫ Oral - place under tongue wait until the digital thermometer beeps or approximately 5 minutes for a manual thermometer, Remember not to take an oral temperature right after eating or drinking something because it will alter the result. It's also important to keep you mouth closed the entire time.
￫ Axillary - place under the arm with the tip in the deepest crease, Wait until the digital thermometer beeps or approximately 5 minutes for a manual thermometer.
￫ Rectal - use lubrication such as petroleum jelly place tip in the rectum (opening in the bottom) wait until the digital thermometer beeps or approximately 5 minutes for a manual thermometer, This method should be used for infants or those whose temperature cannot be taken any other way.
￫ Tympanic - pull the top earlobe up and back, place tip (covered with probe cover) in ear canal opening, press button until it beeps Be sure you are pointing the probe into the ear canal opening and not at the ear, this can result in incorrect result. Tympanic thermometers can be difficult to use on babies and are often inaccurate because their ear canals are so mall.
￫ Temporal - press button down and sweep probe across forehead this is fairly new technology but seems to be relatively accurate and very quick and easy to use. Be sure to read the instruction for your device- some require a swipe across the forehead and on the neck below the ear.
Do you need a thermometer ? Can't decide which kind to get? check you options.
Digital oral , axillary or rectal
Digital thermometers are a great option. They are very inexpensive and much quicker and easier.
Tympanic ear thermometer
The are very popular, especially among parents of small children.They are faster that know that the result may not accurate if the child has an ear infection.
Temporal seam thermometer
The newest and most expensive thermometer on the market. These are the quickest (they only take 1-2 second) and probably the easiest to use. In my experience they have been very accurate but some people find they read too low at time.
Now that you know how to take an accurate temperature, you will be ready next time you or you child has a fever.
WHAT IS A FEVER, CAUSES AND WHEN TO BE CONCERNED
May people get fevers when they get sick. They make us feel worn down, achy and tired. At the first sign of a high temperature you might feel compelled to whip out a thermometer and worry about how high the fever might get. But do you know what a fever is and why it occurs ? Is it really something to be worried about at all?
The "NORMAL" body temperature is 37.00 Degrees Celsius.
What Causes Fevers?
Most often fevers are caused by infection. The immune system responds to foreign germs that are trying to make the body sick by raising the body temperature, Which make it harder for the germs to survive, Other cause of fevers include.
- Cancer
- Heat exhausting (hyperthermia)
- Side effects of certain medication
- Autoimmune disorders and disease
- Overdressing (common with infants that are wrapped in blankets or to much clothing )
How to check you temperature
There are many ways to check the body temperature. The result different methods deliver vary by about a degree depending upon the part of the body that you are testing, But whatever method you use, you will still get you a good general idea of you temperature,
The most commonly used thermometers check temperature orally. Tyrannically (in the ear), temporally (on the forehead or temple) or rectally. Learn more about how to check a temperature the right way.
When you should be concerned
Lost of people worry about a fever and how it will affect the body. Everybody wants to know, How high is too high?
Its an understandable concern because of how terrible fevers make us feel. The answer, unfortunately is not a single number. For most people fevers are going hurt us and we don't need to be concerned about the number on the thermometer.
There are some exceptions, though. Young babied should get medical attention for temperatures at certain points. However it is not because the fever will hurt them. It is because fevers are so rare in young infants that they are usually caused by very serious and often life- threatening illnesses. If you have a baby , there are the temperatures you need watch for.
￫ Infants under 3 months old : Any temperature over 37.00 Degree call your doctor or seek medical attention right away.
￫ 3 months to 3 years : Any temperature over 37.00 degree Fahrenheit call you doctor and ask if an appointment is necessary
With kids its always important to look how they are behaving when they have a fever. It the thermometer says 102, but they are running around playing and acting normally its okay to let them with a fever reducing medication.
If that doesn't help them feel better seek medical attention.
When to fevers
If you have a fever and you feel terrible it is okay to take a fever reducing medication to help bring it down. The same goes for children if you are treating a child with a fever, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
￫ Never give a child under 18 year old aspirin - event baby aspirin. It can cause a serious illness.
￫ Children under 6 months old should not take.
￫ Children under 2 months old should not given any type of fever reducing medication.
￫ Never put a child or anyone else in a ice or alcohol bath to bring down the fever. This is unnecessary and it can dangerous making the body temperature drop too quickly.
In general fevers aren't reason for concern. They are the body way of fighting off infection. When you look at them that way. Instead of as a reason worry, It is much easier to decide when you should call you doctor, When you should treat it yourself and when you should just leave it alone.
IF you thing you or you child may have a fever, you need to check you temperature. If you do need to call the doctor. he will need to know how high you fever. So be sure you know how to check it the right way. After all there are several different type of thermometers and it is easier to get it wrong than you may think.
Type of thermometers
￫ Oral - digital or manual
￫ Rectal - digital or manual
￫ Axillary - digital or manual
￫ Tympanic - digital, takes temperature in the ear
￫ Temporal - digital, takes temperature on forehead
Checking the temperature
If you using s digital thermometer, simply press the button to turn it on.
￫ Oral - place under tongue wait until the digital thermometer beeps or approximately 5 minutes for a manual thermometer, Remember not to take an oral temperature right after eating or drinking something because it will alter the result. It's also important to keep you mouth closed the entire time.
￫ Axillary - place under the arm with the tip in the deepest crease, Wait until the digital thermometer beeps or approximately 5 minutes for a manual thermometer.
￫ Rectal - use lubrication such as petroleum jelly place tip in the rectum (opening in the bottom) wait until the digital thermometer beeps or approximately 5 minutes for a manual thermometer, This method should be used for infants or those whose temperature cannot be taken any other way.
￫ Tympanic - pull the top earlobe up and back, place tip (covered with probe cover) in ear canal opening, press button until it beeps Be sure you are pointing the probe into the ear canal opening and not at the ear, this can result in incorrect result. Tympanic thermometers can be difficult to use on babies and are often inaccurate because their ear canals are so mall.
￫ Temporal - press button down and sweep probe across forehead this is fairly new technology but seems to be relatively accurate and very quick and easy to use. Be sure to read the instruction for your device- some require a swipe across the forehead and on the neck below the ear.
Do you need a thermometer ? Can't decide which kind to get? check you options.
Digital oral , axillary or rectal
Digital thermometers are a great option. They are very inexpensive and much quicker and easier.
Tympanic ear thermometer
The are very popular, especially among parents of small children.They are faster that know that the result may not accurate if the child has an ear infection.
Temporal seam thermometer
The newest and most expensive thermometer on the market. These are the quickest (they only take 1-2 second) and probably the easiest to use. In my experience they have been very accurate but some people find they read too low at time.
Now that you know how to take an accurate temperature, you will be ready next time you or you child has a fever.
WHAT IS A FEVER, CAUSES AND WHEN TO BE CONCERNED
May people get fevers when they get sick. They make us feel worn down, achy and tired. At the first sign of a high temperature you might feel compelled to whip out a thermometer and worry about how high the fever might get. But do you know what a fever is and why it occurs ? Is it really something to be worried about at all?
The "NORMAL" body temperature is 37.00 Degrees Celsius.
What Causes Fevers?
Most often fevers are caused by infection. The immune system responds to foreign germs that are trying to make the body sick by raising the body temperature, Which make it harder for the germs to survive, Other cause of fevers include.
- Cancer
- Heat exhausting (hyperthermia)
- Side effects of certain medication
- Autoimmune disorders and disease
- Overdressing (common with infants that are wrapped in blankets or to much clothing )
How to check you temperature
There are many ways to check the body temperature. The result different methods deliver vary by about a degree depending upon the part of the body that you are testing, But whatever method you use, you will still get you a good general idea of you temperature,
The most commonly used thermometers check temperature orally. Tyrannically (in the ear), temporally (on the forehead or temple) or rectally. Learn more about how to check a temperature the right way.
When you should be concerned
Lost of people worry about a fever and how it will affect the body. Everybody wants to know, How high is too high?
Its an understandable concern because of how terrible fevers make us feel. The answer, unfortunately is not a single number. For most people fevers are going hurt us and we don't need to be concerned about the number on the thermometer.
There are some exceptions, though. Young babied should get medical attention for temperatures at certain points. However it is not because the fever will hurt them. It is because fevers are so rare in young infants that they are usually caused by very serious and often life- threatening illnesses. If you have a baby , there are the temperatures you need watch for.
￫ Infants under 3 months old : Any temperature over 37.00 Degree call your doctor or seek medical attention right away.
￫ 3 months to 3 years : Any temperature over 37.00 degree Fahrenheit call you doctor and ask if an appointment is necessary
With kids its always important to look how they are behaving when they have a fever. It the thermometer says 102, but they are running around playing and acting normally its okay to let them with a fever reducing medication.
If that doesn't help them feel better seek medical attention.
When to fevers
If you have a fever and you feel terrible it is okay to take a fever reducing medication to help bring it down. The same goes for children if you are treating a child with a fever, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
￫ Never give a child under 18 year old aspirin - event baby aspirin. It can cause a serious illness.
￫ Children under 6 months old should not take.
￫ Children under 2 months old should not given any type of fever reducing medication.
￫ Never put a child or anyone else in a ice or alcohol bath to bring down the fever. This is unnecessary and it can dangerous making the body temperature drop too quickly.
In general fevers aren't reason for concern. They are the body way of fighting off infection. When you look at them that way. Instead of as a reason worry, It is much easier to decide when you should call you doctor, When you should treat it yourself and when you should just leave it alone.
Thursday, 1 June 2017
ABDOMINAL BINDER
An abdominal binder is a special compression garment that you wear around you midsection. You may be wondering why you would need to wear an abdominal binder after having a baby.
The reasons for wearing an abdominal binder are typically related to surgery or childbirth- or sometimes both, Maybe it seems like putting extra pressure on you belly might even hurt.
On the contrary is a common technique used used to speed healing, Often after surgery or after an injury like a sprained ankle. Compression offers support to the are that is healing. Compression also increases blood flow and reduces swelling both of which are key components of the healing process.
An abdominal binder is meant to be quite tight- though not so tight that you can't breathe or sit comfortably. some abdominal binders are simple swaths of thick fabric that you wrap around you belly area. securing the wrap with Velcro or a series of snaps. Other binders are more like a bodysuit that you step into and pull up around you midsection.
ABDOMINAL BINDING TO SPEED UP THE HEALING PROCESS
The purpose of an abdominal binder it to promote healing though compression. During pregnancy, you baby take up an amazing amount of space inside you body. You abdominal muscles are stretched to their limit, and you lower back muscles must compensate for the shift in you center of gravity. The growing baby pushes you internal organs out of the way as he grows and grow. By the of your heart. As anyone who has had a baby know , it takes some time before you return to your per-pregnancy shape.
When your baby is born , she leaves behind an empty uterus - and it takes approximately six weeks for this organ to shrink back to its normal size. Likewise you organs do not immediately return to their per-pregnancy location , either. An abdominal binder, however can speed this process along.
Wearing an abdominal binder as soon as possible after childbirth- no matter if you delivered vaginally or with a c section works wonders for you healing process.
You should feel like you lower back is supported even though you abdominal muscles are not yet able to do this job on their own. The compression along with the natural after- birth contraction that you have pushes you uterus from the outside in, helping it find its per-pregnancy shape and location. The same is true for you other abdominal organs, compression can help you stomach and intestines drop back into their previous position.
MUSCLE SUPPORT AFTER PREGNANCY
Binding you abdomen can also remind you abdominal muscles how to behave.
Though you may not be consciously tightening you abs, the compression help them snap back from being stretched to accommodate you baby.
Wearing a compression garment will help your incision heal faster, too because compression will increase blood flow to that are and help reduce the swelling around your incision.
if you had a c section, an abdominal binder is a must for you healing process.Compression over you incision will help reduce the pain that many women feel when they laugh, cry or even roll over in bed. Most people would agree that managing you pain without the use of narcotic medication is better for you health and that of your baby.
Best postpartum girdle features
There are so many option for abdominal binder on the market today. The best postpartum girdles offer the following features :
￫ A combination of comfort and support - Breathable fabric is a must, especially since you will be wearing it for hours at a time
￫ The right abdominal binder should also be easy to use - Using the bathroom should't be a mission.
￫ Reinforced panels in the front and back - Of the garment to support the pressure point in you mid section as you heal
￫ A snug fit - That ensure that the garment will not slip off, even as you care for you new baby and resume your normal daily activities.
A hook and eye closure makes it easy to use the restroom without having to take entire garment off, You can put it on when you get out of bed in the morning and not think about it again until you take it off at night. In fact many women choose to wear the binder 24 house a day - even while sleeping to receive the maximum benefit from abdominal compression.
At first glance an abdominal binder may seem like an unnecessary expense for postpartum women. But the result you will see make the investment in your body and you health work every penny.
The reasons for wearing an abdominal binder are typically related to surgery or childbirth- or sometimes both, Maybe it seems like putting extra pressure on you belly might even hurt.
On the contrary is a common technique used used to speed healing, Often after surgery or after an injury like a sprained ankle. Compression offers support to the are that is healing. Compression also increases blood flow and reduces swelling both of which are key components of the healing process.
An abdominal binder is meant to be quite tight- though not so tight that you can't breathe or sit comfortably. some abdominal binders are simple swaths of thick fabric that you wrap around you belly area. securing the wrap with Velcro or a series of snaps. Other binders are more like a bodysuit that you step into and pull up around you midsection.
ABDOMINAL BINDING TO SPEED UP THE HEALING PROCESS
The purpose of an abdominal binder it to promote healing though compression. During pregnancy, you baby take up an amazing amount of space inside you body. You abdominal muscles are stretched to their limit, and you lower back muscles must compensate for the shift in you center of gravity. The growing baby pushes you internal organs out of the way as he grows and grow. By the of your heart. As anyone who has had a baby know , it takes some time before you return to your per-pregnancy shape.
When your baby is born , she leaves behind an empty uterus - and it takes approximately six weeks for this organ to shrink back to its normal size. Likewise you organs do not immediately return to their per-pregnancy location , either. An abdominal binder, however can speed this process along.
Wearing an abdominal binder as soon as possible after childbirth- no matter if you delivered vaginally or with a c section works wonders for you healing process.
You should feel like you lower back is supported even though you abdominal muscles are not yet able to do this job on their own. The compression along with the natural after- birth contraction that you have pushes you uterus from the outside in, helping it find its per-pregnancy shape and location. The same is true for you other abdominal organs, compression can help you stomach and intestines drop back into their previous position.
MUSCLE SUPPORT AFTER PREGNANCY
Binding you abdomen can also remind you abdominal muscles how to behave.
Though you may not be consciously tightening you abs, the compression help them snap back from being stretched to accommodate you baby.
Wearing a compression garment will help your incision heal faster, too because compression will increase blood flow to that are and help reduce the swelling around your incision.
if you had a c section, an abdominal binder is a must for you healing process.Compression over you incision will help reduce the pain that many women feel when they laugh, cry or even roll over in bed. Most people would agree that managing you pain without the use of narcotic medication is better for you health and that of your baby.
Best postpartum girdle features
There are so many option for abdominal binder on the market today. The best postpartum girdles offer the following features :
￫ A combination of comfort and support - Breathable fabric is a must, especially since you will be wearing it for hours at a time
￫ The right abdominal binder should also be easy to use - Using the bathroom should't be a mission.
￫ Reinforced panels in the front and back - Of the garment to support the pressure point in you mid section as you heal
￫ A snug fit - That ensure that the garment will not slip off, even as you care for you new baby and resume your normal daily activities.
A hook and eye closure makes it easy to use the restroom without having to take entire garment off, You can put it on when you get out of bed in the morning and not think about it again until you take it off at night. In fact many women choose to wear the binder 24 house a day - even while sleeping to receive the maximum benefit from abdominal compression.
At first glance an abdominal binder may seem like an unnecessary expense for postpartum women. But the result you will see make the investment in your body and you health work every penny.
A LUMBER SUPPORT CUSHION MAY HELP YOU MANAGER LOWER BACK PAIN
Sitting for long periods can cause lower back pain
A lumber support cushion may help you manage back pain and ease some of your symptoms. Do you have a job that involves lots of sitting? If so you probably have experienced some lower back pain as the day has gone on. There are many different lumber pillows on the market - Plenty of chose for you. First though, I will explain a little about why a lumber support can help and highlight some things to think about before you buy one.
May of us have lifestyles and jobs that require us to spend long, concentrated periods of time sitting. Office chair are very rarely supportive of the lower back and may of us fail to take regular frequent breaks. As a result the lower back is subjected to stresses and strains that eventually cause discomfort.
The story is hear most often is this:
➙ At the beginning of the day the problem is not so bad.
➙ As the day goes on you start to fidget.
➙ You become aware of soreness.
➙ This soreness worsens to a significant back ache.
➙ The day ends and you go home and relax and it feels better.
➙ The same pattern is repeated the next day.
The symptoms may have first started years ago as just a mild irritation but longer the problem goes on the more uncomfortable it gets.Sometimes you can't event get comfortable in the evenings either.
The reason this happens is to with the stress and strains we are putting though our lumber spines in these prolonged positions. If you do not use a lumber support cushion or if the chair you use has no decent low back support then you will sit in a more flexed position.
The effect of prolonged sitting - creep - Pain
Lumber support cushions can prevent back pain when sitting your spine is a nice strong solid structure made up of vertebrae separated from one another by large muscles and ligaments. When we are on the move this system is wonderfully strong and supportive. The trouble begins when we start applying prolonged low loads to the system.
By sitting in a flexed position you cause the ligaments at the back of the spine to be put on a gentle stretch. They resist this movement for a while but after time they begin to lengthen, the technical term for this is creep, which is a great way to describe it as the pain does creep up on you. This creep continues causing stresses to the lower back tissues, the muscles fatigue and you start to get pain. If you move and relieve the tension the ligaments recover a little and that makes it easier to continue. However in the laboratory studies have found that it takes about 7 hour for the creep to disappear and the tissues to regain their normal properties.
A lumbar support cushion can reduce flexion stresses
The answer is to used a lumbar support cushion which sits in the small of you back. This physically prevents you from sitting in a slumped position and stop the prolonged flexion stresses. This helps reduce ligament creep and can significantly relieve low back pain from sitting.
There are variety of different lumbar support products on the market. The most common are mounded pillows or cushions which sit in the small of you back. In the curve called the lordosis.
The other type are rolls or D shaped supports that do the same thing.
➙ This is type of lumber support cushion that sits in the chair and creates a good low back support to prevent sagging. Advantages are they are robust, disadvantages are they are they are less spongy that rolls and they may not fit all seats, especially seats that that have mounded sides such as sports car seats. Good for office chairs and nice and sturdy.
➙ Do you need an inflatable lumber support? If you travel a lot or find it uncomfortable sitting when you are out this may be the answer. See the choice of nice light inflatable lumber support and rolls on offer.
The choice of which type of lumber support cushion depends on several factors:
➙ Your posture - If you have a deep lumber curve then you may need a deeper or fatter lumber support cushion. If you have a more flat back posture then you will need a shallower posture support.
➙ Your chair - If you chair is very ' bucket shaped' or curved you may be better off trying a more substantial rigid lumbar backrest (if you can't replace the chair that is). This will prevent you sagging backwards into the seat. A regular lumbar roll or pillow may not offer enough support of the chair is very relaxed and has very poor lower back support.
➙ Which chair - you may need a different lumbar support cushion for different chair. Don't just assume it's the office chair that's problem. I regularly meet people who get up, sit for breakfast drive to work. Sit all day a desk drive, home sit for dinner sit on sofa watching TV, go to bed. Nearly their whole walking life is spent in a flexed position. Look after you sitting posture wherever you are.
➙ How much you get up - I have found from my own experience that if you get up and down a lot its annoying when the roll, falls off the chair. You may want one with a fastening that goes around the chair back.
➙ Do you share - If you share you need a portable lumber support cushion that you can carry around with you.
➙ Personal comfort - The theory is all very well and good but we all have different preferences. Out bodies are different shapes and size and its impossible to predict what will work for everyone. Experiment and don't be afraid to break the rules to get something comfortable.
Key point when choosing a lumbar support cushion
➙ Experiment try different shapes and size until you are happy.
➙ Have several supports in different places so that you can take care of you lower back at home and at work.
➙ Try a towel for size first - roll a towel up and use that. Try a fatter or a thinner towel ad adjust. Soon you will guide you to the right lumbar support cushion purchase.
Lower back pain relief when sitting is not just about lower back posture
When i discuss this problem with my patients i explain that this type of postural back pain is caused by us exposing our lower back to stresses and strains that after a while it cant cope with. I usually approach the problem by first looking to remove some of the stresses by using a lumbar support but i also want them to think about ways they can make their spine better able to cope with the stresses put upon it.
So here are some other thing to think about if you have back pain when sitting :
➙ Take regular breaks - Get up every hour and move about. Walk around make a coffee, take a short walk. Take the pressure off your back.
➙ Set timers - You will forget to get up, most people do.You get engrossed in job and before you know it 2 hour have gone.
➙ Stretch in the office - Get your spine moving in the opposite direction with an extension stretch - instructions for this lower back pain stretching exercise here.
A lumber support cushion may help you manage back pain and ease some of your symptoms. Do you have a job that involves lots of sitting? If so you probably have experienced some lower back pain as the day has gone on. There are many different lumber pillows on the market - Plenty of chose for you. First though, I will explain a little about why a lumber support can help and highlight some things to think about before you buy one.
May of us have lifestyles and jobs that require us to spend long, concentrated periods of time sitting. Office chair are very rarely supportive of the lower back and may of us fail to take regular frequent breaks. As a result the lower back is subjected to stresses and strains that eventually cause discomfort.
The story is hear most often is this:
➙ At the beginning of the day the problem is not so bad.
➙ As the day goes on you start to fidget.
➙ You become aware of soreness.
➙ This soreness worsens to a significant back ache.
➙ The day ends and you go home and relax and it feels better.
➙ The same pattern is repeated the next day.
The symptoms may have first started years ago as just a mild irritation but longer the problem goes on the more uncomfortable it gets.Sometimes you can't event get comfortable in the evenings either.
The reason this happens is to with the stress and strains we are putting though our lumber spines in these prolonged positions. If you do not use a lumber support cushion or if the chair you use has no decent low back support then you will sit in a more flexed position.
The effect of prolonged sitting - creep - Pain
Lumber support cushions can prevent back pain when sitting your spine is a nice strong solid structure made up of vertebrae separated from one another by large muscles and ligaments. When we are on the move this system is wonderfully strong and supportive. The trouble begins when we start applying prolonged low loads to the system.
By sitting in a flexed position you cause the ligaments at the back of the spine to be put on a gentle stretch. They resist this movement for a while but after time they begin to lengthen, the technical term for this is creep, which is a great way to describe it as the pain does creep up on you. This creep continues causing stresses to the lower back tissues, the muscles fatigue and you start to get pain. If you move and relieve the tension the ligaments recover a little and that makes it easier to continue. However in the laboratory studies have found that it takes about 7 hour for the creep to disappear and the tissues to regain their normal properties.
A lumbar support cushion can reduce flexion stresses
The answer is to used a lumbar support cushion which sits in the small of you back. This physically prevents you from sitting in a slumped position and stop the prolonged flexion stresses. This helps reduce ligament creep and can significantly relieve low back pain from sitting.
There are variety of different lumbar support products on the market. The most common are mounded pillows or cushions which sit in the small of you back. In the curve called the lordosis.
The other type are rolls or D shaped supports that do the same thing.
➙ This is type of lumber support cushion that sits in the chair and creates a good low back support to prevent sagging. Advantages are they are robust, disadvantages are they are they are less spongy that rolls and they may not fit all seats, especially seats that that have mounded sides such as sports car seats. Good for office chairs and nice and sturdy.
➙ Do you need an inflatable lumber support? If you travel a lot or find it uncomfortable sitting when you are out this may be the answer. See the choice of nice light inflatable lumber support and rolls on offer.
The choice of which type of lumber support cushion depends on several factors:
➙ Your posture - If you have a deep lumber curve then you may need a deeper or fatter lumber support cushion. If you have a more flat back posture then you will need a shallower posture support.
➙ Your chair - If you chair is very ' bucket shaped' or curved you may be better off trying a more substantial rigid lumbar backrest (if you can't replace the chair that is). This will prevent you sagging backwards into the seat. A regular lumbar roll or pillow may not offer enough support of the chair is very relaxed and has very poor lower back support.
➙ Which chair - you may need a different lumbar support cushion for different chair. Don't just assume it's the office chair that's problem. I regularly meet people who get up, sit for breakfast drive to work. Sit all day a desk drive, home sit for dinner sit on sofa watching TV, go to bed. Nearly their whole walking life is spent in a flexed position. Look after you sitting posture wherever you are.
➙ How much you get up - I have found from my own experience that if you get up and down a lot its annoying when the roll, falls off the chair. You may want one with a fastening that goes around the chair back.
➙ Do you share - If you share you need a portable lumber support cushion that you can carry around with you.
➙ Personal comfort - The theory is all very well and good but we all have different preferences. Out bodies are different shapes and size and its impossible to predict what will work for everyone. Experiment and don't be afraid to break the rules to get something comfortable.
Key point when choosing a lumbar support cushion
➙ Experiment try different shapes and size until you are happy.
➙ Have several supports in different places so that you can take care of you lower back at home and at work.
➙ Try a towel for size first - roll a towel up and use that. Try a fatter or a thinner towel ad adjust. Soon you will guide you to the right lumbar support cushion purchase.
Lower back pain relief when sitting is not just about lower back posture
When i discuss this problem with my patients i explain that this type of postural back pain is caused by us exposing our lower back to stresses and strains that after a while it cant cope with. I usually approach the problem by first looking to remove some of the stresses by using a lumbar support but i also want them to think about ways they can make their spine better able to cope with the stresses put upon it.
So here are some other thing to think about if you have back pain when sitting :
➙ Take regular breaks - Get up every hour and move about. Walk around make a coffee, take a short walk. Take the pressure off your back.
➙ Set timers - You will forget to get up, most people do.You get engrossed in job and before you know it 2 hour have gone.
➙ Stretch in the office - Get your spine moving in the opposite direction with an extension stretch - instructions for this lower back pain stretching exercise here.
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