Posture is the position you hold your body in while standing, sitting or lying down. You might stand tall or slouch, you might sit upright or hunch forward over your keyboard, you might have just the right pillow or one that is too low or too high. For many of us, posture is unconscious. You’ve…
If you’re living with back pain, you’re not alone. A recent snapshot of Australians’ back health, by the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that one in six of us – or 16% of the population – sought treatment for back pain in 2015. The AIHW research found that 14% of people living…
If you’ve ever been out on the sporting field – or even just out throwing a ball for the dog – and felt a pain in your lower back, you’re far from alone. Lower back pain in athletes (amateur or elite) is one of the most common pains experienced. It can come and go quickly,…
Receiving a referral or recommendation for spinal surgery can be a difficult time and often comes with much uncertainty about the procedure and any potential side effects. That’s for good reason. Spinal surgery can be a very serious and invasive procedure, and it’s important that you’re aware of all your options well before committing to…
If you’ve ever complained of an aching back, chances are you’ve been told by well-meaning family or friends to take a couple of paracetamol and go and get some rest. While that advice can be appropriate in some circumstances, it can cause more harm than good. In fact, often the thing an aching back needs…
It’s an important muscle you may never have heard of, probably can’t pronounce and likely wouldn’t be able to point to on your body. And, there’s a chance it’s responsible for your back pain. The psoas (pronounced SO-as) major is a long muscle located in your lower back. It’s one of three muscles that connects…