Are you sitting comfortably?

Back pain is a common problem, with four out of five people suffering from debilitating back pain at some point in their lives.

The main causes of back pain are bad posture, strained muscles or ligaments, and stress.

Therefore, it is essential that action is taken to prevent back pain occurring, and that you are also aware of how to manage back pain.

The majority of back pain lasts from a few days to a few weeks, typically occurring in people aged 30-50.

However, if you experience back pain for the first time when you are under 20 or over 50 this is a red flag, as is pain in the ribs, so a check-up with your doctor is vital.

Causes of back pain

Researchers believe there is no singular example of 'the perfect posture' as it depends on the position you are in, whether standing or sitting, although it is essential to maintain the alignment of the spine as misalignment leads to imbalance in muscle tone.

Furthermore, as women are particularly prone to posture and back problems due to carrying heavy handbags, pregnancy, and holding children on their hip, it is particularly important to take certain steps to prevent back pain.

Prevention

There are numerous ways that back pain can be prevented in the work place and at home. Here are a few tips to prevent pain the workplace:

• Keep head raised: focus on aligning your head and neck right above your shoulders, avoiding leaning forward
• Make sure the mouse is next to the keyboard to avoid overreaching the wrist or twisting the shoulder
• Choose a chair with good lumbar support, tilting the chair back so it is slightly reclined
• Keep the monitor at arm's length and two to three inches above eye level
• Feet should be flat on the floor, shoulder width apart to avoid tension in the knees and ankles and maintain alignment of the spine
• Don't cross your legs as this makes it difficult to keep the spine straight, risking over-stretching pelvic muscles and increasing risk of varicose veins
• Take regular breaks to prevent you from becoming stiff and tense

Measures can be taken at home to minimise and avoid risk of back problems. These include:

• Vitamin K, which is present in broccoli, spinach, and dark green leafy vegetables, is essential to build strong bones. Strong bones make a strong body!
• A softer mattress is better for the back, relieving pressure on the spine
• Bags and briefcases should not weigh more than 10% of your bodyweight as this will lead to strain on the spine. A messenger bag distributes weight more evenly across the body, being a better option
• Core strengthening exercises ideally reviewed by a qualified practitioner specifically to your needs

Treatment

If you suffer from back pain, it is treatable. The best treatment for back pain is to stay active and use over-the-counter painkillers if necessary. It is very important to remain active as your back muscles become weaker the longer you are immobile, causing more problems in the long term.

If back pain lasts longer than six weeks, exercise classes, acupuncture, physiotherapy, or combinations of painkillers are the main forms of treatment.

UCLan's Physiotherapy Clinic offers acupuncture and physiotherapy, along with many other services to alleviate back pain, at a low cost of only £30 for an initial assessment and treatments ranging from as little as £25.

For more details please click here or telephone 01772 894902.

Conference - Bridging the gaps between research and practice in Dysphagia: international perspectives

The Advancing Dysphagia Practice team have announced their first international conference event, to be held in September at UCLan Cyprus.

The team have secured a panel of prestigious international speakers who will address topical professional issues, including values-based decision making in complex cases, ethical decision making and risk management, outcome measurement differences between research and practice, plus updates on the latest research news for specified clinical populations.

Confirmed Keynote Speakers include Professor Paula Leslie, University of Pittsburgh (left); Dr Kate Reid, University Hospital Birmingham; Dr Emilia Michou, University of Manchester and Dr Hazel Roddam, University of Central Lancashire.

The programme will incorporate chaired Question & Answer sessions with the presenters so that all audience members can participate fully, ask and hear all questions and discussions.

The second day includes a choice of interactive workshops for in-depth discussion of specified topics - professional issues and clinical-population specific, led by the presenters. The event will close with workshop feedback and a final keynote address.

'Bridging the gaps between research and practice in Dysphagia: international perspectives' takes place on September 4-5, 2015. For further information and booking details please email us.

UCLan PaST researcher takes part in top NHS event

CAHPR Cumbria & Lancashire Regional Hub Chair Dr Hazel Roddam recently represented the UK Council for Allied Health Professions Research at a prestigious NHS webinar event.

Dr Roddam was one of three invited panellists at the 'Unlocking the evidence of best practice webinar', which was organised by the NHS Clinical Soft Intelligence Service, with a focus on rehabilitation services for long-term conditions.

A Principal Lecturer in Research based in the UCLan PaST Division, Dr Roddam was asked to represent the allied health professionals sector, including speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Speech and language therapist Dr Roddam has extensive experience as a clinician and manager, working within NHS and local authorities, prior to taking up her current post.

She said: "The focus of this event was on effective support for front-line practitioners and teams, to build research capacity in the workforce and to develop capability in individuals, some of whom will be the clinical-academic leaders of the next generation."

The audience included over 100 practitioners from around the United Kingdom who are involved in delivery and commissioning of rehabilitation services, (including NHS, social care, voluntary and charitable sectors).

The event, which was in partnership with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and supported by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, was held on 19 January in London.