Tag Archives: Kathryn Merrow

Causes of Back Pain, Natural Back Pain Relief

Do Large Breasts Cause Back Pain?

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Can large breasts or breast implants cause pain in your back?  That’s the question I received from Carol.  Here’s what she said:

“Kathryn – Hi, maybe you have some ideas.  I am considering breast reduction.  How much do large breasts play into my back strain?  I used to belly-dance but I think the extra weight up top & out front puts me out of alignment.  I always get low back strain now when I try to dance.”

“The Dr I went to for cosmetic assistance (enlargement) went overboard.   Do you think breast reduction will help?  I am 5’4″, weigh 120 lbs, with a slight build.  I wear 36DD.”

Here’s my answer:

Yes, large breasts do cause back and neck pain issues.

I don’t know how much weight implants have but if they are about the same as natural breasts that’s a lot of weight.

The women I know who have had breast reduction surgery said it made a great deal of Continue reading Do Large Breasts Cause Back Pain? →

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Natural Back Pain Relief, Self Help

Does Driving Cause Back Pain?

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Linda’s back and hip hurt.  Here’s what she told me:

“I drive for a living.  Drive up to 10 hrs a day, my hip & back hurt nearly all the time.  I am 51 years old.  My hip (I think it’s the iliopsoas, but my rehab guy says tight quadriceps)… anyway that little muscle will go into spasm and it’s quite miserable.”

Here is what I told Linda:

I’m thinking that your seat may be not quite close enough to the wheel.  That would cause you to strain the upper back muscles.

Additionally, it Continue reading Does Driving Cause Back Pain? →

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Self Help, Upper Back Pain

How To Walk To Get Rid Of Upper Back Pain Naturally

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Here’s a walking tip that will help your poor upper back  start to feel better naturally.

Did you know there is a right way to swing or move your arms when you walk?  There is!

Moving your arms correctly takes the strain off your upper back muscles.

Here it is:

Thumbs up!

Just as though you are going to  shake hands.

Stand up and look down.  If the backs of  your hands are facing forward, that means the muscles in the front of  your body are short.

Those short muscles are turning your hands like  that.  They are also Continue reading How To Walk To Get Rid Of Upper Back Pain Naturally →

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Causes of Back Pain, Self Help, Upper Back Muscle Knots

Tight Calf Muscles Cause Back Pain

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Back pain can be caused by tight calf muscles.  That means your calves are stronger and tighter than the muscles on your shin. Our goal is to have soft calves.

Stretching your calves and strengthening the fronts of your lower leg (the shin) can help get your leg muscles balanced.

When you stretch your calf muscles be careful not to stretch tooooo much.  Just a nice, small stretch and no bouncing.

You can strengthen your shin muscles by  tilting your toes upward toward your knees. At the same time that movement also stretches your calf muscles.

Flat feet are another cause of back pain. 

If you don’t have your own natural arches, running shoe stores sell arch supports that will go into your shoes.  They probably work best if you wear loafer type shoes or athletic shoes.  You have to buy arch supports that really have a firm arch to them and that fit where your own natural arches would be.  Mushy, soft shoe liners are not the same as arch supports.

Running shoe store employees should know how to make sure they fit well.  They should cost around $30.

Also, try “making” arches with the muscles in your feet.  If your muscles feel like they want to cramp, back off and go slowly.  Eventually your foot muscles will get better at doing this and you will to have at least some benefit.

If you have knots in your back your flat feet could also be part of the cause of those knots.  Flat feet put a lot of strain on your upper back and neck as well as your lower back.

I know this for a fact because I had both flat feet and knots in my back!

But when you have arches in your feet, your head is more balanced over your body and so there is less back muscle strain.

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Massage, Natural Back Pain Relief, Self Help, Upper Back Muscle Knots, Upper Back Pain

How Can A Massage Therapist Tell If You Have Knots In Your Back Muscles

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Knots in your back muscles are caused by strain on the muscles (generally.)  “Knots” are actually tender, contracted areas of soft tissue or muscle.

Massage therapy may be an excellent “tool” to help you get rid of your knots or muscle spasms.

How does a massage  therapist find your knots?

Sometimes he or she will kind of just run into them. Either it feels ‘hard’ when all of the other tissue felt softer or a tight area will actually slow the gliding hand of a therapist as it explores and warms muscles.

A muscle knot or spasm feels like a small tight area that is harder then the surrounding tissue and perhaps raised.  Sometimes it feels like a pea or even as big as a tennis ball.  Sometimes nearby tissue is also tight.

Sometimes muscle knots are so obvious that just about anyone can feel them.  Sometimes knots are hidden or less obvious but a Continue reading How Can A Massage Therapist Tell If You Have Knots In Your Back Muscles →

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Upper Back Pain

How To Get Rid Of Knots On The Top Of Your Shoulders

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Are the tops of your shoulders knotted, painful and tight?

That most often means that you have been sitting or working with them scrunched or hiked up.  Muscles kind of  ‘get stuck’ in the positions that we use the most.

Here’s what to do to help those muscles relax and get rid of their knots:

1.  Squeeze your shoulders up to your ears hard.  (But not hard enough to hurt yourself.)  Hold them there for about a minute or Continue reading How To Get Rid Of Knots On The Top Of Your Shoulders →

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Natural Back Pain Relief

Will Bulging Disks Heal On Their Own?

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Bulging disks CAN heal themselves.  And they DO heal themselves.

This is how I was trained and I have seen this happen with people who had been diagnosed with disk bulges in their backs.

Clients and friends who were offered surgery got better.  They got rid of their pain.

Without surgery!

I’m not talking about people with back aches; I am talking about people who could barely move or walk.

My understanding is that even disks that have ruptured can heal over time.  And if you are over 50 years old, here’s some good news:

Your disks Continue reading Will Bulging Disks Heal On Their Own? →

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Lower Back Pain, Natural Back Pain Relief

Lower Back Pain and Massage Therapy

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Got pain in your lower back?  Want to know how to get rid of it? |

Therapeutic massage could be the ‘magic pill’ that you are seeking to get rid of that low back pain!

Here’s why your lower back aches:

There are muscles on the front and back sides of your body and on the outer sides of your spine.  If any of those muscles get out of balance–some tight and some weaker–you can have lower back pain.

Those muscle can get out of balance from lifting with a rounded back, twisting and tilting while lifting, having a leg length difference, or something as simple as always sitting or sleeping in the same position.

How can a massage therapist help?

If you go to a massage therapist who only rubs your back, that Continue reading Lower Back Pain and Massage Therapy →

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Natural Back Pain Relief, Upper Back Pain

Why Does Massage Get Rid Of Upper Back Pain?

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Massage therapy can be excellent natural medicine for upper back pain.

Massage usually feels good and is good for you, too.  It boosts your immune system, improves your circulation and can even get rid of pain.

Therapeutic massage can help get rid of upper back pain when it’s directed to helping you regain muscular balance.  That means the therapist will help normalize muscles that are too tight or too weak.

Upper back pain is most often caused by Continue reading Why Does Massage Get Rid Of Upper Back Pain? →

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Causes of Back Pain, Lower Back Pain, Natural Back Pain Relief

A Common Cause of Low Back Pain

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What’s the most common cause of lower back pain?  Well, there are actually TWO common causes.

Cause #1:  Not enough curve in the lower back caused by collapsed or slouching posture.  We are supposed to have a nice, easy curve behind your waist that goes toward your tummy.  When we collapse forward, we lose that nice curve.  You get a ‘flat back’ and a ‘forward head.’

Cause #2.  Too much curve in the lower back.  That happens Continue reading A Common Cause of Low Back Pain →

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