BELTSVILLE, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anthony Mazlish, CEO of Healthy Back provides tips to help those who suffer from back pain as well as those who want to proactively avoid back pain. Mazlish, who hurt his back jumping down from the back of a truck while moving during college, started the company in 1994 when he had trouble finding solutions to relieve his back pain. Now, he’s providing tips for back pain sufferers as well as those who lead active lifestyles and want to ensure that their backs stay healthy.
“For some people who are active and have never had back pain, it’s difficult to realize the importance of proactively protecting their spine,” Mazlish said. “Once you’re hurt and you can’t do the things you love, you realize how important it is to be proactive.” While activity can injure your spine, so can sitting at a desk for long hours or even standing for long hours. Mazlish has tips to help with both:
Use foot stools
Grandma was right about having all of those footstools around the house! “It may sound extremely simple but foot stools (under your desk too) take a lot of pressure off of the spine,” said Mazlish. Elevating your feet, even slightly will help to relieve stress on your lower back.
Alternate activity
“If you’re sitting for long hours, be sure to get up and walk around and, if you’re standing for long hours as people often do in retail, be sure to take periodic breaks to sit,” advised Mazlish. Doing anything sedentary for a long period of time will put pressure on your spine and prohibit blood flow. Healthy Back sells electronic desks that will go from a seated to a standing position so you can move around in an office setting. The company also sells desk chairs that it carefully fits to the person sitting in them. “It is critical to have a well-fitting office chair,” said Mazlish.
Refrain from lifting anything heavy—including shoveling snow!
If you do have to lift something, bend your knees and try not to put all of the pressure on your spine and keep your back flat. “Lift gradually,” Mazlish said, “so that you don’t suddenly force something and pull muscles.” Parents lifting children should be careful too.
Support your back
“It’s important to support your back no matter where you’re sitting—in the office, in a car, on a plane, etc.,” Mazlish stated. Healthy Back has a variety of products including a great self-inflating portable back rest known as PAL (portable air lumbar). Travel PAL fits in a purse or pocket and then self-inflates when needed.
Check your posture
It’s easy while sitting to get into a slouched position. While it may feel great at the time, you risk causing stress and fatigue on muscles and vertebrae. Check your posture periodically and make sure you’re sitting upright. If you’re driving, change your hand position on the steering wheel occasionally and move your neck around. Also, make sure your car seat is in the best possible position so that your knees are slightly bent.
Stretch
Stretch your legs and your back as often as possible throughout the day. Plane travelers should consider booking aisle seats where it is easier to get up and move around regularly. When you take driving breaks or get up while flying, try to extend your spine as straight and tall as possible, move your neck around, do foot circles. Stretch your arms and your spine. If you can, bend over and touch your toes. You should try to stretch every 20-30 minutes while flying and at least every 45 minutes to an hour when driving or during the day. When driving, get out of the car and take a brisk walk and then stretch. If you work in an office setting, get out at least once a day and take a brisk walk.
Healthy Back sells inversion tables and zero gravity chairs so you can reverse the pressure on your spine and stretch it out. Inversion tables allow you to lock in your feet and then flip the table upside down so that you are upside down and your compressed spine can stretch out. “Just 10-15 minutes a week on an inversion table will go a long way to maintaining a healthy spine,” said Mazlish. Zero gravity chairs such as Svago work equally well at minimizing spine pressure and allowing the spine to stretch, and the Svago, with its innovative design is a great addition to a home.
Carry hot and cold packs
If you do suffer from back pain, applying hot and cold packs will bring relief. You can bring a plastic bag or ice bag with you to work or on a plane and ask the flight attendant to fill it with ice or you can purchase the latest cold packs that don’t require any refrigeration or freezing. You can bring hot wraps that are activated when opened. For long international flights, or extremely long drives, it’s smart to pack these and have them readily available the minute your back begins to feel tight.
Take advantage of massage
Many large airports, particularly in the U.S., have booths for seated massage. This is a beneficial way to kill time between flights and proactively ensure your back stays healthy. If you’re driving and your destination hotel has a spa, you can also take advantage of easing sore back muscles with massage therapy. For home, Healthy Back carries a variety of massage chairs that provide the luxury of an in-house masseuse. “If you suffer with back pain, a massage chair is a must,” Mazlish stated. The chair wraps around you massaging your spine, hands and feet.
Exercise
If you’re not suffering from back pain, exercise regularly. It will help to strengthen your back, increase circulation and keep you healthy. If you do have back pain, a physical therapist can provide exercises that will strengthen your back without further injury.
Be cautious about jumping down
“Don’t do what I did,” cautions Mazlish who jumped down off of a truck which led to his back pain. “If you need to get down from something, carefully ease yourself off of it.” Jumping can lead to over exertion and stress of the spine that can cause a major injury and/or chronic pain.
Find a good mattress
Healthy Back carries a variety of top mattresses that are designed to eliminate back pain and protect the spine. “Few people realize the damage a bad mattress can have on your spine, your sleep and your health,” said Mazlish.
For more information on inversion tables, lumbar support, footstools and other items that will help your back stay healthy, visit www.healthyback.com.
About Healthy Back
Healthy Back was established in 1994 by CEO Anthony Mazlish after seeking solutions for his own back pain and realizing that were limited sources. The company, which opened its first store in Rockville, Md. in 1994, grew successfully over the years to become a national brand. Now with 10 stores throughout the Washington, D.C. region; San Diego, California and Lexington, Kentucky as well as robust e-commerce, the company is nationally known for its many healthy back solutions and products including the best selling Svago chair and a line of travel products including the Travel PAL (portable air lumbar). For more information, visit www.healthyback.com.