MusclesInSync
Baseball player gets whiplash! What should he do?
This video is an extreme example of whiplash, and it gets you thinking, what is the science about whiplash?
IMG_8402 ▶ Jonathan Villar Slides into Brandon Phillips Butt – hilarious Butt-slide of the year
Mr. Villar's large neck muscles will go into spasm to protect him. The two muscles which will spasm the most are the sternocleidomastoid and scalenes.
When sternocleidomastoid spasms you suffer from headaches. When scalenes spasm you suffer from arm tingling and numbness. Mr. Villars will have both. What should he do to relieve his pain?
1) get physical therapy for stretches for sternocleidomastoid and scalenes, and for myofascial release, and
2) start working the "core" of the neck, the longus colli–(which is put out of commission by the whiplash)
If he does both of these, his neck will probably fully recover!
Back Pain runs in families!
I am often asked as a physical therapist, "Do herniated discs run in families?" I often respond that I don't know, but it seems that way.
Well, now we know! It does run in families, and people who have a cousin or grandparent who have had a herniated disc have an increased chance, according to this article:
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/07/back-pain-runs-in-families/?ref=health
What does that mean for YOU if you have relative with back pain?
- keep in good physical condition overall and exercise regularly
- keep your core muscles firing correctly and your MusclesInSync
- make sure to squat to pick up things from the floor
- step out and lunge with your forward leg if you have to reach (such as vacumning) and avoid bending at the back with your legs together