Sit, Stand, Bend, Lift, or Twist

Leave a comment April 12, 2016 drworobec

I’ve come across a concerning trend in my practice lately…. that is, patients assuming that all low-back pain is the same, and therefore all low-back pain solutions are the same.

Low back pain (LBP) is most definitely the number one condition that walks into my office, even though we offer a full-body approach; from necks to toes and everything in between. But here’s my concern: please don’t assume that your low back pain is the same as your friend’s low back pain. Just as you wouldn’t take a friend’s prescribed medication, be wary of taking a friend’s prescribed rehabilitation exercises. I hear this all the time: “My friend told me to do ____ for their back pain.” “I saw this stretch on Google.” “My sister had back pain and she still did 100 sit-ups a day.”

Please, no. (And also, please, please, please, NO sit-ups. Ever. We can talk about this later. Email me.)

Don’t assume that your back pain is the “same” as your friend’s/neighbour’s/Uncle’s/dog’s. There are many causes of low back pain, and it’s my job to figure out what is causing yours specifically, and give you the appropriate rehab to support that. In certain cases, forward fold stretches can be helpful. In certain cases, they can be harmful. The same can be said for extension exercises, and mobility drills, and activity limitations. Each has their time and their place, and one size does not fit all.

Low back pain is a widespread condition; in fact, up to 85% of working Canadians can expect to experience LBP in their lifetime. And if we all work together, from practitioners to researchers to personal trainers to patients, I think we can dramatically lower that statistic.

There is one hard and fast rule that everyone can safely adhere to: a neutral spine is always the most preferred, protective posture for your spine. Keep that in mind the next time you sit, stand, bend, lift, or twist.

Happy Tuesday.

Mr. M

7 Comments March 1, 2016 drworobec

Sometimes my blog posts reach far and wide. Sometimes they fall flat. Sometimes I have thousands of readers per day. Sometimes I have none. Sometimes I pour my heart and soul into my words. Sometimes I lack inspiration and struggle to write. Sometimes people message me to say how much they loved what they read, how it made them think, how it made them feel, how they can relate. Those are the best posts, the best days in blog-land.

Another best-day happened the other day, this one in real life. I was treating a long-time patient. This patient has been with me from day one, ten years ago when my practice first began and I was new to Burlington. This patient, let’s call him “Mr. M,” is in his late 60s and we first met when he was a member of the full marathon clinic I instructed at the Running Room. We ran many miles together, and all the while I yickety-yacked his ear off. (Note: if you want to get to know me, either read my blog or run with me; I’ll spill my guts.) He has young grandchildren, similar in ages to my kids, and we often trade stories about the colourful personalities of four-year-old girls.

I’ve mentioned that it’s the “people part” of my job that I love the most, and Mr. M is one of those people that makes me happy to come into work. Last week we were mid-treatment, when he mentioned that he’d recently been on my website and read my ‘Blizzards and Accomplishments‘ post. “Ashley,” he said, “Your daughter is very lucky to have you, and I feel very lucky to know you.” Then, in true gruff Mr. M fashion, he added, “And I’m not sucking up, because I don’t do that.”

Now let me tell you, that comment made my day. I smiled all afternoon, and it still makes me smile when I recall it. My challenge now is to pay it forward, to pass along the kindness, to make others feel as good as I did then. It’s very easy to think positive thoughts, but our thoughts have more power if we let them out, and the most power when we share them.

That’s been my own personal improvement challenge as of late: to say out loud the positive thoughts that I’m thinking inside my head. To spread the niceness, give some energy, generate some love. I hope you’ll join me.

And Mr. M, I feel lucky to know you too.

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Leave a comment February 2, 2016 drworobec

I’m in the midst of reading Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.” She’s the COO of Facebook, and a fantastic writer. I’ve been reading late many nights this past week, soaking in her wisdom and nodding my head in agreement with ideas that I didn’t even know I had.

She talks a lot about women being afraid of their accomplishments and wary of their power, of “Imposter Syndrome” and self-doubt. She talks about women and men being treated differently in their work, praised differently, promoted differently, viewed differently.

There are many of you out there who read my words, week in and week out. I am so thankful for you, as it gives a voice to my writing, and lets me express opinions and ideas that I believe so strongly in.

In light of, and because of all that, I’m asking you to vote for me. Vote for us.

At Burlington Sports & Spine Clinic, we’ve been nominated as: