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September/October 2001 Alternative Health
Low Back Problems Due to Computers

by Todd Pennington, LMT

Pain due to computers, is normally associated with the wrist. It can easily cause problems for the low back as well. Lots of sitting, reduced exercise and high tension can cause a lot of problems for the low back. Computer work can take an existing small problem in the low back and make it into a bigger problem.

Work tension causes people to take the job with them on break. Many workers work long hours and sacrifice relaxation time to get the work done. Frequently the body pain level is high. The body resources are being used to keep the body going instead of concentrating on getting the job done. Most of us do not even realize that the pain is there.

Check to see if you want to go on that mile hike? When you get up does your body talk back and say "don't"? Can you easily pick things up off the floor? When you play sports, is it still easy or does the body dictate your level of play? These and many other body pains can be signs of low back problems.

No doubt the posture while working on the computer can be improved. Past aches and pains cause slouching. Mental strain can easily lead to not paying attention to body aches. Changing the desk height can help a lot. Getting a good chair is critical. Adjusting the height of every component to work well for you is essential.

 Yet, that may not be enough. The past muscle tightness must be taken care of to get the best performance. When the body is saying, "please don't", work becomes an effort. You have to power through. In time, even trying harder is not enough. Something else may be needed to make work possible.

Sometimes surgery helps, but surgery always leaves scars and it's own pain. In many cases getting the causative muscles to relax can relieve the problem and may delay or replace surgery.

Low back problems are commonly caused by pelvic tightness. As the buttock tightens the tension in the low back increases. In many cases the pain is felt at the junction of the low back and the pelvis. This may be one of many causes for disk problems in the low back. If a disk is pinched or herniated it causes a lot of pain. If the disk ruptures, then all other activity is put aside to take care of the problem.

Working directly on the low back, takes care of only part of the problem. Direct work on or near a problem disk can result in more problems, and, perhaps, even more pain. Indirect work, to relieve the long distance tension, is safer and more effective. The pelvic area needs to be worked in order to have longer lasting results for the low back. The greater the pain in the low back the more the work must be done elsewhere, before working on the low back itself. The reason is that the other areas are forcing tension onto the low back. If only the low back is worked then the chance of damage to the disk goes up.

 Tightness in the middle and upper back puts tension onto the low back. One of the frequent causes is pulling the head toward the computer monitor. This causes the neck muscles to tighten and thus increases the tension all along the spine. Check to see if you have pain near the shoulder blade. Knowing how to take care of the middle back is key to getting the low back to feel good.

 Control Muscle Release Therapy looks at the muscles that control bone and muscles at a distance. The goal is to release the structure easily and gently. The easiest way to release the whole body is to relax the key regions of the body. In many cases long term (chronic) conditions can be improved. Short term (acute) may be due to long term problems that were not noticed. Either way short term pain is frequently easy to release.

Take care of your body now and it will help to take care of you later.

I work on all the issues that I have talked about and many others. For more information on this and many other subjects check my web site or call and request articles that I have written. If you have one or more of the issues and want to make changes, call and schedule an appointment. Todd Pennington, LMT 10175 SW Barbur, Suite 306, Portland OR 97219. (503) 244-4427. www.penningtonmassage.com