READER
Recently, I took a long trip by bus and the seat was very uncomfortable. I noticed after
the bus ride my lower back was extremely tight. I tried stretching my back and ended up
straining the muscles during the process. What should I do?
DR. LOMAX
This is very common. When we sit or
stay in one position for prolonged periods
of time, muscles, joints, ligaments etc. tend
to become stiff, tight etc. When we sleep,
our bodies are relaxed so we generally don’t
have issues with muscle strains, except
for maybe in the neck area if we sleep in
an awkward position for a very long time.
This is generally remedied with the use of a
good pillow that provides proper head and
neck support. It is a good idea in general to
continue to move and be active as much as
possible to avoid stiffness.
When you are on long bus, plane, car
ride etc. it is advisable to get up and walk,
stretch etc. your back and legs every hour if
possible or at a minimum every two hours.
This can be a challenge; however, even if
you’re on a bus, train or airplane etc. it
is still doable. You can even stretch your
legs and torso while you’re sitting if you’re
unable to get up. Keeping good posture and
not slouching is also recommended.
If you feel that you’ve strained your
back because it was super tight and you over
did it stretching it out, it is best to rest, and
apply ice/cold compress to it.
If it feels more spastic in nature,
you can alternate between ice and heat
combined with gentle stretching. And even
better option is to swim for 30-60 minutes
daily (walk and stretch in the pool if you
can’t swim) then relax and stretch in a hot
tub if you have access. The key here is to
engage in frequent activity and stretching so
that we remain flexible.
Being active, and of course maintaining
an optimal weight, will minimize potential
issues when we are forced to be stationary
for prolonged periods of time. Activity is the
key!
Dr. Lenny Lomax is a Licensed Physician & Orthopaedic Surgeon. He defines his role of physician as being someone trusted by patients and
their families. ‘Doctors are expected to heal, not cause more pain and suffering’. Dr. Lomax acknowledges that natural medications have the
potential to greatly improve the public’s general health and well-being, as our country has become a nation addicted to pills, which is destroying
our communities. His mission is to find a resolution to this pervasive problem by offering effective natural solutions to remedy this global
problem. As he often states “I know GOD made me for this purpose. It makes my spirit full and motivates me! I am so encouraged that I have
been blessed with this mission. I became a Doctor to help people and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Guidance and opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those held by the publisher. Any information provided by Pneu-
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is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The informat