Page 6 - F Preventing low back pain part 1 -Herniated discs

increases the probability that the disc will be damaged.

As damaging as bending forward at the waist can be

to the discs, bending forward and then rotating the trunk

not only compresses the disc but now also creates a

shearing effect on it. Every time you lean down to take

clothes out of the dryer or clean out the dishwasher, the

bending and turning motion creates the possibility of

disc damage.

The lesson here is that body mechanics are

important. When you bend, it should be at the knees not

at the waist and definitely do not bend and twist. This

helps protect the discs.

The ability of the discs to serve as a shock absorber

is highly dependent on the discs being fully hydrated.

As we get older, the thirst mechanism works less

efficiently leaving many elderly partially dehydrated

without realizing it. Living in the desert especially

during the summer will further contribute to this level of

dehydration in the body. The lesson here: Drink more

water than you think you need to keep the discs

hydrated, strong and healthy.

How do you know if the discs are damaged?

The best way to check for disc damage is by means

of an MRI. However, if you lean forward and the pain