Page 61 - November2018

A contribution from a Chicago Lodge 7 Magazine sponsor
Living with back pain
A good majority of police officers are living and functioning with back pain every day. Back pain is no joke, and whether it accrues over time or aris- es from an injury, dealing with it can be...a pain. To address it, there are solutions that can reduce inflammation and create mobility and strength around the back. First, let’s get familiar with cer- tain areas of the body that can influence back pain.
The dominant pain is usually located in the lower back, where it joins with the pelvis. Your lower back is responsible for supporting the upper extrem-
ities, acting as a shock absorber through daily activities such as sitting, walking, running, riding a bike and/or getting out of a squad car.
BRIAN SCHAB
The lower back, or lumbar region, creates a curve-
like shape at the end, forming a slight “S.” The mus-
cles surrounding this area help in flexing forward (like
a crunch), extending to create an arch and also having slight involvement in lateral bending and rotation, like leaning down to pick up something or turning to put your
seatbelt on.
What also joins and contributes to the mobility and
60 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2018
Personal Fitness
immobility and potentially pain and inflammation.
Taking action to address these muscles is critical so that you can perform your job optimally, feeling healthy and strong. Here are steps you can take when confronted with
pain in this area:
1. If you’re having severe lower back pain, make an ap-
pointment with your doctor to find out if there’s an is- sue. Afterward, research any condition to have a better understanding. You may learn what actions to avoid and how to improve the condition.
2. From there, you may have the option of going to phys- ical therapy or personal training, depending on the se- verity of the issue.
3. Physical therapy is the step that should be taken prior to getting back into any active duty. Physical therapists will help mobilize soft tissue through different modal- ities and also try to strengthen the muscles around it.
4. Personal training is the next step, acting as the bridge between rehab and normal activities. A trainer can cre- ate exercises specifically for you to obtain the results you need to reach your goals.
In my practice, I enjoy helping and seeing positive chang- es in people with back pain. Strength training isn’t about ap- pearance but rather increasing your muscles’ ability to move joints with little to no discomfort.
If your body is ready and cleared by a doctor or physical therapist, contact me to schedule a consultation and we can discuss strength training programs. Email me at schabper- sonal@gmail.com or visit www.schabfitness.com.
stability of the lower back are your rib cage and shoul- der blades, which slide around these bones through muscle attachments. Below are the hips, which need to be mobile and strong for walking, running and performing lat- eral movements. When these muscles aren’t doing their job of contracting and moving joints, it can lead to back tightness,