Can Heavy Shoes Reduce Your Back Pain?

In the practice of Chinese medicine, cures often come in the form of something strange. Acupuncture calls for sharp needles to be placed into the body – which in theory, should cause pain; foot massages are known to affect any part of the body; and toxins can be pulled directly through one’s skin. For those of Western medicine, it’s cures like these that are hard to accept … even when they’re proven to work.

But according to a recent report, there may just be one more obscure medical cure: extremely heavy iron shoes. Wearing them on a regular basis, some say, can cure back pain altogether.

One Chinese worker, Zhang Fuxing, has been using this method for years, saying it has completely eliminated his extreme back pain. Now weighing more than 440 pounds each, he walks about 50 feet in the shoes each day. (Most start out with smaller versions, as low as 22 pounds, and work their way up to larger weight and distance intervals.)

How it Works

According to Chinese medicine, it’s not muscles that require us to lift heavy things, such as the shoes. Rather, the physical strength comes from one’s organs. By “lifting from within” people are able to hold great weights. As Fuxing says, “When you walk with your heart it will work.”

Scientifically, the weight works to stretch out one’s spine, work the legs, or cause an extreme increase in blood flow. The movement can also strengthen the core and create an advanced sense of balance among users.

The shoes’ makeup, however, is also important. Though users place straps over their existing footwear, iron is said to be good for the body, especially the heart and bones. By combining its traits of wellness with viable exercise, a growing cure has been found.

Iron Shoes In Practice

Though critics remain strong, patients all across China are trying this method. A vocal supporter of the iron shoe, Fuxing makes them himself and sells them to friends, neighbors, and online shoppers. With hundreds in circulation, patients seem to agree that the method has had an extreme and direct affect against back pain.

While there are no studies that have tested these theories (other than actual patients), it’s certainly an interesting concept to consider: the cure for back pain just may be a new set of shoes.

Read more about Fuxing and his iron shoe store at CTV News.

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Hunchbacks in Pop Culture – Our Favorite Back Health Sufferers

Traditionally in society, the presence of a hunched-over back is a sign of bad health, or even alienation from the rest of the population. Cartoons used the condition as a way to show true character, live-action films offered it to create fear, and ever since, viewers have looked down upon those with irregular backs. However, bad rap aside, hunchbacks have grown into one of pop culture’s most-loved characters. Whether they had to overcome a stereotype or learn to accept themselves – abnormal features and all – here are some of our favorite spinally challenged roles.

The Beast

A title character from Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” this character comes with a curved back, among other ailments (such as claws, more fur than he knows what to do with, etc.). Though the “hunch” likely comes from his transformation into an animal-like being, it’s a feature that comes to define his character, and which is ultimately overcome.

Lumpy Addams

Unfortunate name aside, Lump Addams, a cousin to the Addams family, is a key player in the series. He is the brother of fan favorite Cousin Itt, and child of Anemia and That. Though he rarely speaks, Lumpy makes appearances in both the 1991 and 1993 movie versions of the franchise.

Quasimodo

Perhaps pop culture’s most famous hunchback, Quasimodo of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” starts the film as a kind, unloved character. Though he’s regularly told his condition is a point of shame, he and others grow to accept his differences, realizing that his loving nature more than makes up for any physical changes.

Manthara

A main player in the Hindu epic, Ramayana, Manthara works as a loyal servant. In this story, however, her condition is likely a direct reflection of personality, as she uses cunning conversation and eavesdropping to alter events. The behavior eventually catches up with her, when she is nearly killed by those who she wronged – though many readers still admire her ability to overturn the main storyline’s events.

Through stories and portrayals, hunchbacks have long since been a staple in pop culture. And though the condition continues to affect the human population, hopefully it’s only a matter of time before the illness is considered a virtue of character – rather than a medium on which to condemn.

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5 Interesting Facts About the Human Back

From cause to cure, every person’s back behaves a little bit differently. Whether it’s working or sitting on a regular basis, the back supports the body and many of its regular functions. Sometimes this results in pain or injuries, while other, luckier patients, live a healthy-backed life. Due to all of the different causes and potential outcomes, it’s likely that no two back life-stories are the same. However, that didn’t stop doctors from putting stats on the most unlikely of results.

From smoking-induced pains to average yearly fees, check out this list of unusual back-related facts.

5. An upwards of 85% of back pain can’t be identified. 

Though certain causes appear more likely than others, the majority of patients (and their doctors) are unsure as to what instance(s) first triggered their ongoing pain.

4. An adult has 24 spinal sections

Growing and fusing together as the body ages, adults host 24 sections in their spine, while babies are born with 33.

3. Smoking causes back pain

Regular smokers are 2.5 times more likely to develop back pains than non-smokers. This increase is due to oxygen flow within the blood, lengthened healing times, and the degeneration of vertebra discs.

2. Back pain is more common as we age

Though it can occur younger, most develop regular pains between ages 30 and 40. Intermittent aches (such as those from sleeping on a bad mattress) also occur more often and stick around for longer amounts of time.

1. Cartilage accounts for only 25% of the spine

Connecting vertebrae and protecting the spinal cord, cartilage takes up only a quarter of the adult back length. The rest is accounted for by space, ligaments, and the spinal cord itself.

The human back is full of intricacies and random facts of interest. From the areas that cause pain to the makeup of the body itself, doctors and scientists alike are working on new ways to make life more comfortable for those who suffer from regular pain.

To learn more about the back and ways to keep it healthy, head to ContourLiving.com.

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New Ergonomic Seat Cushion from Contour

Contour Products just added a new support cushion for seat support - the Freedom Seat. If you like our Freedom Back full back support cushion, you're going to love our new Freedom Seat cushion.

The Freedom Seat has 7 distinct features to improve your back comfort while seated! The Freedom Seat’s wedge shape restores your lumbar curve and comforts spinal discs, while its coccyx relief cutout minimizes pressure build-up in the tailbone area. The cushion’s unique, cradling edge design positions your hips for better posture. Shallow surface dimples combine with a breathable cover to enhance softness and allow better air ventilation.

This cushion is made of highly resilient material to distribute your body’s weight more evenly, minimizing pressure points. Its anatomic shape and contoured surface comfortably fit you anywhere you go. It’s great for home use and also with wheelchairs, in the car, or on the plane.

Coccyx Relief Cutout - The "Zero Pressure Tailbone Cutout" for coccyx area, minimizes direct contact between the sensitive tailbone are and the seating surface. This reduces uncomfortable stress and pressure which can build-up during prolonged seating.

Highly Resilient Material High-Density foam provides better support and even distribution of your body's weight, reducing uncomfortable pressure points around the pelvic bone.

Cradling Edge Design - Graduated edge of seat cushion positions hips for better alignment and posture.

Contoured Surface - Curved front design avoids pressure on lower thigh.

Anatomic Shape - Anatomic shape contours to fit the curves of your lower body for a comfortable seat - anywhere you go.

Breathable Cover - Soft, breathable cover to ensure all day comfort.

Wedge Shape - Angled wedge design rotates your pelvis, reducing strain on the lower spine. Helps restore your lumbar curve and comforts spinal discs.

New Surface Dimples! - Enhance softness and air ventilation

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Contour Leg Pillow Helps Sciatica Pain and Herniated Disc Pain

Non-Surgical Treatment for Sciatica Pain, Spinal Stenosis and Disc Herniation

Low Back Pain – Most everyone will experience low back pain at some point in their life. Other associated pains include burning, tingling and numbness in legs, buttocks and thighs. Common causes of these low back pains include disc herniation, sciatica and spinal stenosis. These back and spine conditions can be exasperated while sleeping, especially on one's side.

These ailments are sometimes caused by robust physical activities, injury, and over-exertion. However, for all of us age and activities of normal life contribute to low back pain. As we proceed through life, our joints, muscles and bones all change in composition, ability and interaction. As people get older, common conditions such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis can affect the whole body. Some can affect remaining life cycles and some are temporary conditions which can be improved with shorter term treatments. Hiow we treat these conditions can vary widely; including surgical procedures, pysical therapy and many non-surgical options for reducing pain.

These back and spine conditions can be exasperated while sleeping, especially on one's side. Side sleeping is the preferred position for optimum back posture and alignment. Unfortunately, sleeping on your side can cause ther problems. Patients may aggravate low back pains associated with sciatica, disc herniation, and ruptured and/or bulging discs.

When sleeping on your side, your legs may not stay aligned, and the leg on top can drop forward slightly, moving and resting in a lower vertical position, causing an unhealthy rotation of your pelvis. This position can cause a series of problems such as:

1. First, extra pressure is placed on the sacroiliac joint (SI joint) thereby causing sciatica pain.
2. Next, when the pelvis rotates (see dropped upper leg described above), a twisting force is placed on your lower vertebrae and discs. This can effect the lumbar area of the lower back region all the way up to the thoracic region of your spine, or middle of the back.
3. Third, the twisting of the spine can cause the muscles and tendons in the back to tighten and place undue stress on spinal ligaments
4. Lastly, Spinal stenosis and related pains are going to be more sensitive to improper alignment and stability while sleeping.

There is help for side sleepers with disc herniation, sciatica and spinal stenosis and low back pain - use the Contour Leg Pillow to help place the lower spine in proper alignment and maintain proper posture throughout the night.

This simple but effective Leg Pillow can immediately stabilize your pelvis (by reducing the twisting), reduce stress on your sacroiliac joints, muscles and ligaments. It’s amazing how much this simple pillow can help sciatic nerve pain and lower back pain.

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