4 Reasons to Sleep With a Leg Pillow

Leg pillows are often the unsung heroes of the support world. Despite all they can do and how much comfort they have to provide, they still don't get the respect they deserve. Today we set aside that oversight and look toward leg pillows and what all they can provide.

Perks like:

1. Reducing Back Pain

This is perhaps the best leg pillow pro that there is. Because the pillow isn't used directly for the back, we tend to forget how it can still reduce back pain. However, by propping up the lower legs and removing weight, then readjusting how the body rests at night, aches can be greatly reduced for the following day … and every day this method is used.

2. Promoting Muscle Health

When muscles aren't stressed from aches and pains, you're able to better utilize them to the fullest of their capabilities. That means it's easier to work out (or even just to function throughout the day). Additionally, blood and oxygen flow can be increased, allowing for further health.

3. Convenience/Cost Effective

Adding a leg pillow is a simple way to step-up your sleeping space. If you're traveling and need a little more comfort, leg pillows are an easy way to go. If your back is sore, use of these models to help your cause without expensive treatments. And when used on an ongoing basis, you're likely to gain even more relief out of your comfort method. 

4. Pressure Relief

Though it's not pain directly, pressure is another area of stress within the back and other body muscles. A leg pillow can help reduce this excess stress, even if you aren't aware it's developed. 

To reduce stress, pain, and increase body health, a leg pillow is a great addition to your sleeping routine. Consider adding one today and browse at ContourLiving.com. 

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5 Easy Ways to Care for Your Coccyx

Out of all the sections of one's back, it can be broken down into a few sections. Upper, mid, lower/coccyx, etc. Generalized areas that help describe pain, what's causing it, and how you can make it better. And one of the most important, and often described sections, falls under the coccyx, or lower back. The portion of the spine that meets the rear. When not properly cared for, it can be achy and acting up. But when coddled, and planned toward more effectively, the coccyx can serve as a healthy, pain-free section of the body. Which, in turn, encourages other areas to also be pain free. 

When taking care of the coccyx:

5. Sit Up Straight

As simple as that might sound, few actually do it. Sitting up straight keeps your back aligned, and therefore, weighted in all the right areas. In contrast, slouching can displace muscles and put strain on areas that aren't developed to perform certain tasks. 

4. Stretch

In the same light, developing muscles within the back with add strength. Meaning there is less strain when weight is offset, and the entire area will be better prepared for unusual movement.

3. Lift With Your Legs

Legs are meant to go upward – backs with heavy objects, not so much. Use your body the way it was meant to be used to prevent injuries and to discourage aches or pains.

2. Hydrate

Muscles without water are more likely to cramp, which can lead to further injuries. Rather than risk it, ensure you're drinking plenty of fluids. 

1. Get a Seat Cushion

If you sit for a good portion of the day, it's a good idea to invest in a supportive seat cushion. One that will line up the back, while also removing pressure from the coccyx. It's a step that's affordable, yet extremely effective, as well as a go-to source for those who suffer from lower back pains of all kinds. 

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How Posture Can Help you Age Gracefully

Like so many others agree, a majority of the population remembers being told to "sit up straight." Whether sitting at the dinner table or working at their school desk, adults of all levels of stature were constantly reminding kids that they were tired of their slouching ways. A fact those kids wouldn't soon forget. No matter how dramatic our childhood selves might remember those interactions, however, it was actually for our own good. Posture, much like eating vegetables and getting enough sleep, is an aspect of healthy body behavior. One that kids are rarely keen to follow, and one that, when not used, can create terrible habits into adulthood. 

Being told to sit up straight wasn't a punishment, it was a way for adults to show kids they cared about their future health.

After all, good posture grows into habit over time. After reminding yourself to keep your back straight and flat so many times, the body remembers to do so all on its own. It's a step that allows for easy muscle memory. 

Good posture will also help create stronger back muscles, keeping one ready for all scenarios and growth. As well as keeping the spine in place and the back aligned. A step that can keep pains at bay, while also improving overall back health. But most importantly, it can help keep you healthy as you age. With the onset of osteoporosis or a decline in bone density, ensuring your posture is solid can lessen those side effects. Keeping you upright and with smaller chances at needing a back doctor. 

There are plenty of lifestyle changes that can help keep your body healthy, especially as it grows older. And though posture is one that's often overlooked, it can offer profound health strides to the back, and to the rest of the body. 

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What’s your Ideal Sitting Surface?

How often do you sit? As in really sit – where your weight is down and you’re off your feet. Is it most of the day? In between work sessions? Hardly at all? No matter the frequency, sitting offers a way to rest the legs and readjust one’s weight pattern. 

But did you know how you sit – and what you sit upon – can also affect your habits? While it might not seem like a big change, the more one sits, the bigger adjustment these types of variables will have. For instance, sitting on a too-plush surface, which can cause back alignment issues. Or perching on something hard, such as a wooden bench, which can keep you alert, but at the cost of an uncomfortable rear.

When weighing all the options, however, what’s the best surface on which to sit? Personal comfort preferences aside, some materials have far more health benefits than others. Such as foams or sturdy cushions which cradle the rear without allowing it to sink and settle. Not only are these surfaces comfortable, they keep the spine straight. An aspect that increases back health, especially when used on a consistent basis. (And if your regular seat doesn’t offer these perks, opt for a portable cushion.)

In contrast, seats that are too firm can also jar bones and muscles. Creating excess or displaced weight, bringing on further back and rear problems. 

For the best health results possible, choose an in-between. A surface that’s not too hard, but not too soft. It’s the best way to ensure you’re seated in a way that will properly displace weight, while still being comfortable. You can also talk to your doctor about which materials offer the best options for any specific back issues, including pain.

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The Health Benefits of Acupuncture

When it comes to dealing with pain, almost everyone has his or her own method of healing. Some look to painkillers, others stretch and exercise, or adjust their diet. And some consider natural home remedies instead. Whether a practice that was passed down for generations or a new-fangled method they read in a magazine, they have a natural cure that seems to work better than all the rest. Even if just based on personal preference.

One such practice is that of acupuncture, which is free from chemicals or medicines of any kind. It’s performed – by a trained professional – who places small needles into the skin. These needles then reach various pressure points, reducing pain and stress. And while some can’t get passed the whole idea of needles being poked into their skin, each needle is small and very sharp, so as to cause minimal pain.

What Acupuncture Can Do for the Body

While it might sound a tad outside the box, there are also plenty of positives that it brings. Within a single session one can reduce their back pain, sooth indigestion, and help keep regular headaches at bay. Additionally, the practice can work to improve your medicine’s effectiveness (for those on regular dosages) and decrease the side effects of radiation treatments. But perhaps most impressively, acupuncture can help cure obesity. Those who are significantly over weight can benefit from regular treatments, even allowing their bodies to naturally shed weight while increasing circulation. Over time, it’s shows that obesity can be greatly reduced – or minimized – just through acupuncture. [Prevention]

Getting Started

To receive these ongoing benefits, consider scheduling your own acupuncture appointment. Talk to your local salon about what sessions they have to offer. Or, talk with your doctor about what acupuncture treatments can do for your body and its ongoing health regimen. 

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Dr. Explains Back Pain in YouTube Video

Anymore, there’s a YouTube video for virtually anything and everything. From learning a new skill to simply being entertained, it’s likely that someone has created a video out of it. (Along with tens of other online users.) Including what causes back pain – and how to reduce its symptoms. Whether caused by muscle spams with age or a specific injury, it’s outlined in this comprehensive and free-to-watch video.

Dr. Mike Evans, who is known for his educational, yet easy-to-follow videos, has helped create white board outlines on any number of medical issues. However, one of his latest releases, on back pain, has received widespread acclaim. It was even mentioned on NPR for helping other doctors explain medical ailments to their patients. Including one specific case, where the patient had done her own research but still hadn’t come to terms with the outcome. One YouTube viewing later, and her doctor was able to make a believer out of her in terms of the lower back.

The video goes into the ins and outs of the lower back from a medical standpoint. Including what causes pain, how muscles work in tandem with one another, and more. Especially what happens in the event of an injury, or rather what types of movements cause said injuries. Best of all, there are visual aids to help even the least medically inclined of folks understand just what’s happening beneath the skin. Patients love that it offers an entertaining way to learn about their bodies, while doctors say it’s a great aid for explaining treatment options and symptoms. And in the process, it can help eliminate ongoing pains through user education and participation.

To better understand your own back’s intricacies, or to learn more about the body as a whole, check out Dr. Evans’s back-related video today.   For back support and comfort ideas - click here.

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New Device Helps Prevent Slouching

Out of all the ways to be reminded to not slouch, this new device just might be the gentlest. Rather than back pain, an angry grandmother, or even a seat that holds strong at 90-degrees, no matter how uncomfortable, chronic slouchers can now find comfort in sitting up straight. Thanks to UpRight, a unique back placement device, users can receive a gentle, vibrating reminder each time they fail to sit or stand up straight.

The small device works by sitting on the outside of one’s spine and monitoring its curvature throughout the day. UpRight sticks to the back with an adhesive, and is small and discreet enough to wear under everyday clothing. It’s also powered by Bluetooth and battery operated. But what’s most unique is that the device doesn’t remind you of your bad posture until it reaches a “harmful” slouch. Which is to say a sitting or standing slouching at an angle that’s been proven to cause back pain. While slight bending of the spine has minimal side effects. The contrast between these two is small and virtually impossible to know of oneself. A machine that monitors specific angles and degrees through algorithms, however, can identify the exact point of change between healthy and dangerous slouching angles. 

The Theory Against Bad Posture

Creators of the device say UpRight was made to solve the “slouching epidemic” that stems from more and more workers sitting at computers for multiple hours each day. But by wearing the UpRight, the population can sit up straight and reduce back pain, even while sitting at a desk. 

To gain better posture – whether at work or out working on activities – the UpRight can provide some much needed assistance for spine alignment. Consider this up and coming device to put an end to your posture-induced pains. 

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Barbecue Games to Get in Shape for

Now that barbecue season is upon us, it’s time to ponder all the outdoor activities (and delicious foods) there are to explore. From playing horseshoes after a healthy serving of chips and dip, to topping off a swimming race with cherry pie, there are any number of fair-weather combinations to enjoy. 

Whether you prefer yard-based games or would rather spend your afternoons near the snack table, consider getting in shape for your favorite summer activities. Such as:

Yard Games

Heavy favorites, such as Frisbee, washers, beanbags, horseshoes, and more, all allow you to enjoy the nice weather. And while they may not be the most strenuous of movements (depending on how serious you are about your Frisbee game), they offer the ability to get some blood pumping either before or after the food has been served.

Summer Races

Runners and walkers alike can unite with these fun-themed races. Sign up to feed your competitive side, or simply enjoy the company as you are coated in colors, decked out in neon, or create a living version of the American flag. 

Swimming

No matter your level of swimming, the pool can be great place to cool off for the summer. Jump in for a few intense laps, or wade the afternoon away with the help of a supportive floatation device. 

Hauling the Gear

While this might sound like a no-brainer, items like coolers and lawn chairs are often heavier than you’d think. If you’re not ready to pack light, remember to lift safely or practice by lifting smaller weights or stretching before each main backyard event. 

Foot Races

Whether chasing kids, a rogue firework, or any other number of items, summer can be a time of impromptu races. Staying mentally and physically prepared – for all of these ventures – can ensure a safer and happier outcome all around. 

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