The original TV commercial for the Freedom Back lumbar support pad is available on You Tube. See for yourself how this pad supports your entire back, with emphasis on the lumbar area, and can turn any chair into an ergonomic chair. Perfect for office, task and computer chairs, but also suitable for car seats and practically anwhere else you might require ergonomic back support.
Buy your Freedom Back Lumbar Support Pad at Contour Living.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Tips for Keeping Your Back Safe while Skiing
Winter is a time when many people take to the slopes to enjoy the sport of snow skiing. Snow skiing, however, poses special risks in part because most people have not had formal lessons. The possibility of back injury is great especially because skiing is a sport that abruptly twists and jerks the spine. Just as most people are not trained skiers, they also do not know the correct way to fall either, whether at the end of a tow rope or skiing down a steep mountain.
Risk is also associated with the skier's level of conditioning. The out of shape weekend warrior is the most vulnerable of all. If you are planning a ski vacation, you should really begin getting into shape at least six weeks prior to the trip. One of the best training exercises is the pillow jump. Place a pillow on the floor and practice jumping with both feet facing sideways, from one side to the other. This exercise will help strengthen your legs as it simulates the turning motions you will make on skis. At the same time, it will help build your stamina. A good muscle building exercise is the wall-sit. Lower your back against a wall as if you were sitting down into a chair. You are in proper position when your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold the position for as long as you can without discomfort. Try to increase your time over the coming days. Then, by the time you hit the slopes you will have toned some of the most heavily relied upon muscles for skiing.
Once at the slopes, be sure to stretch your muscles prior to slipping into those skis. Lunge and calf stretches will help to prepare your legs, but don't forget about your arms. Stretch one arm at a time by stretching to the opposite side of your body, holding your arm parallel to the ground and keeping a slight bend in your elbow. Also, bend over and touch your toes, stretching out those back leg muscles.
Now, you may also want to consider taking a lesson, especially if you are unsure of your abilities or have had limited experience on skis. Not only can your instructor show you how to maintain control of yourself through proper leg movements, but he can also help to ascertain your level of skill and can show you how to fall down, if need be, decreasing the risk of injury.
By following this simple advice, much of the danger associated with skiing can be eliminated. It is almost inevitable, however, that you will experience some soreness after your ski vacation.
For a full line of products designed for comfort and support of your legs, back and total body, visit Contour Living online store.
Contour Products is the brand leader in ergonomic products designed specifically for comfort and support. Products include orthopedic pillows, cushions, chair pads, mattress pads and more. Visit http://www.ContourLiving.com for more information on solutions
Risk is also associated with the skier's level of conditioning. The out of shape weekend warrior is the most vulnerable of all. If you are planning a ski vacation, you should really begin getting into shape at least six weeks prior to the trip. One of the best training exercises is the pillow jump. Place a pillow on the floor and practice jumping with both feet facing sideways, from one side to the other. This exercise will help strengthen your legs as it simulates the turning motions you will make on skis. At the same time, it will help build your stamina. A good muscle building exercise is the wall-sit. Lower your back against a wall as if you were sitting down into a chair. You are in proper position when your thighs are parallel to the floor. Hold the position for as long as you can without discomfort. Try to increase your time over the coming days. Then, by the time you hit the slopes you will have toned some of the most heavily relied upon muscles for skiing.
Once at the slopes, be sure to stretch your muscles prior to slipping into those skis. Lunge and calf stretches will help to prepare your legs, but don't forget about your arms. Stretch one arm at a time by stretching to the opposite side of your body, holding your arm parallel to the ground and keeping a slight bend in your elbow. Also, bend over and touch your toes, stretching out those back leg muscles.
Now, you may also want to consider taking a lesson, especially if you are unsure of your abilities or have had limited experience on skis. Not only can your instructor show you how to maintain control of yourself through proper leg movements, but he can also help to ascertain your level of skill and can show you how to fall down, if need be, decreasing the risk of injury.
By following this simple advice, much of the danger associated with skiing can be eliminated. It is almost inevitable, however, that you will experience some soreness after your ski vacation.
For a full line of products designed for comfort and support of your legs, back and total body, visit Contour Living online store.
Contour Products is the brand leader in ergonomic products designed specifically for comfort and support. Products include orthopedic pillows, cushions, chair pads, mattress pads and more. Visit http://www.ContourLiving.com for more information on solutions
Headache Types Explained
Close to 90% of the population will suffer from some type of headache during the year. The good news is that about 95% of all headaches are just that - headaches - in that they are not caused by some type of underlying condition. Only about 5% of all headaches fall under the category of secondary, meaning that they are caused by another condition such as sinusitis, meningitis, brain tumors, etc.
Tension headaches account for about 85% of all headaches. Pain usually centers around the back of the neck and on the scalp, and is generally considered mild to moderate. Contrary to popular belief, men and women suffer from tension headaches at an equal rate, and the pain can last for just a few hours or up to a full day.
Migraine headaches are the second most common primary headache, and they affect women more often than they do men. Pain ranges from mild to debilitating, and often is concentrated on one side of the head, sometimes behind the eye, although the pain can shift from side to side. Symptoms can also include changes in vision, such as seeing spots, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. If headaches occur frequently, it is advisable to seek professional help, as over the counter medications are often not effective in targeting these types of headaches.
The least common and most painful type of primary headache is the dreaded Cluster. The name is appropriate since the pain occurs in clusters that can last for a few minutes to a few hours, at least once a day for several weeks/months, often at the same time of day. Men are affected more often than women, and those who smoke and/or drink heavily are at greater risk. Symptoms of cluster headaches are unusual as well and include red, watery or swollen eyes, facial swelling and nasal congestion. Cluster headaches also have a tendency to strike a few hours into one's sleep.
There are many different "triggers" for headaches, ranging from environmental factors such as weather and air quality, foods, food additives and posture. Since it can be difficult to determine the cause of your headaches, it might be useful to keep a headache journal. Note the time of day your headache begins, the duration, any pain relievers taken, what you ate, where you were and what you were doing.
Meanwhile, an easy fix is simply to ensure that you are maintaining proper posture both during the day and at night. Poor posture for even brief periods can directly result in headaches and related problems. Contour Living is a leader in the comfort and support industry and provides many products designed to alleviate these problems.
Contour is the brand leader in ergonomic products designed specifically for comfort and support. Products include support pillows and back and bed wedge cushions and more. Visit Contour Living for more information on solutions to improve posture, sleep better, correct support problems and live more comfortably.
Tension headaches account for about 85% of all headaches. Pain usually centers around the back of the neck and on the scalp, and is generally considered mild to moderate. Contrary to popular belief, men and women suffer from tension headaches at an equal rate, and the pain can last for just a few hours or up to a full day.
Migraine headaches are the second most common primary headache, and they affect women more often than they do men. Pain ranges from mild to debilitating, and often is concentrated on one side of the head, sometimes behind the eye, although the pain can shift from side to side. Symptoms can also include changes in vision, such as seeing spots, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. If headaches occur frequently, it is advisable to seek professional help, as over the counter medications are often not effective in targeting these types of headaches.
The least common and most painful type of primary headache is the dreaded Cluster. The name is appropriate since the pain occurs in clusters that can last for a few minutes to a few hours, at least once a day for several weeks/months, often at the same time of day. Men are affected more often than women, and those who smoke and/or drink heavily are at greater risk. Symptoms of cluster headaches are unusual as well and include red, watery or swollen eyes, facial swelling and nasal congestion. Cluster headaches also have a tendency to strike a few hours into one's sleep.
There are many different "triggers" for headaches, ranging from environmental factors such as weather and air quality, foods, food additives and posture. Since it can be difficult to determine the cause of your headaches, it might be useful to keep a headache journal. Note the time of day your headache begins, the duration, any pain relievers taken, what you ate, where you were and what you were doing.
Meanwhile, an easy fix is simply to ensure that you are maintaining proper posture both during the day and at night. Poor posture for even brief periods can directly result in headaches and related problems. Contour Living is a leader in the comfort and support industry and provides many products designed to alleviate these problems.
Contour is the brand leader in ergonomic products designed specifically for comfort and support. Products include support pillows and back and bed wedge cushions and more. Visit Contour Living for more information on solutions to improve posture, sleep better, correct support problems and live more comfortably.
Simple Tips To Ease Back Pain
Millions of Americans suffer from restless, uncomfortable sleep. Poor body support during the night may be the cause of the problem. Aligning your body in a natural way can minimize tossing and turning, relieve aches and pains and alleviate morning stiffness. This in turn can help you feel better all day.
Dr. Scott Donkin, (an ergonomics specialist who has created an educational pamphlet series including Sleeping Fit and author of "Sitting On The Job,") states that the importance of leg support at night is often overlooked. "Stress and discomfort often result from the upper leg and knee being unsupported during side sleeping. The sleeper instinctively shifts the upper knee forward, causing the hips and spine to rotate, putting a twisting force on the lower back. This often leads to low back pain at night and can aggravate an existing condition.
"The solution is to place a leg pillow between your lower thighs. This keeps the upper legs even, eliminating pressure on the knees and drastically reducing the tendency to twist the hips. Maintaining a comfortable open side posture helps keep your spine in a natural, relaxed position for a great night's sleep."
"Sleeping with better alignment is easy and affordable if you know what can help," says Scott Davis, CEO of Contour Living, a leading U.S. ergonomic sleep and comfort company. "Consumers are beginning to recognize the effectiveness of sleep support and alignment products as a natural means for getting good rest and minimizing aches and pains."
Here are some tips to help you properly align your body for restful sleep:
• The National Institutes of Health recommends sleeping with a pillow between your legs as a treatment for low back pain.
• Head pillows should be shaped to support the curve of your cervical spine.
• Leg pillows should fit the shape of your legs to comfortably stay put at night. (Try the Contour Leg Pillow)
• Look for mattress pads that support the curve of your lumbar spine, rather than just a flat piece of foam.
• The two most important features to consider when choosing body alignment products are shape and material. Memory foam best relieves pressure points, while fiberfill offers a softer feel and more ventilation.
Proper support is important for good sleep. Using a leg pillow like this one from Contour Living is an easy, low-cost way to help relieve back, hip and leg aches at night
Contour Products is the brand leader in sleep and support comfort products. We design, manufacture and sell support foam pillows, mattress toppers, memory foam mattresses, back support products and more Visit our Contour Living online store today!
Dr. Scott Donkin, (an ergonomics specialist who has created an educational pamphlet series including Sleeping Fit and author of "Sitting On The Job,") states that the importance of leg support at night is often overlooked. "Stress and discomfort often result from the upper leg and knee being unsupported during side sleeping. The sleeper instinctively shifts the upper knee forward, causing the hips and spine to rotate, putting a twisting force on the lower back. This often leads to low back pain at night and can aggravate an existing condition.
"The solution is to place a leg pillow between your lower thighs. This keeps the upper legs even, eliminating pressure on the knees and drastically reducing the tendency to twist the hips. Maintaining a comfortable open side posture helps keep your spine in a natural, relaxed position for a great night's sleep."
"Sleeping with better alignment is easy and affordable if you know what can help," says Scott Davis, CEO of Contour Living, a leading U.S. ergonomic sleep and comfort company. "Consumers are beginning to recognize the effectiveness of sleep support and alignment products as a natural means for getting good rest and minimizing aches and pains."
Here are some tips to help you properly align your body for restful sleep:
• The National Institutes of Health recommends sleeping with a pillow between your legs as a treatment for low back pain.
• Head pillows should be shaped to support the curve of your cervical spine.
• Leg pillows should fit the shape of your legs to comfortably stay put at night. (Try the Contour Leg Pillow)
• Look for mattress pads that support the curve of your lumbar spine, rather than just a flat piece of foam.
• The two most important features to consider when choosing body alignment products are shape and material. Memory foam best relieves pressure points, while fiberfill offers a softer feel and more ventilation.
Proper support is important for good sleep. Using a leg pillow like this one from Contour Living is an easy, low-cost way to help relieve back, hip and leg aches at night
Contour Products is the brand leader in sleep and support comfort products. We design, manufacture and sell support foam pillows, mattress toppers, memory foam mattresses, back support products and more Visit our Contour Living online store today!
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