they care about in pain, so they seek quick-fix purchases to help others with their discomfort. It sounds great, but good intensions often fall short for a holiday gift. In fact, many items marketed as salvation for pain, especially lower-back pain, do next to nothing for relief and often exacerbate musculoskeletal pain. Let’s take a look at some naughty and nice gifts for the season.
The Standing Desk – Naughty
This is a popular one right now but a misleading, if not harmful, solution. Of course, sitting for hours upon end can be detrimental. However, we like to say that if vaping is the new smoking, standing is the new sitting: it may not be quite as destructive by comparison, but it still causes injury. According to a Society for Human Resource Management report, 44 percent of employers provided or subsidized standing desks in 2017, up from just 13 percent in 2013. This is a troubling trend. Spine compression from standing for prolonged periods often trades one source of pain for another. Save the money and simply practice or urge a lifestyle that limits both sitting and standing for long stretches without breaks.
New Shoes – Nice
With apologies for the cliché, mama or papa may need some new shoes! A new pair of properly fitted athletic shoes makes a huge difference, not only in performance but in pain avoidance. Most running shoes should be replaced between 300 and 500 miles. In machine-simulated tests, running shoes decrease their initial shock-absorbing cushion by 25 percent after only 50 miles. By the time a runner, jogger or casual walker hits 500 miles, their shoes are only at 60 percent of their designed performance. A professional fitting proves a huge treat that keeps giving … for the next 300 miles or so.
At-Home Spa or Massage Tools – Naughty
Adjust your expectations. Those in-home spa massagers might appear a thoughtful gift, but they will most likely find their way to the donation bin with rest of the gadget gang. Therapeutic message can prove a useful tool in muscle therapy. However, most do-it-yourself massage tools provide little relief even if the individual can figure out how to use them correctly. Worse, those in true pain could delay or avoid professional diagnosis using items not designed for their non-muscular problems.
A True Diagnosis – Nice
Now you’re talking! What better way to start 2018 than solving the mystery of pain and putting an end to “throwing spaghetti at the walls” pain relief solutions? Whether it’s getting a friend or family member to take the next step or a gift of self-care for yourself, a chiropractic consultation brings the gift of peace of mind and freedom from discomfort. Learn more about Financial District Chiropractic consultations.
Suffering from lower-back pain or other musculoskeletal conditions can put a damper on anyone’s holiday spirit. Isn’t it time we all resolve to take better care of ourselves and live fuller lives, free from pain? That’s a truly joyful spirit.
