Life style
Back pain- a lifestyle disease
Back pain is common and is prevalent even among young children in this pandemic situation triggered by prolonged sitting before screens. While most cases of back pain episodes improve with self-care and lifestyle modifications, in certain rare cases they could signal a serious medical problem. In an interview with the Sunday Island, Consultant Rheumatologist and Specialist in Sports Medicine from Nawaloka Hospital, Dr. Harindu Wijesinghe throws light on multiple causes of back pain and management strategies.
BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE
The human back is made of a complex structure of bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons and disks which work together to support the body and enable us to move around. Problems with any of these components can lead to back pain. Although back pain could be felt anywhere along the spine- from the neck down to the hips, pain in the lower back or lumbago is the commonest.
“The reason why the pain is common in this region is because all the load in the spine when we sit, bend, do exercises etc. is felt on the lower back and this region is most prone to be damaged,” explains Dr. Wijesinghe.
Commonest cause of back pain is what is known as ‘non-specific’ back pain which occurs when the muscles and ligaments which surround the spine are overstretched. Next comes back pain caused by the disc bulging or herniation in the spine. In between the bones of the spine (vertebrae) is the intervertebral disc. The gel-like substance inside the disk can sometimes come out of the disk and press on the nerves in the spine which causes back pain and a pain down the leg called ‘sciatica’.
Fractures in people with osteoporosis could also lead to back pain says the Rheumatologist. “Although osteoporosis per se doesn’t cause back pain, a fracture could trigger a back pain.”
Certain types of arthritis (where the immune system starts attacking the spine) could damage the spine. ‘Ankylosing spondylitis’ is such a condition. This condition, Dr. Wijesinghe explains, causes back pain which is worst upon waking up in the morning and mainly occurs in young people below the age of 40 years. “Very often this condition is missed and unless treated on time, one could end up with a fixed immobile spine and a stooped posture due to the calcium formation around the spine,” he warns.
Infections of the spine such as tuberculosis and cancers in the spine too can cause back pain, although they are not common.
Risk factors
*Ageing –
wear and tear of cartilage and weakness of muscles is common in old age
*Being overweight
*Weak core muscles
“If your muscles in the stomach are weak, you are more prone to wear and tear of the disk. Exercises which are done while keeping the spine in the neutral position are encouraged.”
*Wrong posture
Sitting or standing in a wrong posture for prolonged hours is one of the most significant risk factors for back pain. “Sometime ago there was an issue with heavy school bags children carried. Today in this pandemic situation even in young children back pain is very common as they tend to spend a considerable time before screens. A lot of children and adults also tend to work in beds and sofas which is a bad habit,” remarks Dr. Wijesinghe.
Neutral Spine position or correct spine posture
Neutral spine is the position in which your back and neck are placed under the least amount of stress and strain. In this position, the natural curves of the spine are maintained. “Try to maintain this position while sitting, standing, lifting or doing exercise. There are many methods to find the exact neutral position. However the easiest way is to maintain your ears, shoulders and hips in one line.”
When sitting for prolonged hours, make sure:
*
You sit in a proper ergonomically designed chair- preferably an office chair
*
When using laptops, that the top of the screen is at eye level.
*
Your ears, shoulders and hips are in one line
*
Your feet touch the ground and your knee and hip are in 90
degrees
*
You take a break every 15 -20 minutes. Standup for a few minutes or walk a short distance. Use an alarm or a computer programme which reminds you to take breaks.
Lifting objects
Avoid lifting heavy objects. You should always be assisted by someone and also use proper lifting techniques (such as bending the knees while lifting heavy objects) or using machinery meant for lifting such objects.
*Smoking
*Regular use of high heels
“These could be worn once in a way but not recommended for daily wear as they could alter the posture. Shoes with a good ‘arch support’ are recommended and whenever you need a raised shoe to wear on a regular basis, a platform shoe is recommended so the angle between the heel and the ball of the foot is reduced and your posture is not changed that much,” explains the physician.
When to see a doctor
*
When back pain is not settled in a few weeks
*
When the pain is severe and doesn’t improve with rest
*
When there is a feelings of numbness tingling going into legs
You need to see your doctor urgently when there is
*
Back pain with fever or weight loss.
*
Causes new bowel or bladder problems
*
weakness of legs
How to treat back pain
Although back pain is common, the good news is that more than 90% of them can be managed with certain short-term drugs, injections and local applications for pain relief. This is followed by posture correction, weight reduction, core strengthening exercise and low impact cardiovascular exercise to prevent recurrence.
Back pain is a lifestyle disease which can be managed with a healthy routine, observes Dr. Wijesinghe. “There are no quick fixes here. It is important that one religiously and diligently does core strengthening exercises which helps in strengthening the muscles in the back, stomach and buttocks. Combine these with low impact cardiovascular exercises such as walking, cycling, swimming and elliptical training. We don’t encourage too much of bending, twisting and jumping when a person is over 40 or in someone with back pain because such vigorous movements could cause damage to the spine.”
Maintaining a healthy weight could also ease the load on the spine for which dietary discipline is required, he says. “Exercise alone can’t help one maintain body weight, one need to be conscious of the diet as well.”
Other lifestyle changes such as using proper chairs, a firm mattress and a soft pillow which enable the spine to be kept in the neutral position are also recommended by the physician. “We encourage people to sleep looking up so that the spine is kept straight and if at all they sleep to a side, it is important not to curl up.”
Myths to be busted
Since back pain is so common there are so many products in the market claiming to cure back pain and consumers should be cautious of these, warns Dr.
Wijesinghe. “Many believe that local applications, medicine and certain milk powders and formulas can bring your cartilage back to normal. It is like asking a person to reverse his age which cannot be done,” he remarks.
A lot of women think that the epidural given in pregnancy causes back pain. “This too is false. The reason for back pain after delivery or later is usually due to weak muscles, weight gain and poor posture.”
Institute of Hospitality Sri Lanka
The 32nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the UK-based Institute of Hospitality’s Sri Lanka Chapter was held recently at the Ramada Hotel Colombo,.The event provided an evening of camaraderie , reflection of the past and present achievements,setting new benchmarks for the future
The AGM had the presence of two distinguished guests, the Chief Guest Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, and the Guest of Honour British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. Their inspiring speeches were lauded by all hoteliers who were present at the occasion
A special thanks was extended to Robert Richardson, CEO of the Institute of Hospitality UK, along with his team, sponsors, committee members, and all attendees for making the event memorable.
Dr. Harsha Jayasingh, Past President of the Institute of Hospitality (UK) Sri Lanka Chapter, emphasised the Institute’s longstanding history and the strength of its Sri Lankan branch. “The Institute of Hospitality (IH) UK has a history of 86 years, and we are proud to be the Sri Lanka Branch. IH Sri Lanka is much stronger now with many members from all areas of the hospitality industry,” he stated.
Dr. Jayasingh highlighted the significant role of tourism in Sri Lanka’s economy,. He said tourism it is the third-largest source of revenue for the country. “Tourism accounts for about 13.3% of total foreign exchange earnings and employs 450,000 people directly and indirectly. The hospitality industry in this island of pearl holds tremendous potential for economic growth, job creations, and cultural exchange,” he added.
He also pointed out more women should be attracted to the industry and advocated for the use of technology in hospitality sector to attract the younger generation.
The newly appointed Chairman Ramesh Dassanayake spoke about the challenges faced by the industry, including the reluctance of youth to join the sector. . Dassanayake expressed concerns over the migration of staff between hotels and the overall ‘brain drain’ in the sector. ” We must maintain high standards in the hotel We must try to attract tourists to Sri Lanka, we must have with many facilities Hence, hotel schools and other professional institutions involved in skills development mustincrease their intakes,” he pointed out.
Chief Guest Sajith Premadasa emphasised the importance of eco tourism and said “We need to have an environmental policy related to tourism in place,” . .
The 32nd AGM of the Institute of Hospitality UK, Sri Lanka Chapter, was a testament to the strength and potential of Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry. The insights and commitments shared during the event set a new benchmark for the future.(ZC)
Pix by Thushara Attapathu
Life style
He recognizes human identity beyond boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
Visit of Sri Gurudev to Sri Lanka
Humanitarian, spiritual leader and Global Ambassador of Peace Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Sri Gurudev) was in Sri Lanka on a three day tour on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunewardene. Gurudev who inspired a wave of volunteerism and service to moot one of the largest volunteer-based organisations in the world – The Art of Living – visited the various projects under the aegis of the foundation and launched twelve vocational and technical centers around the island. He was accompanied by thousands of followers from Sri Lanka and around the world.
Gurudev who visited Sri Lanka for the sixth time also had a first day cover launched in honour of his visit. He is a strong proponent of spreading happiness, using the unique Sudarshan Kriya, yoga, meditation and practical wisdom to unite people, empower individuals and transform communities. His programmes provide techniques and tools to live a deeper, more joyous life, while his non-profit organisations recognize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion.
The Art of Living which has more than 30,000 teachers and over one million volunteers across 180 countries has touched in excess of five hundred million people around the world. CNN called it “Life Changing” and The Washington Post headlined it, “Fresh air to millions”.
In Trincomalee, Gurudev met with war victims and had a heartwarming engagement with the children from the children’s homes run by the Foundation. He also visited the Koneswara Temple in Trincomalee and graced the Kumbhabhishekam at Seetha ecogPnize the human identity beyond the boundaries of gender, race, nationality and religion. Amman temple at Nuwara Eliya. He held discussions with the trustees on the progress of the foundation’s social service projects, while also holding a special event – Ekamuthuwa – attended by a large number of dignitaries and his devotees from around the world.
His time with the Prime Minister was spent discussing the prospects of unity in diversity and uniting Sri Lanka by adding happiness into the formula of living. In addition he had discussions with the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, prominent business stewards and civil society leaders.
by Zanita Careem
Envison your dream wedding day come to life at the Epitome Hotel, a prestigious city hotel in Kurunegala offering an unrivalled luxury rendors experience for weddings.
The venue is designed to embody opulence and luxury from all quarters for a spectacular wedding in kurunegala,Thier ballroom is the largest banquet facility in Sri Lanka It can be divided into six luxurious pillarless wedding halls on the ground floor and 25pax smaller banquet halls.
It can be easily named as a five star heaven in the heart of the city contributing to a myriad of immense experiences tailored to inspire and delight wedding experiences.
From opulent décor set up to exquisite table decor, lavish food, every detail is meticulously curated to spark your imagination and ignite creativity for a perfect wedding. The previous prestigious wedding shows season one and season two attracted large crowds
were unique events which gave the wedding vendors and potential clients had an opportunity to connect and interact with each other. Beyond being a showcase it was a chance for the wedding vendors to unite and contribute to the vibrancy of the wedding industry. The wedding show covered all area of the bridal industry providing a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became the most popular bridal exhibitions in Kurunegala.This bridal exhibitions allowed brides and grooms to experience first hand the products and services available from suppliers in Sri Lanka
These wedding shows held at The Epitome created a benchmark and gave an opportunity for vendors to create connections to the utmost satisfaction said Harshan Lakshita Executive Director. of the magnificent Hotel
Our wedding shows featured experts and professionals in every field‘ It covered all areas of the bridal industry provided a comprehensive variety of bridal supplies from Sri lanka and became most popular bridal exhibition in this region.We are always open to everyone to join us at our wedding shows in the future. It is an opportunity to discover the incredible talent within our local wedding and bridal vendors to make meaningful relationships and plan thier special day at our breathtaking hotel The Epitome said General Manager Kavinda Caldera
The Epitome Hotel’s bridal show which will be held end of June will buzz with great ideas,advice and inspiration for all those who plan thier dream wedding
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The Hotel Epitome’s Wedding Season 3 will marked excellence, celebration and inspiration for those in the wedding industry. The exhibition halls will resonate with ideas on exquisite bridal wear to decor, florists , photography etc and showshowcase the rich tapestry of talent within the local wedding industry. .
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