| The neck and back serve vital roles in supporting the weight of the head and body, producing movement, carrying loads, and protecting the spinal cord and nerves. These roles are facilitated by optimal alignment of the vertebrae and a balance between muscular strength and flexibility. Impairment of one or more of these functions can lead to injuries to the muscles, vertebrae, discs, ligaments, or nerves of the spine. Neck and back pain are common in today’s society, with nearly 80 percent of the population experiencing an episode of low back pain sometime in their lives. A likely factor predisposing this region to injury is the spinal column’s coupled role in producing large arrays of movement along with demands in bearing significant loads. The potential consequences of chronic neck and back pain are far-reaching and include emotional and economic costs to individuals and society.
In this concept, information about good posture, body mechanics, and safe exercise performance is provided to help you adopt preventive measures that may reduce your risk for back and neck problems. This information is intended to provide a basic foundation of knowledge. Those interested in more detailed information are encouraged to read further in textbooks of anatomy, physiology, or kinesiology. Persons with neck or back pain should always seek direction from their own medical provider.
|  <![CDATA[<a onClick="window.open('/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?it=jpg::::/sites/dl/free/0073523593/419767/c11.jpg','popWin', 'width=NaN,height=NaN,resizable,scrollbars');" href="#"><img valign="absmiddle" height="16" width="16" border="0" src="/olcweb/styles/shared/linkicons/image.gif"> (14.0K)</a>]]> |
