Dr. Norman Marcus was once the head of the American Academy of Pain Medicine and the founder of an institute committed to helping people phase out body pains or at least learn to manage it. He has developed special techniques for this. Here are his tips on preventing back pains, specifically withe mattresses:

— Don’t sag in bed: A sagging mattress that’s lost its resilience inhibits the body’s normal inclination to gently move around during sleep, and your muscles require movement to stay healthy. In effect, a little tossing and turning at night is good for you. “If you’re sleeping on a mattress that’s as old as your teenager, it’s time for a replacement,” says Dr. Marcus.

– Don’t watch television or read when you’re lying down in bed. When you lift your head to view the screen — or raise your arms to hold a book you generate an isometric contraction that strains your muscles and can cause pain in your neck, head or shoulders. To watch TV or read in bed, sit up with your back supported by the headboard and your knees bent.

To read the National Pain Foundation interview with Dr. Marcus, visit this.

His institute’s website is also found here.

Tags: american academy of pain medicine, bed, dr marcus, dr norman, headboard, isometric contraction, mattress, mattresses, muscles, sagging-mattress, shoulders, sleep

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am and is filed under MATTRESS Tips.
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