Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

DON'T LET WINTER SET YOU BACK

Winter back care advice for the 66% of UK adults who suffer with back pain

Of the many seasonal conditions, colds and flu are the most commonly associated with winter months. But for the 66% of UK adults who suffer with back pain, the winter months can be the most difficult time of year as our backs deteriorate along with the cold temperatures.

“Whether it is the pain of arthritis, the bodily effects of the winter blues or simply too much tidying up of the garden debris, musculoskeletal pain, especially pain in the back, is a very common problem at this time of year”, says osteopath Geoffrey Montague-Smith (D.O)

But there are some key precautions which sufferers can take to ensure they remain pain-free this winter, and Geoffrey Montague-Smith’s top tips for your back over the winter season include:

1)Keep the back warm with appropriate clothing. If the kidney area is exposed the lower back and pelvic muscles will tighten, which leaves the back vulnerable to injury. If your back is exposed to the cold a hot bath at the end of the day should help.

2)Most of us are less active over the winter, so lower back stretches in the morning and just before going to bed will keep you flexible. Lay on your back on the floor with your legs crossed and pull the knees towards the chest with the arms to give the lower back a good stretch.

3)Much of the back pain we see in our clinics is contributed to by dehydration so it is essential to drink plenty of water. In the winter, the heating is on and people do not drink enough of the right fluids – tea and coffee dehydrates you further!

4)A good night’s sleep on a mattress offering full support for the back is a must. Osteopaths recommend TEMPUR Mattresses because they offer the body full support whilst in a relaxed sleep. The memory foam also responds to body heat keeping the muscles warm and the blood flowing.

5)If you are a keen gardener, warm up before you start. The back is at its most vulnerable first thing in the morning because the discs are fat with nutrient fluids until they have been squeezed by the pressure of weight bearing when standing. Don’t spend too long at one task and take regular breaks.

6)If the ‘winter blues’ are affecting your health, take regular exercise in the light of the day. If this is not possible a full spectrum light box can help keep the body clock hormones in balance.

7)Neck and shoulder tension is often worse as winter tightens us up - long drives to work, hours hunched over a desk after getting up and going home in the dark, day after day. A TEMPUR Pillow can make all the difference to the tension in the neck and shoulder muscles. The memory foam adjusts to the shape of your neck and head, giving full support in all positions during sleep.

8)If skiing is your thing, get fit before you go. Yoga for flexibility and strengthening and running or cycling for cardio-vascular fitness will help prevent injury. Snowboarding is a common cause of pelvic and lumbar spine compression injury, which can stay with you for years, so protective ‘body armour’ is highly recommended to protect the base of the spine when falling.

TEMPUR Products are made from a unique pressure relieving material, which was originally developed by NASA in a bid to alleviate the enormous g-forces experienced by astronauts during lift-off and flight. TEMPUR Products mould to the exact shape and position of the body, giving it the optimum comfort and support. With TEMPUR Mattresses, the entire musculoskeletal architecture is supported in the correct anatomical shape and pressure is evenly distributed across the contact area between the body and the mattress. This significantly reduces pressure points and practically eliminates the need for tossing and turning.

TEMPUR Mattresses are priced from £675 and TEMPUR Pillows from £59.95. To order products from the TEMPUR range, please call on free phone 08000 111 081 or visit www.tempur.co.uk.
For further info or an interview with Geoffrey Montague Smith (D.O), contact

Issued on behalf of:TEMPUR UK Ltd
Issued by:Pegasus Public Relations Ltd
Press enquiries:Victoria Crook / Terri Foster (01903) 821550
vcrook@pegasuspr.co.uk / tfoster@pegasuspr.co.uk