1. By
M. SCUNZIANO, MD, NMD
2/6/2014
1
THE BACK WILL BREAK WHEN THE FRONT SAYS SO
Making the best choices
up FRONT
will prevent lifelong disasters
2. 2
CONTENTS:
1) 3 FACTS TO KNOW
2) ON ANATOMY
3) FIRST STEP
4) FAST FORWARD TO NOW
5) BASIC NEEDS
6) AWARENESS
7) CHALLENGES
8) WHAT WE NEED TO MOVE RIGHT
9) ON LIFTING HEAVIER THAN 2 LBS
10) WHY DO WE MAKE BAD BACK CHOICES
3. 3
1) YOUR BACK CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THE FRONT
OF YOUR BODY
2) YOUR FRONT CANNOT FUNCTION WITHOUT THE BACK
OF YOUR BODY
3) IT IS WHAT WE DECIDE UP FRONT THAT CAN MAKE OR
BREAK THE BACK
HERE ARE 3 IMPORTANT FACTS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
4. 4
Our human musculoskeletal anatomy is
constructed with amazing precision
and intricate detail. We all are made up
over 200 bones and over 600 muscles.
The bones and muscles are aligned and
curved so that they work completely in
harmony. They are nourished by the
blood stream and innervated by a
phenomenal nervous system. Every cell
and every organ is working to maintain
the musculoskeletal system and, in
turn, the latter provides these working
systems with nothing short of
SUPPORT & PROTECTION.
5. 5
Now, remember your FIRST STEP????????
As a tiny new toddler, you begin the process of the WALK and
the initial steps are usually met with a collision with the floor.
The residual from that was usually a cry or even a laugh but NO
major pain or injury. The reason? The immature nervous and
musculoskeletal systems lack all that is needed for:
>Full awareness, judgment and decision making
>Balance
>Coordination
>Stability
>Full pain sensation
6. 6
All of the above may be deficient, breaking
down or intensified (pain) at some point.
The reason? The mature nervous and MSK
systems are senescent and in that natural
(what we at least understand as such) state,
the elements of NORMAL anatomical
functioning are challenged and for some
people, the challenge is more than they
want.
Fast forwarding to your later years in life…
7. 7
1) Aging of all the body systems
2) Lack of education, knowledge or the capacity to learn
3) Lack of experience
4) Diseases
5) Injuries, trauma of all kinds
6) Stresses of all kinds
7) Medications
8) Post-operative (surgical) distortions of the body
9) Loss of appetite, taste, smell, hearing, balance and sensations as a
result of disease, trauma, drugs and more
10) Nutritional deficiencies
11) Loss of partners, friends, other relatives or beloved pets
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?
9. 9
Air, water, food, sleep, shelter, love and
FULL AWARENESS
with
THE BEST CHOICES & DECISION MAKING
The body requires these basic essentials for its
proper maintenance and normal function:
10. 10
SO, given these essentials, a person
should be keeping the body intact,
free of injury, free of undue
breakdown, and most significantly,
PAIN FREE
11. 11
The decisions are all made by the brain and the moves are made
from FRONT TO BACK
(NOTE: the discussion of pain here is not all inclusive, i.e. mental pain,
anguish and suffering over tragic circumstances and losses will require
another full lecture)
When you move…
…it is in your best interest to move the best way for all the body
to remain intact and for there to be pain-free living.
Here is what we need to do to make our moves work in the best
interest of the body and particularly the BACK or SPINE:
12. 12
Your food must be MINUS JUNK and PLUS
WHOLE FOODS in proper quantities. No
exceptions for the sake of optimal health
of back and body.
Look at the body and make sure all parts and pieces are
in alignment and if not, consult your health provider to
assess your anatomy to see what is wrong and the plan
to make it work better.
Excess weight is destructive to
the back - lose it by choosing
the best lifestyle habits.
13. 13
We must exercise our body; unless this is
understood and performed, there can be no
strength, balance, pain-free backs, etc. Your
core must be strengthened and free of excess
baggage (fat).
Exercise must be done the right way; if you do
not know what you are doing, it is critical that
you find out; good quality trainers, classes in or
out of the home are all available.
14. 14
Work with a partner or a group to help
keep you motivated and consistent.
Learn Tai Chi, ChiGong, Yoga and other enriching
and strengthening exercises that will
compliment all other exercises to keep you
limber, nimble, flexible and energized every day.
Your shoes must be high quality and
able to support you fully. Do not
skimp on footwear. It can cause you
major problems if poorly chosen.
15. 15
Your home -and furniture in it- needs to be
safe for safe living. Remove or change all
slippery, non-sturdy or pointy surfaces and
items that are potential hazards.
If you fall, consider all that will happen if you
make the wrong decision about how to get up
again. Be very careful when you attempt to
recover your position. Make provisions for
easy access to emergency buttons that you can
wear or a portable cell phone on your person.
Do not walk without a cane, walker or other
device if you are unsteady on your feet. There
is nothing to prove but ignorance and all that
goes with it!
16. 16
Do not lift heavy weights unless you are fully aware of how to do so, are
physically very strong and built or find yourself trapped in a life-and-death
situation.
Always look at where you are at all
times, keeping your eyes busy checking
your surroundings. Make sure that
your eyeglasses/eyewear fit and are
not loose, slipping or missing!!!
Make sure your car seats are supportive
of your back. Car choices should be well
made!
17. 17
REMEMBER, IT IS ALL WHAT YOU
DO UP FRONT THAT DETERMINES
HOW THE BACK ENDS UP….!!!!
18. 18
On Lifting items heavier than 2 lbs…
>No lifting anything more than a pen if you cannot lift
yourself.
>If you think it will be too heavy, YOU ARE RIGHT
>Have any item for lifting close to or right snug up to your
body
Key points:
19. 19
>Keep the back straight at all times
>Bend the knees
>AVOID bending at the waist!!! Do not ignore this!
>If you are a caretaker and you have only yourself to help
transfer a loved one or patient/client, you MUST know how
to lift. Transferring and/or lifting techniques MUST be
learned and rehearsed to avoid major injuries to your back
and body along with the one you are caring for.
20. 20
>Small children are heavy weights for
grandparents who are not physically
conditioned or strong enough to handle
these bodies. Do not heave a young body
into your arms when standing. Sit in a
sturdy chair and have the child come to you
for the cuddles and hugs.
>If you start to lift an object
that is too heavy, let it go. Do
not make any further attempt
to pick it up
21. 21
WHY ARE WE MAKING THE WRONG
CHOICES FOR BACK HEALTH ALL
TOO OFTEN?
22. 22
The major reasons are LACK OF TRUE AWARENESS and
EDUCATION on the fundamentals of body and BACK care. As a
result of these deficiencies, we have just about every possible
mishap or accident awaiting us, all the time.
Far too many people are not eating correctly, not exercising
daily and correctly, not sleeping, aggravated by multiple
stressors. This completely sets the stage for weakness,
disease, lack of musculoskeletal stability and the beginning of
a miserable end for the back and rest of the body with it.
23. 23
LET’S LEARN “UP FRONT” BY TAKING THE TIME TO
LEARN AND UNDERSTAND THESE FUNDAMENTALS.
OUR PARTNERS, CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN
SHOULD ALL BE ON THIS LEARNING TRACK SO
EVERYONE KNOWS.
24. 24
THE BACK IS SOMETHING WE
CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT SO IT
IS UP TO US TO MAKE IT
STRONG. IF OUR BACKS ARE
WELL-MAINTAINED, WE ARE IN
THE BEST POSITION FOR OUR
LIVES.