Soapbox
Posture & Pain
Wednesday May 19, 2010
I had an appointment last week with Doug Grayson, an ophthalmologist and surgeon on East 36th Street in Manhattan. After an optometrist saw a narrowing of an optic nerve, I visit about three times a year, a precaution after laser surgery in my left eye two years ago.
Although he listens to my suggestions about his poor posture but does the exercise menu I gave him sporadically, at best, we treat each other as colleagues. His staff of doctors and professionals feel the same way. Posture and pain are usually topics of discussion when I visit.
One of the doctors was concerned about her husband, a big guy, whose weight and diabetes were causing serious back pain. She described his posture and it was obvious that improving his posture would also lower his pain levels.
I explained to her that his forward shoulders and wide walking stance will cause the thigh and butt muscles to atrophy, put unnecessary pressure on the low back, causing real pain and long-term spinal issues. These can be easily avoided by simple exercises. I suggested she go to my web site and download the Low Back Menu. She laughed when I told her it would be cheaper than popping pills but I was serious. The exercise programs on the site are only $7.99, about what Advil costs in my local Walgreen's.
I can see only four or five people a each day in my clinic in Manhattan, so I am hoping that offering these therapeutic exercise programs at a very low cost will help a lot of people who can't get to see me. A couple of exercise menus were downloaded from the site the day after my visit with Doug, so maybe my connecting posture and pain got though. I hope so.
Be well.
Bill
Posted at 05:30 PM