World of back health

"Fascia envelops muscles, organs, glands and nerve pathways," explains AGR expert Godehard Stoll. "They give the muscles shape and firmness, delimit them and prevent mutual interference during contraction." Superficial fasciae, deep fasciae and visceral fasciae of the organs work together and ensure the body's ability to function. If this tension network becomes tense, the muscles cramp, the body aches and movement is restricted.

"Having to shoulder a lot", "hunching over", "carrying the load on your shoulders" - these idioms and expressions did not come about without reason. People seem to intuitively sense what researchers are now confirming: An unfavourable posture and a depressed psyche are closely linked. Prof Johannes Michalak from Witten/Herdecke University, in collaboration with researchers from Aarhus University in Denmark, found in a meta-analysis that people who adopted a slumped, hunched posture were in a more negative mood.

People with an unfavourable posture and a stooped gait were more likely to remember negative things.

This meta-analysis included 70 studies on the subject of psyche, posture and movement. In addition, the Professor of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy conducted his own studies on the effects of posture and exercise on depressive patients. The astonishing result: People who adopted a slumped posture were more likely to remember negative things. "For example, they remembered more negative words than people who adopted a cheerful, dynamic and upright gait pattern," says Michalak. The team carried out the tests on a treadmill, among other things, but a straight, upright back also increased the tendency to remember positive words when sitting. Studies with the movement and meditation form Qigong showed that upward movements were better for the psyche of depressed patients than downward movements.

Health guides are full of them: Fitness-enthusiastic young families and sprightly pensioners who defy all health complaints regardless of their profession, age and life situation. They manage to lead an active life seemingly effortlessly - an ideal that does not always correspond to reality. Anyone who has to restrict their activities more or less suddenly due to an accident, a prolonged illness or typical age-related complaints and needs a lot of bed rest soon feels the effects: A healthy back cannot be taken for granted. It needs exercise and an appropriate load. Only a strong back can fulfil its stabilising function for the whole body. Lack of exercise and long periods of lying down, on the other hand, put it to the test. However, for people who are confined to bed for long periods due to illness, it is almost impossible to be so mobile - and there is a risk of muscle atrophy, increased back pain and even long-term postural damage.health guides are full of them: Fitness-enthusiastic young families and sprightly pensioners who defy all health complaints regardless of their profession, age and life situation. They manage to lead an active life seemingly effortlessly - an ideal that does not always correspond to reality. Anyone who has to restrict their activities more or less suddenly due to an accident, a prolonged illness or typical age-related complaints and needs a lot of bed rest soon feels the effects: A healthy back cannot be taken for granted. It needs exercise and an appropriate load. Only a strong back can fulfil its stabilising function for the whole body. Lack of exercise and long periods of lying down, on the other hand, put it to the test. However, for people who are confined to bed for long periods due to illness, it is almost impossible to be so mobile - and there is a risk of muscle atrophy, increased back pain and even long-term postural damage.

Ideally, this supports and relieves the spine. On the other hand, in order to be able to move sufficiently, you should not sink into the mattress. Only then does it help the body to regenerate and at the same time avoid incorrect pressure and pressure points, which can lead to pressure sores (decubitus ulcers), for example. There are even special mattresses with microstimulation for patients with certain medical conditions: They are designed to adapt the suspension to the needs of those affected. Patients with dementia, Parkinson's disease, pressure sores or chronic pain benefit from different degrees of firmness and mattresses with basal stimulation. The latter generate fine motor stimuli that reach the brain via the nerve pathways and thus promote self-movement during sleep. And how the head is bedded also plays a role: A neck and back-friendly pillow provides individual support in every sleeping position and adapts to your needs. This prevents and effectively counteracts tension, pain and poor posture.

Im Interview mit verschiedenen Experten aus dem Bereich der Medizin, Wissenschaft und Therapie beleuchten wir das Thema Rückengesundheit aus den unterschiedlichsten Blickwinkeln.

In interviews with various experts from the fields of medicine, science and therapy, we shed light on the topic of back health from a wide variety of perspectives.
We would like to show you how many options there are for a life without back pain by providing sound tips. The important thing is that everyone has to find their own personal path. The various experts provide support with their experience and knowledge of the connections between mental and physical well-being. The topics range from exercise and ergonomics, mindfulness, relaxation and social relationships to nutrition and sleep.

You can also listen to all episodes on your favourite streaming platforms:
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There are a wide variety of aids available for this: from walking aids such as rollators or stair climbing aids to online training programmes, fascia rollers and heat pads. All of this can help to maintain the patient's independence in the long term or restore it after an accident. The right amount of exercise and training is crucial for success: Anyone who overdoes it after a slipped disc, for example, and puts incorrect strain on their back is putting their recovery at risk. However, if you listen more closely to your body, you will usually soon realise: What is possible is much more than originally expected.