Eight out of 10 Americans suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. If your back pain is caused by stiff muscles, you may find relief by using a wooden back stretching machine in your home. But your back problems may be more serious than sore muscles, so you should consult a physician before committing to the purchase of back stretching equipment.
Equipment Design
Wooden back stretchers, usually designed by a chiropractor, cost several hundred dollars. The stretcher includes a curved frame shaped to support, stretch and knead your lower back, neck and spine. It helps to lessen the stress on each vertebra and realign them to a more natural pressure-free pose. The wooden back stretch equipment may include rolling balls that provide a shiatsu style of massage. This type of massage will increase blood flow in your body and also help to relieve muscle tension. Shiatsu massage, a traditional Japanese healing method, aims to correct imbalances by applying pressure points on energy points on your body.
Strengthen Back Muscle
If properly used, a wooden back stretcher can lessen your back pain and strengthen the muscle surrounding your spine. The use of a back stretcher can also make your muscles more flexible, increasing your range of motion in your back. If you spend a lot of tie sitting at school, in an office or at home in front of a computer, a back stretcher can relieve tightness and tension in your lower and upper back.
Other Options
If you exercise regularly, you should stretch your muscles before and after workouts. Using a back stretcher twice a week could further help you maintain flexibility in your back muscles.But you can get similar results with and without a back stretching device. People with access to back stretching machines stretch their backs more frequently than persons who performed stretching exercises on their own. The equipment is psychologically and physically easier than exercises.
Alternative
As an alternative to using wooden back stretch equipment, you can practice back stretching exercises such as neck stretches, shoulder rolls, hamstring stretches and back extensions. Do not forget to consult your physician before starting a new exercise as it might increase your back pain rather than alleviate your discomfort. If you feel any kind of pain while stretching, stop the exercise. You may need to try a different technique or, more seriously, you might have an injury that requires medical treatment.
References
- "The New York Times"; Stretching Machines Gaining a Following; Liz Neporent; July 13, 1999
- Back Pain Beaten: Back Stretcher: An Effective Way to Relieve Back Pain & Tension
- Spine Universe: Back Pain and Stretching Exercises
- Medline Plus: Back Pain
- Top Shiatsu Massage



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