Did you know 200 million work days are lost each year due to back pain? That's second only to the common cold, according to a government statistic.
August is Be Good to Your Back Month, and Relax the Back Stores in the Los Angeles area are providing free seminars and free on-site workplace ergonomic assessments designed to ease the pain 80 percent of Americans will suffer at some point in their lives.
Here are some back-saving pointers:
To aid proper back alignment when driving, position your seat so your knees are level with your hips and support your lower back by placing a lumbar support behind your back.
Adjustable armrests on office chairs can reduce neck, shoulder and lower back pain. Also, use a footrest at your desk to reduce lower back pressure. To avoid lower back pain while sitting, place a pillow or a lumbar roll in the small of your back. Avoid sitting with a wallet in your back pocket.
Standing puts pressure on your spine. If you must stand for long periods, put one foot on a stool to take pressure off the spine and help keep natural curves aligned. Avoid high-heeled shoes.
When you sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees and a small support underneath your lower back. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your bent knees and hug a second pillow to take some pressure off your back.
For more information, call Relax the Back Stores at (800) 971-2225.
Healthy books: ``The Lice-buster Book: What to Do When Your Child Comes Home With Head Lice!'' by Lennie Copeland, illustrated by Ashley Copeland Griggs (Warner Books; $8.99). Copeland, mother of two and self-made lice expert, delivers step-by-step procedures for detecting and treating head lice.
``Living Healthy in a Toxic World,'' by David Steinman and R. Michael Wisner (Perigee; $12). A book on how to protect yourself from common, everyday toxins - in food, household cleaners and cosmetics.
Baby help in Spanish: ``Su Bebe,'' the first Spanish-language publication designed to answer the needs of expectant and new parents in Los Angeles County, is available free to pregnant women at more than 200 distribution outlets - including hospitals, HMOs, individual practitioners and government outreach programs such as the Women, Infants and Children Program. The 56-page magazine focuses on local services and resources, as well as prenatal and infant care education. To receive ``Su Bebe'' by mail, call Four Corners Publishing at (310) 444-0184.
Putting feet first: ``The Foot Health Guide'' addresses eight common foot problems, how they're caused and how to treat them. Among the problems discussed in the guide are tired, aching feet; corns and calluses; athlete's foot; and lower back pain. Request the free, pocket-size guide by sending a postcard with your name and address to: Dr. Scholl's Foot Health Guide, P.O. Box Y-6148, Department 96P, Young America, Minn., 55558-6148.
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Photo: (1) no caption (Book cover - THE LICE-BUSTER BOOK )
(2) no caption (Guide cover - The Dr. Scholl's Guide to Foot Health)
