My Aching Back

When prehistoric man first lifted his shaggy hands off the ground and stood erect, the human race was in for trouble. People have been complaining of backaches ever since.

The business of standing up started a whole series of disorders stemming from the extra stress & strain put on the lumbosacral area, keystone of the spine. Practically everyone at one time or another has back pains. The only exception: toddlers, who temporarily retain a few quadruped characteristics.

Ancient man's evolution into a creature standing on two legs modified his skeleton as well as his habits. The spine curved and grew longer; the ilia or wings of the pelvis flattened out; the last vertebrae became a flexible lever on which the body's weight was poised. But nature added no new muscles to support the upright man.

In the current American Journal of Surgery, California's Dr. Clarence A. Split-hoff considers the causes & cures of backache. Chief causes: poor posture, extra fat, weak bone structure, accidents, high heels --which can throw the wearer's pelvis off balance.

Among some of the medical aids, which Orthopedist Splithoff says should be tried only with a doctor's advice: a corset-belt to fit the lower back; special shoes for flat feet--a common cause of back troubles; massages and home exercises; a horsehair mattress instead of an innerspring mattress; radiant heat, possibly an old-fashioned electric toaster; a fat-reducing diet; plenty of sleep.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.