Comfort Zone By Relax The Back

Top 5 Gifts for The Mom Who Has Everything – Including Back Pain 

Neck & Shoulder Massager

Does the mom in your life really need a bouquet, candles or breakfast in bed? This year, why not treat her to something that can bring blissful relaxation all year long?

Gifts from Relax The Back are perfect for any mother who could use more comfort and relaxation in her life. (Isn’t that all moms?) Designed especially for those experiencing neck, back and other physical pain, these soothing products are some of the best gifts you can give. Unlike flowers, they won’t wilt and will last for years to come.

Here are five of our favorite Mother’s Day gifts:

•  Epulse Neck & Shoulder Massager - A  massage she can take with her wherever she goes
•  Theracane - A simple, portable way to work out knots and kinks

Theracane

• The Body Pillow by Tempurpedic® - A pillow that lets her curl up in comfort
• Infraped Foot Massager - The ultimate in deep healing therapy tired feet
• PureFit Adjustable Wedge System - A passport to  pain-free sleep that will treat her body well for years to come pain-free sleep

To treat the mother(s) around you to something truly special this year. Visit us in-store, online (www.relaxtheback.com) and on Facebook or Twitter.

The BodyPillow by Tempur-Pedic®

PureFit Adjustable Wedge System

Infraped Foot Massager

Music education is one of the most powerful learning experiences we can offer our children, but a lack of funding has forced many community organizations and schools to cut their music programs.

In support of music education, Relax The Back stores in Bellevue and Lynnwood partnered with Lifeform to develop a unique promotion: a hand-crafted music-themed chair. The chair was tailor-made to promote an event that they are participating in called Ten Grands Seattle.

The event features ten grand pianos and ten concert pianists playing a variety of classical, jazz, boogie woogie, and modern pieces simultaneously, as soloists and in various combinations.

This is a charity event with proceeds benefit The Snowman Foundation, an organization on a mission to provide children with access to the musical arts. Created in Portland, Ore. in 1999 by composer-founder Michael Allen Harrison, it aims to “share the joy, the healing, the learning and the life-changing gifts music has to offer.”  Proceeds from the Seattle “Ten Grands” concert benefit The Snowman Foundation and the many music education and activities programs it supports.

“We are privileged and most proud of our affiliation with Ten Grands Seattle and The Snowman Foundation,” said Neil and Gayle Baldock,  owners of the Relax The Back stores in Bellevue and Lynnwood. “To enhance the life of a child through this program benefits our entire community. It is a true joy to see the work of this foundation and the difference it is making in so many young lives.”

The event will take place on May 12^th at Benaroya Hall, home of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. If you’re in the Seattle area, stop by!

Over the course of the day, gravity compresses the spine and weight-bearing joints, which can cause discomfort, herniated discs, and a host of other problems.

There is an age-old therapy which can help reverse these effects: hanging upside down and putting the body in line with the downward force of gravity. Although it may sound (and even look) strange, inverting the force of gravity allows your joints and spine to elongate, creating space between your ligaments and discs. This helps relieve some of the pressure accrued over the course of your daily activity or inactivity.

The easiest way to do this is with an inversion table. Daily sessions of just a few minutes on one of these therapeutic devices can make a huge difference in how you feel, reducing your tension and improving your posture. Other benefits include better circulation, decreased stress, and greater amounts of oxygen to the brain and other vital organs.

It should be noted that the head-down position is not recommended for those with high blood pressure, heart disease or glaucoma. As with any health regimen, we encourage you to speak with your doctor before using inversion therapy.

When we’re not on our feet, our spinal health is determined in large part by the design of our furniture. Over time, the wrong furniture can have a seriously detrimental effect on a number of aspects of our health and appearance.

Unfortunately, the majority of furniture in and outside our homes is designed to be visually appealing or functional – not spine-friendly.

The key to spine-friendly furniture is that it supports a “neutral posture position,” which is the body’s most natural position. This involves avoiding 90 degree angles and positioning the body so that there is an open thigh-torso angle, the hips are open, and the spine is aligned in an S-shaped curve. One of the best examples of this can be found in the zero gravity Perfect Chair, which operates on ergonomic principles developed by NASA to relieve pressure on the spine and ease circulation.

Why care?

In addition to a gaining a deeper, more relaxing form of comfort and pain relief, we suggest considering these three factors:

1. How we sit now can affect how we look in the years ahead.

The hunch we associate with old age is the head being forward, the shoulders turned in from a rounded upper back (dowager hump), and a flat lower back with a tucked pelvis causing a shuffling gait. This is not due solely to old age. There are many other contributing factors, including decades of the body adjusting to the shape of ill-fitting furniture. If you use supportive furniture that maintains a natural neutral posture, then you will have a better chance of standing upright at any age.

2. How we feel is at the core of our overall quality of life.

Quality of life is often thought to be related primarily to material possessions: home, car, and toys. But, any one who has had their health compromised will tell you it’s the spring in your step, the ability to go anywhere and do anything that ultimately defines quality of life. Having back pain and stiffness can significantly limit the ability to have an active lifestyle.

3. Back pain is a big pain – for your body and your wallet.

Back pain is one of the most common types of complaints and can be one of the most expensive to treat. At best, it requires physical therapy or at-home treatments, but sometimes no treatment or surgery can fix it completely. Without proper support, are forced to slouch or hammock for hours on end, leading to the potential for recurring back pain.

There IS a bright side.

Although well-designed, back-friendly furniture will not necessarily eliminate the effects years of poor posture, it can provide significant relief and improve back health. Some long-term pain sufferers have claimed that the modifying or replacing their furniture to improve their posture has greatly increased their comfort and improved their quality of life.

What can you do to achieve a neutral posture at home?

The ideal option is to replace any furniture that causes back pain or discomfort. Although there are many investments that you can make in your health, purchasing high quality, properly designed chairs and mattresses today can make all the difference in your body, mind and lifestyle tomorrow. Even inexpensive solutions such as a footrest, seating support or a properly fitted pillow can make a huge difference in your overall spinal health and comfort.

Additionally, doing simple stretching exercises when you get out of bed in the morning and before you go to bed at night along with a regular exercise routine to strengthen your core muscles will allow you to maintain proper posture throughout your day.

* It is important to note that these products should not replace consultations with your physician.

Hot and cold therapy are two of the most common and inexpensive ways to address pain and stiffness. Part 1 of this series covered heat therapy. In this post, we shift the focus to its chilled counterpart.

PART 2: COLD THERAPY

Cold therapy can help provide pain relief in a number of ways, including slowing the inflammation and swelling that occurs after injury, numbing sore tissues, and decreasing tissue damage.

For the most effective treatment, apply cold as soon as possible after the injury occurs. Cold works by causing the veins in the tissue to contract, reducing circulation. When the cold is removed, the veins respond by overcompensating and dilating, causing blood to rush into the area. The nutrients in blood serve to help heal injured muscles, tendons and ligaments.

As with all pain relief treatments, there are some cautions that must be taken. Always ensure that there is a protective barrier between the ice and skin. Aside from select cold packs, ice therapy should never be applied directly to the skin, and should instead be wrapped in a towel or other protective barrier. Application should generally be limited to under twenty minutes, but can be applied several times a day.

Types of cold packs include:

• Cold packs: Many types of cold therapy are available in easy-to-use forms, some of which are designed to wear directly on the skin (such as these from Moji or Koolpress). Cold packs can be kept in the freezer ready for use when needed, and re-frozen after each use.
• Ice or frozen food: Frozen food can work well as an ice pack, both because it is often readily available, and can be more pliable than large cubes of ice. To make a traditional ice pack, put the desired amount of ice into a plastic bag and squeeze the air out before sealing it. In either case, wrap it in a towel or other barrier before applying, and limit use to no more than twenty minutes to avoid an ice burn.
• A frozen towel. To use a towel as a cold pack, place a folded, damp towel in the freezer for ten to twenty minutes. It is best to first place the towel in a plastic bag to freeze, then remove it before placing it on the area to be treated.

Please note that cold therapy should not be used in certain cases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cold allergic conditions, paralysis or Raynaud’s Syndrome. If pain continues, it is best to consult a doctor or physical therapist.

Hot bath or cold shower? Heat pack or cold compress? Warm towel or bag of ice?

Both types of therapies can be highly effective in addressing pain, stiffness and over-exertion. They are also inexpensive, convenient and easy to do, especially with the wide range of hot/cold wraps and pads currently available.

In this two-part series, we’ll share tips on how and when to use hot and cold therapies for pain relief.

PART 1: HEAT THERAPY

The effects of heat therapy are numerous, including healing the damaged tissue, partially relieving discomfort, decreasing stiffness and increasing flexibility.

Compared to most treatments, heat therapy is inexpensive and easy to do. With the range of products available, it is a convenient form of treatment at home, at work, or in the car. It also holds particular appeal because it is a non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical form of back pain relief.

For the most effective heat therapy, use products that are warm and can maintain their heat at the proper temperature. A common mistake is using a heat source that is too hot, which may burn the skin. The purpose of the therapy is for heat to penetrate down into the muscles, not simply increase skin temperature.

The duration needed is based on the type and seriousness of the injury or discomfort. For very minor back tension, 15-20 minutes of heat therapy may be sufficient. For more intense injuries, sessions of 30 minutes to an hour (sometimes as much as two hours or more) may be most beneficial.

It is worth noting that not all heat is the same, and there are a variety of products and types of therapy depending on your needs and preferences. The three primary types are:

• Dry heat, often in the form of heating pads and saunas, draws out moisture from the body. Some people prefer dry heat, as it is easy to apply and feels relaxing on contact.
• Moist heat, including moist heating pads, therapeutic heat vests, steamed towels and hot baths, can aid in the heat’s penetration into the muscles. This delivers comforting therapy for muscle aches, arthritis pain, sinus headaches and tension.
• Far-infrared heat is a therapeutic technology that penetrates deep into the tissue and provides prolonged relief. Unlike some other forms of heat treatment, it is safe to use for hours and does not cause burning or dehydration of the skin. It can usually be found in the form of pads and wraps, and is also available in a range of other products. One of our favorites is the Human Touch® Serenity Zero Gravity Recliner

Please note that heat application should not be used in certain cases, including if the back is bruised, swollen or has open wounds, or if a person suffers from diabetes, dermatitis, or types of vascular disease or thrombosis. Both hot and cold therapies work best when combined with other treatment modalities, so it is best to consult a doctor or physical therapist if you have ongoing pain.

Think about how great it feels to curl up in bed after a long day.

Now imagine the same experience if your mattress was removed and replaced with rocky soil, a muddy road, or a concrete slab.

In the aftermath of a disaster, that’s exactly where many people find themselves. This means that on top of facing extreme physical challenges, they also suffer from the lack of nature’s most restorative activity: sleep. The effects of this can include increased stress hormones, decreased immune function, and mental and emotional instability.

WorldBed was founded in response to this core human need. Based on efforts after Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti, the WorldBed humanitarian initiative and its partners have provided more than 11,000 people with a better night’s sleep through portable, waterproof Emergency Field Beds. The organization’s long term goal is to deliver 200,000 WorldBeds to those devastated by disasters.

If the WorldBed mission speaks to you as it does us, consider supporting their efforts at www.worldbed.org. Also, when you make select purchases, Relax The Back will give a financial donation or provide a field bed for disaster relief efforts. Find out more about the products here.

Michael Dean, Relax The Back Franchisee featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

It was just a few weeks before Christmas and Relax The Back franchisee Michael Dean faced the unthinkable. His Tulsa store had been devastated by a nearby fire, leaving the location in shambles and much of the inventory soaked in water and soot.

With the benefits of a strong will, loyal staff, and sympathetic landlord, he was able to recover and still have a successful holiday season. He then went on to become the #2 franchise in the country!

Get a peek into how he did it in this article from Entrepreneur Magazine: Three Survival Stories From the Franchise World.

We’re proud to say that his story was featured both online and in the January 2012 print magazine. In the same issue, Relax The Back was named one of Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500!

The year is off to a great start for Relax The Back – all thanks to to our wonderful customers and franchisees!