Medical Supplies for Back and Neck Therapy

Is your back and neck bothering you? You're not alone. Muskuloskeletal issues like back pain and neck pain are very common. A number of things can cause back pain, from practical day to day activities like sitting at the office, carrying the groceries home or even gardening.

Here are some ideas for medical supplies that can help you with your back and neck pain management.

Pillows

You spend one-third of your life sleeping. Hopefully, you're getting a good night's rest, with quality sleep, while you're lying down in bed. That can be difficult though, when chronic pain is present and keeping you awake.

Choosing the right shape and softness for your pillow may help put you in a no-pain position so you can relax and doze off. In addition to the traditional pillow shape, which can easily be found in varying degrees of softness and hardness, there are also special shapes you can try until you find the right one. For example, crescent-shaped pillows may allow the neck angle that feels "just right" for you, while a roll-shaped pillow may help someone else.

Back Support

Does your job require you to sit all day? Or perhaps you have a long commute in your car every day? Sometimes a back support rest can help. These portable supports are back-shaped pads with support in various key places to (hopefully) prevent pain. Back supports are designed to align your spine and correct your posture. 

Not all back supports are placed on the back of your chair, whether it be at your desk or in your car. Some back supports are contoured seat cushions. You sit on them, but they support your spine, coccyx, and pelvis to reduce sitting fatigues and pain.

Hot and Cold Therapy

Heating pads and cold packs now come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and fastening mechanisms. Doctors typically recommend cold therapy to reduce swelling, which causes pressure to build up and manifests as pain. Heat therapy helps with muscle spasm and inflammation caused by tension and stress.

Heating pads are available now as plug-ins, and some are cordless but require you to heat them up in a microwave. You can find heating pad type supplies in the form of body wraps, back pads, shoulder wraps, and other spot target anti-cramp pads.

Ice packs are the same in that they come in many shapes to help you target the pain and swelling. Simple square or rectangular packs are easy to find, but there are also shoulder and neck pads, and some that have straps to keep them in place so that you don't have to hold them. 

Supply Doctor is a dynamic and professional one-stop online store for all your medical supplies, consumables, medical equipment, disposables and more, based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Here’s proof that vegetarians live longer!

For a long time vegetarians have been insisting they are healthier than their meat-eating peers. Now, finally, there's proof that they are not only healthier – they might even live longer.

A new protein-focused study shows eating more protein from vegetarian foods and less from animal foods is associated with a massive reduction in deaths from all causes including cancer and heart disease.

The study was conducted by researchers from America’s Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and followed 131 000 people over 32 years.

According to the study, by replacing a mere 3% of calories from processed meat with vegetarian sources of protein you can cut the risk of a developing a heart attack by 39%. And for unprocessed red meat, the reduction is 18%.

“Eating more plant protein [is] associated with a 10% lower risk of death from all causes for every 3% increment of total calories and a 12% lower risk of cardiovascular death,” the researchers said.

The lead author of the paper, Dr Mingyang Song, a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told CNN their findings have important public health implications.

 “They can help refine the current dietary recommendations about protein intake and really get to the point that it is not only the amount, but also the food sources of protein that are critical for long-term health.”

UK based international nutritional expert Patrick Holford agrees with Song. “In this study, having less eggs and more vegetable protein was also consistent with reduced mortality from all causes, including cancer and heart disease,” he says.

“The greatest risk, however, was in people with other unhealthy behaviours and a high intake of red and processed meat and a low intake of vegetable protein. Super-healthy lean meat eaters may not fare so badly. However, the benefit from plant-based protein foods remains a clear trend of this substantial study.”

Supply Doctor has a wide range of equipment, from a number of disposable first aid supplies to affordable hospital equipment. Visit Supply Doctor's website and order online today!

Is a Walker Better than a Rollator?

Walkers and rollators have been around for a few decades now. They have both done wonders for people who want to maintain an independent lifestyle but need a little extra help getting around.

Who Needs a Walker?

More and more seniors want to stay in their own home and they often live alone. Many also have conditions like hip and back problems, arthritis, and severe breathing conditions that inhibit their ability to walk and limit their endurance.

That is not to say that you won't find many seniors in assisted living residences and nursing homes who also use a walker or rollator. They are probably more common in these residences and even then, a walker or a rollator could prolong independence.

What is a Walker?

A walker is a type of mobility aid used to help people who are still able to walk (e.g. don't require a wheelchair) yet need assistance. It is a four-legged frame that allows a person to lean on it for balance, support, and rest.

Walkers are usually made out of aluminium so they are light enough to be picked up and moved easily. They often have comfort grips made of foam, gel, or rubber to enhance the user's comfort.

The tips of the legs are typically covered with rubber caps that are designed to prevent slipping and improve stability.

Types of Walkers

There are different styles of walkers that you should be aware of before you make a purchase.

Here is a list of the most common types of walkers along with the key points that make them different.

It should be noted that some of these features are not exclusive of each other. For example, you can get a "folding walker" with "height-adjustability" included.

> Folding Walkers

Folding walkers are simply walkers that can be folded easily for transport.

The mechanism to fold the walker is typically a two-button system. Push the buttons in and the walker collapses and folds flat so it will fit easily in a car, bus, or plane.

> Height-Adjustable Walkers

Some walkers have a range of pins or buttons that can be pressed to adjust and set the height of the walker so the handles fit you properly. The range of some walkers spans enough height that they can be used for both adults and children.

> Hemi Walkers

A hemi walker allows the user to lean on just one side for support. It is designed for people with little or no dexterity in one arm or hand.

Since it looks like half of a walker, it makes sense that it is about half the weight of a folding walker. 

Hemi walkers are considered more stable than a cane, so they certainly have their niche.

> Walker with Front Wheels

You can also find a walker (folding, height-adjustable) that has a wheel on each of the front legs. The purpose of the wheels is to help you manoeuvre over difficult terrain.

Most designs have 5-inch wheels.

> Rise-Assistance Walker

There are walkers on the market now that have a front handle that slopes lower on the user's side.

When seated in a chair or at the edge of their bed, the user can reach a lower portion of the handle and use it for leverage to pull themselves up.

> Glider Walker with Platform Attachment

This design includes what looks like a low-height walker.

On each side, you will see a pole rising up. On the top of the poles are soft vinyl platforms to rest your forearms. In front of these comfort platforms, you will find handles for gripping.

This design may assist your stability if you prefer to bear your weight on your forearms rather than elbows and shoulders.

Looking for affordable, durable medical supplies and equipment? Including walkers? Visit Supply Doctors online medical supply store and order today!