Latest news with #ArthurL.JenkinsIII
Time of India
6 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
How Japanese walking can help with back pain and joint health
Many people suffer from chronic back and joint pain, which can make daily activities difficult. In fact , over a quarter of American adults report chronic lower-back or sciatic pain. Experts note that regular walking can reduce this pain, but a new variation called Japanese walking may provide extra benefits. Japanese walking is a structured interval-walking routine that alternates three minutes of brisk walking with three minutes of a slower pace, repeated for about 30 minutes. This low-impact exercise promotes an upright posture and core engagement, strengthening the muscles that support the spine and reducing strain on the back. What is Japanese Walking? Japanese walking (also called interval walking training) originated in Japan as a way to improve fitness without high stress on the body. In practice, you walk fast enough to raise your heart rate for three minutes, then slow down for three minutes to recover. Completing five of these six-minute cycles in a 30-minute session meets the standard guideline of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. Importantly, this method emphasizes good posture: practitioners keep a tall spine, relaxed shoulders, and engage their abdominal muscles as they move. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Albu Sabah: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Spine and back benefits Japanese walking helps the spine by promoting alignment and core strength. Walking with an upright posture and a braced core keeps the back straight and reduces slouching. Dr. Arthur L. Jenkins III, board-certified neurosurgeon and founder of Jenkins NeuroSpine in New York City, confirmed in an interview with Fox News Digital, "I always encourage my patients to walk, and to engage their core (squeeze their abs and back) while walking to exercise more than just their legs, and straighten their backs.' By engaging abdominal and back muscles at each step, the exercise stabilizes the spine. This tall, aligned stance can help correct slouching and reduce back or neck strain. In other words, Japanese walking effectively turns a regular stroll into a gentle postural workout. Walking exercise in general has been linked to less back pain. A study published in JAMA Network found that people who walked over 100 minutes per day had about a 23% lower risk of chronic lower-back pain than those walking less. Japanese walking builds in this volume of walking in a safe way: doing a 30-minute session five times a week would meet that protective activity level. Because the pace alternates, participants get aerobic benefit and muscle engagement without overstraining the spine. Joint health benefits Unlike jogging or high-intensity training, Japanese walking is very gentle on the joints. Dr. Viola told Vogue that this style 'has the same benefits as more intense forms of exercise… just with less stress on your joints'. By spending most of the time at a moderate pace, it raises the heart rate without pounding the knees or hips. The slow recovery intervals give joints a chance to adjust before resuming the brisk pace. In fact, a study of people with knee osteoarthritis showed that walking in intervals did not increase knee pain, whereas a long continuous walk did. This suggests that interval walking like the Japanese method can improve fitness without aggravating joint pain. Japanese walking also strengthens the muscles around the joints, further protecting them. The alternating intensity works the thigh, hip, and core muscles more than a flat walk. Stronger muscles help stabilize joints during movement, easing the load on knees and hips. Because Japanese walking is low-impact but still effective, it is often recommended for middle-aged or older adults, or anyone wanting to protect their joints.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'I'm a spinal surgeon – here's how your posture is killing your back'
In a world of sitting at desks and slumping in front of screens, back pain is known to be the most common ailment among Americans. Dr. Arthur L. Jenkins III, a board-certified neurosurgeon in New York — who is also fellowship-trained in spinal surgery and CEO of Jenkins NeuroSpine — blamed slouching and poor posture for grave effects on the back. Poor posture stretches the spine in a way it's "really not designed to do," Jenkins said in an interview with Fox News Digital. Just 1 In 10 Back Pain Treatments Work, Study Says – What To Do Instead "We stand much better than we sit," he said. "And we find more people having that pain when they're working or when they've been sitting for a while – it's just a terrible position for our spines." "Tech neck," or excessive forward posture, is caused by looking down at devices, including phones and laptops, the expert noted. Read On The Fox News App Being in this "suboptimal" position while sitting down for long periods of time can be damaging. 'Dead Butt Syndrome' Could Happen After Sitting Too Long, Here's How To Avoid The Condition "At night, a lot of people will [watch] TV … and their chin is tucked down," Jenkins said. "Most people don't put TVs on their ceilings." This position can lead to a condition called kyphosis, where the front of the spine is strained and extra pressure lands on the disks. This posture also stretches and pulls on the muscles in the lower back as they are forced to "stretch out and give," said Jenkins. "All the muscles are designed to be at their strongest when your spine is in its optimum position," he said. "Once you get out of the optimum position, your muscles have to work harder to maintain that." For those who work in front of screens all day, Jenkins recommends standing up often and stretching out the body to keep the joints "lubricated and active." It can help to use a standing desk, raise the computer monitor higher to promote an elevated chin and neck angle, or sit on an exercise ball instead of a desk chair, he advised. Ask A Doctor: 'Is It Dangerous To Crack My Neck Or Back?' Even while sitting on the couch, Jenkins said it's best to sit up, avoid slouching and change positions every so often. Isolating and flexing the back and ab muscles can also help to promote healthy muscles and ward off back pain. "Find ways to be more mindful during the day of engaging your core," Jenkins advised. "While you're sitting there, squeeze your abdominal and back muscles together." Ask A Doctor: 'How Can I Improve My Posture?' "Even if you don't do a formal sit-up, if you just spend five minutes mindfully squeezing your core while you're working, that's better than not doing anything at all." Maintaining flexibility, especially with age, can also help prevent back pain. Jenkins recommends committing to a fitness routine that "speaks to your issues" while strengthening the core and stretching the muscles, like yoga or Pilates. Jenkins also warned people to avoid "BLT" — or bending, lifting and twisting all at once, which is a major contributor to back pain. "You should always try to break up your bending, lifting and twisting into individual components … You should never bend, lift and twist at the same time," he instructed. "When you lift, engage your core actively. Think about squeezing your core while you're lifting anything." A new study out of Italy, published in the journal Healthcare, found that a kinesiology-based method can be effective in treating lower back pain. Noting that lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, the researchers introduced the Canali Postural Method (CPM) to a group of individuals for three months. For more Health articles, visit CPM, which is a personal kinesiological therapy to reprogram posture, showed promise in improving motor control and quality of life, and suggested "potential benefits for other musculoskeletal issues," the study found. Although the international study only included 35 participants, Jenkins said the results speak to the effectiveness of a "very structured, posture-based exercise regimen." "It's pretty straightforward that more support is better," he said. "Kinesiology, chiropractic or just general physical therapy, or Pilates, or yoga – any of these interventions are likely to provide more support for the person's back, and better pain relief than them trying to figure it out for themselves." Jenkins recommends seeing a professional if back pain persists and prevents engagement in normal activities. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter It is also best to seek medical attention if the pain does not subside after trying exercise, therapy or anti-inflammatory medications. Any emergent signs that surface – such as severe pain, worsened balance, or impaired bladder or bowel function – should be addressed immediately by a doctor, according to article source: 'I'm a spinal surgeon – here's how your posture is killing your back'
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
'I'm a spinal surgeon – here's how your posture is killing your back'
In a world of sitting at desks and slumping in front of screens, back pain is known to be the most common ailment among Americans. Dr. Arthur L. Jenkins III, a board-certified neurosurgeon in New York — who is also fellowship-trained in spinal surgery and CEO of Jenkins NeuroSpine — blamed slouching and poor posture for grave effects on the back. Poor posture stretches the spine in a way it's "really not designed to do," Jenkins said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "We stand much better than we sit," he said. "And we find more people having that pain when they're working or when they've been sitting for a while – it's just a terrible position for our spines." "Tech neck," or excessive forward posture, is caused by looking down at devices, including phones and laptops, the expert noted. Being in this "suboptimal" position while sitting down for long periods of time can be damaging. "At night, a lot of people will [watch] TV … and their chin is tucked down," Jenkins said. "Most people don't put TVs on their ceilings." This position can lead to a condition called kyphosis, where the front of the spine is strained and extra pressure lands on the disks. This posture also stretches and pulls on the muscles in the lower back as they are forced to "stretch out and give," said Jenkins. "All the muscles are designed to be at their strongest when your spine is in its optimum position," he said. "Once you get out of the optimum position, your muscles have to work harder to maintain that." For those who work in front of screens all day, Jenkins recommends standing up often and stretching out the body to keep the joints "lubricated and active." It can help to use a standing desk, raise the computer monitor higher to promote an elevated chin and neck angle, or sit on an exercise ball instead of a desk chair, he advised. Even while sitting on the couch, Jenkins said it's best to sit up, avoid slouching and change positions every so often. Isolating and flexing the back and ab muscles can also help to promote healthy muscles and ward off back pain. "Find ways to be more mindful during the day of engaging your core," Jenkins advised. "While you're sitting there, squeeze your abdominal and back muscles together." "Even if you don't do a formal sit-up, if you just spend five minutes mindfully squeezing your core while you're working, that's better than not doing anything at all." Maintaining flexibility, especially with age, can also help prevent back pain. Jenkins recommends committing to a fitness routine that "speaks to your issues" while strengthening the core and stretching the muscles, like yoga or Pilates. Jenkins also warned people to avoid "BLT" — or bending, lifting and twisting all at once, which is a major contributor to back pain. "You should always try to break up your bending, lifting and twisting into individual components … You should never bend, lift and twist at the same time," he instructed. "When you lift, engage your core actively. Think about squeezing your core while you're lifting anything." A new study out of Italy, published in the journal Healthcare, found that a kinesiology-based method can be effective in treating lower back pain. Noting that lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, the researchers introduced the Canali Postural Method (CPM) to a group of individuals for three months. For more Health articles, visit CPM, which is a personal kinesiological therapy to reprogram posture, showed promise in improving motor control and quality of life, and suggested "potential benefits for other musculoskeletal issues," the study found. Although the international study only included 35 participants, Jenkins said the results speak to the effectiveness of a "very structured, posture-based exercise regimen." "It's pretty straightforward that more support is better," he said. "Kinesiology, chiropractic or just general physical therapy, or Pilates, or yoga – any of these interventions are likely to provide more support for the person's back, and better pain relief than them trying to figure it out for themselves." Jenkins recommends seeing a professional if back pain persists and prevents engagement in normal activities. It is also best to seek medical attention if the pain does not subside after trying exercise, therapy or anti-inflammatory medications. Any emergent signs that surface – such as severe pain, worsened balance, or impaired bladder or bowel function – should be addressed immediately by a doctor, according to Jenkins.
