2—The Daily Collegian Friday, Oct. 20, 1995 Seat slumpers, load lifters alike urged to give their backs breaks By JENNIFER BELLANTONIO Collegian Staff Writer In the frenzy to get things done, people are often tempted to take on more than they can handle. Whether it is holding too many groceries while hauling them to the car or moving just one more piece of solid oak furniture, some people do not know their limitations but their backs do. "Lower back pain is the number one cause of disability from work for people under the age of 45," said Paul Canavan, director of physical therapy at the Center for Sports Medicine. Most people, at one time or another, have experienced the gnawing discomfort of muscle strain. For the rugged athlete who competes in a physical, high-contact sport or for the construction worker who endlessly lifts and hauls concrete, back problems may not be something out of the ordinary. But for others, back problems may occur from ordinary, simple activi ties. "The three most common causes of back problems is incorrect lifting, poor posture AFRICAN-AMERICAN CO DR. EMILIE M. TOWNES Saint Paul School of Theology Kansas City, MO Faculty Respondent: Dr. Collins Airhihenbuwa TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24 7:30 PM PAUL ROBESON CULTURAL CENTER CO-SPONSORED BY rhe Center for ethics and Religious Affairs Rack Caucus 11B4: 0 • ATA • 1180 • STA • f11301:0 • ATA • HBO Congratulations to Pi Phi and Delta Tau Delta on 0 co Z First Place in Creek Sing!! a F. a • best choreography e 0:1 G • best costumes • best female vocalist - Rachel Sherman e co m our incredible chairs: e 1). Rachel, Scott, Ann, and Doug .0. Imo. ATA • met . ATA • HBO • 6.16, • 11130 All organizations that want to participate in Dance Marathon for the first time are encouraged to attend this meeting. For further questions contact Raegan at 863-2283. A special thanks to and extended sitting," said Roy Love, pres ident of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Society. Although some people do not realize they are slumping over or incorrectly lift ing on a daily basis, repetitive incorrect activity may be dangerous. "Cumulatively, it becomes the phenome non of 'the straw that breaks the camel's back.' You do it day in and out, then one day you'll find your back irritated," Love said. Canavan agreed one of the biggest ways to aggravate a healthy back is incorrect lifting. People are not lifting with their legs and are stooping over, he said. Instead, Canavan said, people should keep the object close to the body, use legs for support and ask for help if they need it. Judy Dardzinski, outpatient physical therapist at the University's Hershey Med ical Center, reiterated Canavan's advice. "We have normal curves in the spine, so what you want to do is tighten tummy mus cles, brace yourself and use your legs when lifting," Dardzinski said. Francine Poel (graduate-health policy 1996 DANCE MARATHON New Group Symposium Monday October 23, 1995 7:30 pm in 26 Hosler Tau Kappa Epsilon, A week of fun has passed us by And now we breathe 0 ,1 Greek a s h i a n p g p e y rs s w ig : were Arid Funky Flowers t 00... We're so Glad we did Greek Sing w/ you!! Special Thanks to: Toby, Allison, Lexie &The Cast & Crew Love, The Sisters & Pledges of Tri Sigma "I carry a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders. I'll be sitting at a desk, turn the wrong way and muscles will spaz on me." and administration) is one student who often tests her back's endurance when lift ing heavy objects. "I always usually try. I'll pick it up to see if I can lift it or carry it a certain dis tance before it becomes to heavy," Poel said. "Usually if I can get a guy to help, I'll back off, but unfortunately they're not always around." Eric Apfel (junior-finance) is also guilty of overexerting himself while moving fur niture and other items. "I'm not of afraid of straining my back, to e = w e Z GO e vim% . 741J0E-r---- ,vizzA , , i 0 5 ...... 1 ....... m _ h . i jook 7 1 tod...swy Ti.... Apr! n.n .... _ ply" I ONE LARGE ONE TOPPING LATE NIGHT CARRY OUT SPECIAL' I ONE ORDER OF CHEESE STICKS ONE LARGE ONE LARGE WITH ONE ORDER OF BREAD STICKS 1 ONE TOPPING 1 9 9 ep onc nes TWO TOPPINGS p per FREE 95 pet FREE roncines , 99 FREE Pepperoncines & Special FREE Pepperoncini's $lO & Special I Garlic Sauce & Special& Special Garlic Sauce I + TAX Delivered + TAX Garlic Sauce Garlic Sauce + TAX (9pm-close) Additional Toppings .750 Each Additional Toppings .950 Each Additional Toppings .950 Each Additional Toppings 950 Each I NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPON NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPON I NOT VAUD WITH ANY OTHER COUPON NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER COUPON VAUD ONLY AT PARTICIPATING STORES .L. VALID ONLY AT PARTICIPATING STORES i n VALID ONLY AT PARTICIPATING STORES L . VALID ONLY AT PARTICIPATING STORES I • ,4ew , wv LUNCH SPECIAL 1 SMALL 2 TOPPING AND 2 COKES I$ 5 99 I + TAX = tz e Francine Poel graduate-health policy and ' administration 18,000 STUDENTS, 33 NATIONALITIES. 6 RACES. 2 SEXES. 1 CAMPUS. SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE. HIGHER LEARNING Friday, October 20 at 7 PM Pollock Commons Piano Lounge Saturday, October 21 at 8 PM in Warnock Commons Social Lounge Academy Award nominated writer, producer, and director John Singleton (Boys N the Hood, Poetic Justice) penned the script for his latest drama while he was a student at USC. Set on the campus of fictitious Columbus University, Higher Learning confronts complex issues of identity, sexism and escalating racial tension. Singleton creates a campus that's a microcosm of America to tell three separate stories about three very different people. Former high school track star Malik Williams (Omar Epps) thinks he can cruise through his freshman year—until he learns he has to run faster and harder than anybody else to keep his track scholarship. Socially inept loner Remy (Michael Rapaport) hopes college will be one big party, but he soon finds that if there is a party, he is not invited. Rape victim Kristen Connor's (Kristy Swanson) dates were different in high school they stopped when she said no. Although their experiences are uniquely their own, these young people have one thing in common. They came to learn how to think, but they picked up a strategy for survival instead. Sponsored by PNRA, Residence Life, the Martin Luther King House and EOPC funding We welcome persons with disabilities to all of our programs and events. If you need accommodations or have questions about access to building in which actis ties are held. please call 865-2890 at least 72 hours in advance of your participation. If you need assistance during a pmgram or event. please contact the member of our stall in charge . r. rii rim rii ri m ri 1r ..-.. ..-.. ..-.. `J .... ..-m ros .. .... 16 NI I. 111 r i :: Comedian TOM COTTER :°: r. 4 Monday, October 23 at Bpm " r.ii s. a nei 1. si r.ii `J *I: FREE ADMISSION eme me 16 16 me IL `J`J r 2j e me a! L 9l r r r r. r i m rme r :me e A a e me s .m. i a Ddi4fm,l• l 7 - h€ , P so I lift whatever I can," Apfel said. Endless hours of slumping at a desk with eyes fixed on a computer monitor is anoth er activity that presents a problem for many students and office workers. "The highest degree of pressure on discs (in the back) is found with chairs that have a back support at a 90 degree angle," Cana van said. "A slightly reclined chair with lumbar support reduces the stress on the innerback region." While the chair may not always be the problem, being stationary is. "Anyone who uses a computer should take breaks. Don't spend hours straight through so you're not sustaining the neck in one position," Love said. Instead, he said to ask joints and mus cles to move to their full range of motion because this will keep you loose and reduce stress. Poel said she has experienced neck and shoulder tension while sitting for pro longed periods of time. "I carry a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders. I'll be sitting at a desk, turn the wrong way and muscles will spaz on me," she said. Student Union Board presents in the HUB Ballroom VoIZZA DIJON erving areas north of College Avenue to Park Forest 238-7272 ENN STATE CAMPUS 234-7272 ing areas south of Park Avenue including Lemont & Boalsburg Beside sitting and working, people are often required to assume the tiresome task of carrying a backpack around the length of campus. But Canavan and Love agree to backpack is not usually a direct cause. "For an already existing back problem it could make it worse, but other people get used to it," Love said. "It is important to put the backpack on both shoulders or alternate it from shoulder to shoulder." While back strain can occur over a long period of time, in case of a sudden injury, Canavan said, the combination of rest and ice for the first two days reduces swelling and usually resolves most back problems. Treatment for back pain varies from individual to individual. John Swisher, pro fessor of education, said generally physi cians are moving away from surgery to exercise and medication. However, even those treatments are personalized. "There's a comprehensive evaluation to determine the cause of back pain, and the treatment varies from individual to indi vidual," Canavan said. "It's not a cookbook where you say, 'I have back pain so do this.' Everyone is individualistic." Pi . A,cli PARK AVE. 717 - .1114 -- COLLEGE AVE.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers