Can someone explain why old age or bone loss causes older people to have a hump in their upper back or neck? I think its called dowager’s hump.
posted by john123357 on Feb 21, 2013 - 16 answers

I'm a mid-30s female, and I am finding my back is becoming less and flexible over the years while my core and upper body are getting weaker. How can I fix this? [more inside]
posted by wingless_angel on Jan 14, 2013 - 20 answers

For those of you who have had success with treating kyphosis and the like: I have postural kyphosis. I do a lot of muscle exercises and stretching to correct my posture and have actually gained 1.5 inches in height but my spine still has a very exaggerated curve. I think I have the muscular side covered but are there any skeletal manipulations I could be doing ie. chiro adjustments that will help lessen the exaggerated curvature? [more inside]
posted by dino terror on Jun 27, 2011 - 4 answers

I've recently discovered that when I stretch backwards with my arms above my head while holding my breath, I sometimes get a super-trippy laughing-gassy lightheaded rush for about (no longer than) ten seconds. So: How bad is this for me? Am I killing loads of brain cells?
posted by Jonathan Harford on Jun 14, 2011 - 6 answers

Medical question: I'm a 17 year old male and last night my rib cage and upper back began to hurt like never before. I thought a night of sleep of help, but it hasn't. Should I be worried? [more inside]
posted by Taft on Dec 12, 2009 - 27 answers

For the past few months, I've been experiencing a lot of back pain during sleep and when I wake up. I've tried many solutions - sleeping on top of a bunch of blankets (to make my firm mattress softer), sleeping with a pillow between my legs (helps a little but not much, it seems), putting a towel under my hips, sleeping on my back, sleeping on my stomach, sleeping on my side. In a nutshell, I'm losing it and really could use some help. Anyone with a super-sensitive back who has found a comfortable way to sleep??? I have scoliosis, so that's one thing to keep in mind. Also, if one of the strategies I mentioned above worked for you, pleae don't hesitate to mention it - maybe you tried it in a different way than I did! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
posted by bross12 on Aug 7, 2009 - 22 answers

Hard medical evidence about sleeping on a hard, flat surface? [more inside]
posted by KMH on Jun 29, 2009 - 2 answers

I've had sharp, upper back pain for about a week. I just woke up one morning and there it was. Do I need a chiropractor, massage, doctor or should I just man up? [more inside]
posted by scaryblackdeath on Apr 6, 2009 - 16 answers

Is intense back pain when I sneeze an indicator of a serious spinal problem? [more inside]
posted by high0nfire on Mar 4, 2008 - 9 answers

What is, and how useful is, if at all, interferential electrotherapy? [more inside]
posted by Smedleyman on Jan 15, 2008 - 8 answers

Is there a term for writing only on the right-hand page of notebooks then flipping the notebook over and working from back cover to front cover? [more inside]
posted by dcbarker on Nov 22, 2007 - 15 answers

does anyone out there have any experience with the swopper chair? [more inside]
posted by zzztimbo on Jul 27, 2006 - 5 answers

Back injury filter [more inside]
posted by GleepGlop on Aug 20, 2005 - 14 answers

Wanted: workstation (desk and chair) that can be quickly/frequently/comfortably repositioned back and forth between sitting and standing positions. (Also much interested in tips/alternatives for keeping focus while having to do this constant sit/stand switchoff throughout the day.) [more inside]
posted by nakedcodemonkey on May 13, 2005 - 7 answers