Struggling with lower back pain? This activity could help
Researchers at the University of Plymouth found that nature provides physical and mental benefits, including stress and anxiety reduction, for individuals with chronic lower back pain.
The study, based on interviews with 10 participants experiencing chronic lower back pain for 5 to 38 years, highlighted the importance of natural features like fresh air and the sound of running water in promoting tranquility.
Experts recommend that people with chronic back pain consider incorporating nature into their coping strategies, while taking precautions such as using proper hiking techniques and equipment.
Researchers suggest making natural spaces more accessible through better paths, seating, and virtual reality innovations to ensure everyone can benefit from nature's therapeutic effects.
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The NFL uses a five-step return-to-play process, including evaluation by an independent neurological consultant. Most high schools cannot afford independent neurologists, relying on athletic trainers, who may lack specialized concussion training, to assess injured players. Technology also plays a role in player safety. Professional teams use helmet impact sensors and analytics to monitor hits. High school programs rarely have access to such technology and rely on visual observation and self-reporting by athletes, who may feel pressure to keep playing. "We know that many changes have been made in sports to address potential head injuries," Niehoff said. "We also know that as we learned more about concussions, the number of reported concussions increased." Some individuals with CTE show increased aggression, but violence is not a universal symptom. Several ex-NFL players, including Jovan Belcher, Irv Cross, Conrad Dobler, Chris Henry, Vincent Jackson, Terry Long, Junior Seau, Demaryius Thomas and Frank Wycheck, were found to have CTE after their deaths. Some faced behavioral or mental health challenges such as dementia and depression following distinguished careers in the violent sport. Long, Seau, and Belcher died by suicide. Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend before taking his own life. Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was convicted of murder and died by suicide in prison at age 27. A posthumous examination revealed severe CTE. "Aggressive behaviour can be part of the syndrome, but it isn't universal and we don't know why some patients develop it and others don't," said Dr. Brent Masel, executive clinical professor of neurology at the University of Texas. "We can't explain where the problem lies in the brain. We're miles away from trying to figure that out," he said. "Just like with Alzheimer's disease, some become aggressive and some don't. Why that happens and whom it happens to, we don't know.' Progress in prevention and treatment has been slow. "We really haven't moved the needle much relative to the prevention of CTE... except we're a little better in treating the symptoms," said Masel. "Not every athlete with a history of contact sports who develops psychiatric issues is going to go on to develop this problem," he said. "The last thing you want is everybody in a panic that their child is going to end up doing something like that," Masel said. "So the most important thing is to reassure the public that the chances of their child ending up doing what Tamura did are slim."
