There he got to help test participants’ balance and grip strength. The tests were part of an interactive display developed by the NASS Exercise Committee to demonstrate how functional tests like these can be used to objectively assess patients with back and neck pain.

Pain can be highly subjective and clinicians strive to use objective measures in order to understand how to best treat their patients. The results can also be used as bench marks to show improvement. As decreased balance has been associated with chronic low back pain and decreased grip strength has been associated with chronic neck pain, these are two useful tests.

Balance was tested by timing participants for up to 30 seconds as they stood on one foot with their arms crossed over their chest. Participants were graded based on how many seconds they could remain on one foot. If they could stand the whole 30 seconds they were then asked to repeat the test with their eyes closed.

Grip strength was tested using a hand held dynomometer. This is a portable hand-held device that can measure strength in Newtons, pounds, or kilograms. The test is performed with the elbow bent to 90 degrees and held close to the body. The results can then be compared to established norms.

Evan says, “People learned a little something new and had a lot of fun trying to out do each other.  We even gave out prizes.”

Learn more about the 2011 annual meeting of the North American Spine Society. 

Take this quiz to find out.

1. Would your mother tell you to sit up straight if she saw you working on your laptop?

2. Do you communicate with your friends from your laptop more than in real life?

3. Do your neck and shoulders ache?

4. Do you find time disappears when you are on your laptop?

5. Does your laptop travel with you most places?

6. Do you read the news on your laptop more than in the paper?

7. Do you get crumbs on your laptop keyboard?

8.  Do you get headaches if you work at your laptop too long?

9.  Do you have tingling in your fingers sometimes?

10. Are you reading this article on your laptop right now?

If you answered yes to five or more of these questions you may be a laptop slouch potato.  Not to worry though, the Spine Center has some great tips for you.

Laptop at home or in your Office.

Get a cheap external keyboad and mouse so that you can set your laptop up on books or a laptop holder so the screen is at eye level.  Follow the same principles of ergonomics as at a regular computer station. That is feet on the floor, elbows supported, wrists straight and top of the screen at eye level.

OSHA recommends sitting in a recliner or chair that will lean back while working with your laptop on your lap.  This way your eyes will be closer to the height of your screen, and your back and arms are supported.

Laptop in a Coffee Shop

Many of us use our laptops out of the home or office (that is why we have laptops) and can’t be as ergonomic. Here are a couple of tips for when you use your laptop in a coffee shop, for example.

Zoom in so you don’t have to lean in too close to see what is on the screen.  If you are using a PC hit the Control key and the + key at the same time.  On a Mac hit the open-apple/command key next to the space bar and the + key at the same time.

Tip the screen away from you and sit on the edge of your chair then as you look up and over at the screen your back will be much straighter.

Put your bag or a book under the back of your laptop on the table so it is tipped up then lean back in your chair.

Having said all that, no matter where you work on your laptop, one of the best things you can do is to take breaks. It is the endless working in a bad position that leads to more problems than anything.  So, get up and get a glass of water, stretch, or better yet go out and get some exercise.

See the Spine Center’s Posture and Computer Station Tips and Helpful Exercises for your Back

The Pain Center team also has specialized expertise in the treatment and management of a range of other syndromes including anesthesia dolorosa, headache, hemicrania continua, intercostal neuralgia, low back pain, neck pain, occipital neuralgia, pelvic pain, postherpetic neuralgia, and trigeminal neuralgia.

Led by Dr. Christopher Winfree, the Pain Center is a multidisciplinary entity. This allows professionals from diverse fields to bring their abilities to bear upon the needs of each individual patient. For example, many chronic pain conditions are actually caused by peripheral nerve injuries [Peripheral Nerve Center]. Thus, the combination of peripheral nerve and pain neurosurgical techniques allows for the optimal management of these disorders.