Excess Weight Leads to Spine Disc Degeneration, Study Concludes

Overweight and obese adults are more likely than normal weight adults to have degenerated discs in the lower spine, according to a study published Jan. 30, 2012, in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism.

The authors recruited 2,599 adults from Southern China between 2001 and 2009. Their ages were 21 and older. Some had back [...]

Yoga’s Dark Side

Many turn to yoga as a way to maintain good health, stretch muscles and quiet the mind. But an article published January 5, 2012, in New York Times’ magazine questions whether yoga is for everyone—suggesting that some yoga poses might be dangerous for even devoted yogis.

Journalist William J. Broad reports on the views [...]

Low vitamin D Levels before Spine Surgery Could Slow Recovery, New Study Suggests

A new study suggests that not only are low vitamin D levels common among people about to undergo spinal surgery, but also having low levels of this vitamin that helps with calcium absorption could hinder patients’ recoveries after surgery.

Researchers, who presented their findings November 3, 2011 at the 26th Annual Meeting of the [...]

Study Looks at What Can Go Wrong after Spine Surgery

A study published September 7, 2011 in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery looks at a database of back surgery patients to identify complications from surgery and risk factors for those complications. This is great information for people who are thinking about having back surgery. It not only reveals what could go wrong, but also offers insight about how to avoid spine surgery complications. [...]