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Opioids don’t relieve acute low back or neck pain – and can result in worse pain, new study finds

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christine-lin-346821">Christine Lin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-mclachlan-255312">Andrew McLachlan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caitlin-jones-1263090">Caitlin Jones</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-maher-826241">Christopher Maher</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Opioids are the one of the most prescribed pain-relief for people with low back and neck pain. In Australia, around <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-017-5178-4">40% of people</a> with low back and neck pain who present to their GP and <a href="https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/28/10/826">70% of people</a> with low back pain who visit a hospital emergency department are prescribed opioids such as oxycodone. But our <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)00404-X/fulltext">new study</a>, published today in the Lancet medical journal, found opioids do not relieve “acute” low back or neck pain (lasting up to 12 weeks) and can result in worse pain. Prescribing opioids for low back and neck pain can also cause <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/taking-opioid-medicines-safely">harms</a> ranging from common side effects – such as nausea, constipation and dizziness – to <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/opioid-harm-in-australia/summary">misuse, dependency, poisoning and death</a>. Our findings show opioids should not be recommended for acute low back pain or neck pain. A change in prescribing for low back pain and neck pain is urgently needed in <a href="https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/publication/publications/addressing-prescription-opioid-use-and-misuse-australia">Australia</a> and <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/commissions/opioid-crisis">globally</a> to reduce opioid-related harms. <h2>Comparing opioids to a placebo</h2> In our trial, we randomly allocated 347 people with acute low back pain and neck pain to take either an opioid (oxycodone plus naloxone) or <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/placebo-effect">placebo</a> (a tablet that looked the same but had no active ingredients). Oxycodone is an opioid pain medicine which can be given orally. <a href="https://www.nps.org.au/radar/articles/oxycodone-with-naloxone-controlled-release-tablets-targin-for-chronic-severe-pain">Naloxone</a>, an opioid-reversal drug, reduces the severity of constipation while not disrupting the pain relieving effects of oxycodone. Participants took the opioid or placebo for a maximum of six weeks. People in the both groups also received <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1836955321000941">education and advice</a> from their treating doctor. This could be, for example, advice on returning to their normal activities and avoiding bed rest. We assessed their outcomes over a one-year period. <h2>What did we find?</h2> After six weeks of treatment, taking opioids did not result in better pain relief compared to the placebo. Nor were there benefits to other outcomes such as physical function, quality of life, recovery time or work absenteeism. More people in the group treated with opioids experienced nausea, constipation and dizziness than in the placebo group. Results at one year highlight the potential long-term harm of opioids even with short-term use. Compared to the placebo group, people in the opioid group experienced slightly worse pain, and reported a higher risk of <a href="https://academic.oup.com/painmedicine/article/20/1/113/4728236#129780622">opioid misuse</a> (problems with their thinking, mood or behaviour, or using opioids differently from how the medicines were prescribed). More people in the opioid group reported pain at one year: 66 people compared to 50 in the placebo group. <h2>What will this mean for opioid prescribing?</h2> In recent years, international low back pain guidelines have shifted the focus of treatment from drug to non-drug treatment due to <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(18)30489-6/fulltext">evidence</a> of limited treatment benefits and concern of medication-related harm. For acute low back pain, <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-018-5673-2">guidelines</a> recommend patient education and advice, and if required, anti-inflammatory pain medicines such as ibuprofen. Opioids are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00586-018-5673-2">recommended only</a> when other treatments haven’t worked or aren’t appropriate. Guidelines for <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33064878/">neck</a> pain similarly discourage the use of opioids. Our latest research clearly demonstrates the benefits of opioids do not outweigh possible harms in people with acute low back pain and neck pain. Instead of advising opioid use for these conditions in selected circumstances, opioids should be discouraged without qualification. <h2>Change is possible</h2> Complex problems such as opioid use need smart solutions, and another study we recently conducted provides convincing data opioid prescribing can be successfully reduced. The <a href="https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/30/10/825">study</a> involved four hospital emergency departments, 269 clinicians and 4,625 patients with low back pain. The intervention comprised of: <ul> <li>clinician education about <a href="https://aci.health.nsw.gov.au/networks/musculoskeletal/resources/low-back-pain">evidence-based management</a> of low back pain</li> <li>patient education using posters and handouts to highlight the benefits and harms of opioids</li> <li>providing heat packs and anti-inflammatory pain medicines as alternative pain-management treatments</li> <li>fast-tracking referrals to outpatient clinics to avoid long waiting lists</li> <li>audits and feedback to clinicians on information about opioid prescribing rates.</li> </ul> This intervention reduced opioid prescribing from <a href="https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/30/10/825">63% to 51% of low back pain presentations</a>. The <a href="https://emj.bmj.com/content/early/2023/04/02/emermed-2022-212874">reduction was sustained for 30 months</a>. Key to this successful approach is that we worked with clinicians to develop suitable pain-management treatments without opioids that were feasible in their setting. More work is needed to evaluate this and other interventions aimed at reducing opioid prescribing in other settings including GP clinics. A nuanced approach is often necessary to avoid causing <a href="https://theconversation.com/opioid-script-changes-mean-well-but-have-left-some-people-in-chronic-pain-156753">unintended consequences</a> in reducing opioid use. If people with low back pain or neck pain are using opioids, especially at higher doses over an extended period of time, it’s important they seek advice from their doctor or pharmacist before stopping these medicines to avoid <a href="https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/opioid-withdrawal-symptoms">unwanted effects when the medicines are abruptly stopped</a>. Our research provides compelling evidence opioids have a limited role in the management of acute low back and neck pain. The challenge is getting this new information to clinicians and the general public, and to implement this evidence into practice.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203244/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christine-lin-346821">Christine Lin</a>, Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/andrew-mclachlan-255312">Andrew McLachlan</a>, Head of School and Dean of Pharmacy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caitlin-jones-1263090">Caitlin Jones</a>, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Musculoskeletal Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-maher-826241">Christopher Maher</a>, Professor, Sydney School of Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/opioids-dont-relieve-acute-low-back-or-neck-pain-and-can-result-in-worse-pain-new-study-finds-203244">original article</a>.

Body

17th-century Polish ‘vampire’ found buried with sickle across neck

The remains of a woman found in a 17th-century graveyard in Poland are believed to be an example of an ‘anti-vampire’ burial after a sickle was also found placed across her neck to prevent her from rising from the dead. Dariusz Poliński, a professor at Nicholas Copernicus University, led the archaeological dig where the remains were uncovered, with the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11173505/Remains-VAMPIRE-pinned-ground-sickle-throat-Poland.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a> reporting that the skeleton was found wearing a silk cap and with a protruding front tooth. “The sickle was not laid flat but placed on the neck in such a way that if the deceased had tried to get up… the head would have been cut off,” Professor Poliński told the outlet. According to the <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/17th-century-poland-vampires-werent-boogeymen-out-town-girl-or-boy-next-door-180953476/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Smithsonian</a> magazine, Eastern Europeans reported fears of vampires and began treating their dead with anti-vampire rituals during the 11th century. By the 17th century, these practices were common across Poland in response to reports of a vampire outbreak, per <a href="https://www.sciencealert.com/research-reveals-the-origin-of-poland-s-mysterious-vampires" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ScienceAlert</a>. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/09/skeleton-lady1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> The skeletal remains, pictured from above. Image: Łukasz Czyżewski, NCU Professor Poliński told the New York Post that there were other forms of protection to prevent vampires from returning from the dead, including cutting off limbs and using fire. “Other ways to protect against the return of the dead include cutting off the head or legs, placing the deceased face down to bite into the ground, burning them, and smashing them with a stone,” he said. The skeleton’s toe was also padlocked, which Professor Poliński said likely symbolised “the closing of a stage and the impossibility of returning”. This isn’t the first time a ‘vampire’ has been discovered by archaeologists either. Matteo Borrini, a lecturer at Liverpool John Moore University, discovered the remains of a woman who died in the 16th century and was buried with a stone in her mouth in a mass grave with plague victims. He explained that outbreaks of ‘vampires’ were often associated with periods where people were dying from unknown causes at the time - such as pandemics or mass poisoning. “These ‘vampires’ start to hunt and kill family members first, then the neighbours, and then all the other villages,” he said. “This is the classical pattern of a disease that is contagious.” The most recent ‘vampire’ remains, which were dug up in August, are being further investigated by scientists. Image: Mirosław Blicharski

International Travel

Woman avoids baggage fees with genius neck pillow hack

While many travellers love to take advantage of cheap airline seats, the deals often come hand in hand with hefty baggage fees. One savvy TikTok user has devised a unique way to avoid the extra charges for luggage, using a travel neck pillow. The traveller, who shares videos under the name @anayotothe on TikTok, uses the cheap neck pillow as a secret carry-on bag to get out of those pesky extra fees. "Trying the Spirit and Frontier pillow hack cuz I ain't tryna pay $60 for a carry on," the woman wrote on the video, referencing two American airlines. She captioned the video, “My flight is in three hours let’s see how this goes!” The woman picked up the travel pillow for just $9 from the US supermarket Walgreens, and proceeded to take the pillow stuffing out of the case. She then stuffed all the clothes that wouldn’t fit in her backpack into the pillowcase, which could still be used to stay comfortable during her flight. "Everything fits except for this shirt!" the woman exclaimed, while showing followers her clever technique. After sharing the video with her followers, the woman later confirmed that she boarded her flight successfully with her hidden carry-on luggage. "On the way to Vegas and the way back, I didn't have to pay, with my travel pillow and my backpack," she said. While dozens of people commented to thank the savvy traveller for the tip, others also questioned if it was worth it to save money. When questioned about her methods, the woman responded, "It took five minutes, also it was an hour flight… there was no reason I should pay $300 for a flight if you can just take one of the budget airlines." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

Wild elk finally gets tyre removed from around its neck after two years

A wild elk in Colorado is free after a years-long ordeal to remove a rubber tyre from around its neck. Wildlife officers were <a rel="noopener" href="https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/News-Release-Details.aspx?NewsID=7971" target="_blank">able to free it</a> over the weekend after local residents alerted them to the creature’s location. The elk was a four-and-a-half year-old male weighing over 600 pounds, or over 270 kilograms. He had spent the past few years travelling between neighbouring counties, disappearing for long periods of time, particularly in the winter, and acting normally for a wild animal, not wanting to be around humans. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> The saga of the bull elk with a tire around its neck is over. Thanks to the residents just south of Pine Junction on CR 126 for reporting its location, wildlife officers were able to free it of that tire Saturday. Story: <a href="https://t.co/WHfkfPuAck">https://t.co/WHfkfPuAck</a> 📸's courtesy of Pat Hemstreet <a href="https://t.co/OcnceuZrpk">pic.twitter.com/OcnceuZrpk</a> — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPW_NE/status/1447601850878812161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2021</a></blockquote> Wildlife officers were first alerted to the elk’s plight in June 2019. While conducting a population survey for bighorn sheep and mountain goats, an officer saw the bull through a spotting scope. Wildlife officer Scott Murdoch said, “Being up in the wilderness, we didn’t really expect to be able to get our hands on the elk just because of the proximity or the distance away from civilization. “It is harder to get the further they are back in there and usually the further these elk are away from people, the wilder they act. That certainly played true the last couple of years, this elk was difficult to find, and harder to get close to.” In the past week alone, officers had made four attempts to try and tranquilise the animal. They were finally successful on Saturday evening, after wildlife officer Dawson Swanson found the elk amongst a larger group, and managed to tranquilise it, after which officer Murdoch arrived to aid in the removal of the tyre. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Why we cut the antlers off & not the tire: 1⃣ We tried, sawzall was slow going thru steel in the bead of the tire 2⃣ The animal was under anesthesia, time was limited 3⃣ Does not harm the elk, will grow back next year 4⃣ Reduces the chance the bull would be harvested this year <a href="https://t.co/C24rgd5krs">pic.twitter.com/C24rgd5krs</a> — CPW NE Region (@CPW_NE) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPW_NE/status/1448023318590672896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2021</a></blockquote> Of the removal process, Murdoch said, “It was tight removing it,” even after cutting its antlers off. “It was not easy for sure, we had to move it just right to get it off because we weren’t able to cut the steel in the bead of the tire. Fortunately, the bull’s neck still had a little room to move. “We would have preferred to cut the tire and leave the antlers for his rutting activity, but the situation was dynamic and we had to just get the tire off in any way possible.” Once the tyre had been removed, the officers were surprised to see that the elk’s neck was in relatively good condition. “The hair was rubbed off a little bit, there was one small open wound maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, but other than that it looked really good,” Murdoch said. “I was actually quite shocked to see how good it looked.” <div> <div class="reply-list-component"> <div class="reply-component"> <div class="reply-body-component"> <div class="reply_body body linkify"> <div class="reply-body-wrapper"> <div class="reply-body-inner"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife, "the elk would have gotten the tyre around its antlers either when it was very young, before it had antlers, or during the winter when it shed its antlers. It could have been a big stack of tires that the elk stuck its head in." </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Removing its antlers does not hurt the elk, as they will grow back next year. Image: Twitter/@CPW_NE

Travel Trouble

Woman necks bottle of red wine behind the wheel before smash

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> A Gold Coast man has apologised after sharing shocking footage of a woman drinking a bottle of wine in the driver's seat of her car. “She actually pulled out a full bottle of wine, sat back and drank the entire bottle in one go,” Sam Mangan, who took the video, told 9 News Gold Coast. “It was unbelievable.” Soon after the video was taken, the woman allegedly caused a three-car pile up and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.276, more than five times the legal limit. People were quick to slam the footage, saying people had no idea what she was going through. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLbR_lIHybI/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by SAM MANGAN (@sammangan)</a> </div> </blockquote> “Ever asked what she was going through and what drove her to do that?” Asked one person. “You posted about her without knowing any history … agreed she should not be drunk driving [but] you know nothing of what that woman has gone through that day,” the person said of the video, in which Mr Mangan doesn’t identify the woman or show her face. Despite Mangan initially saying that he didn't agree with the critics, he has changed his tune. “If you’re going to drink enough to (allegedly) be five-and-a-half times the legal limit and get behind the wheel of a car it becomes anyone’s business that’s going to stop you,” Mr Mangan said. “If you’re stupid enough to drink drive you deserve to be caught.” He later posted the video footage on his Instagram, saying that he was glad "this all ended with no one getting hurt". </div> </div> </div>

News

The potato trick to help get rid of neck pain and migraines

An expert has revealed an unlikely item that serves to relieve neck pain and migraines. Those dealing with neck stiffness could use humble potatoes to treat themselves, said Stephen Makinde, the clinical director of Perfect Balance Clinic in London. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of clients with neck problems and migraines associated with neck stiffness since the start of the coronavirus lockdown,” Makinde told the <a href="https://www.dailystar.co.uk/health/bizarre-baking-potato-trick-could-22096583">Daily Star</a>. The problem could be attributed to increased use of electronic devices during the pandemic, which affects the upper back, he said. “If you are looking down, which you do when working on a laptop, what tends to happen is the head starts to hang forward and that puts a lot of strain on the upper back,” he said. “This can often cause a burning sensation in the trapezius muscles and affects other muscles in the neck, the spine and the nerves.” Makinde said lying down with tennis balls placed underneath the back of the head can help loosen muscles, release tension and help “reset the neck position”. “Tennis balls are really useful for this, but most people don’t have tennis balls at home,” he said. “So baking potatoes work well, too. You just sellotape them together and lie down flat, with the potatoes placed underneath the back of your head. “This is a really easy and useful thing people can do at home to release their neck tension and the pressure around there themselves.” In an interview with <a href="https://7news.com.au/sunrise/on-the-show/coronavirus-australia-how-to-prevent-back-and-neck-pain-when-working-from-home-c-1059473">Sunrise</a>, Australian Chiropractors Association President Dr Anthony Coxon also recommended getting up and moving every half an hour as well as increasing the height of the screens we are using.

Body

Research has revealed that technology is a literal pain in the neck

Researchers have revealed that technology is changing the bones in our necks and skulls, which is setting people up for a lifetime of pain. This comes from device overuse, as it can cause posture problems. Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast have found something unusual that tends to go unnoticed. They used a sample of more than 1,200 people aged between 18 and 30. They discovered that 41 percent of the participants had grown a bony lump on the back of their skull. The horn-like spurs were between 10 to 30 millimetres thick. “We suspect the reason for this bone spur formation is because they carry their head forward,” University of the Sunshine Coast’s David Shahar said to <a href="https://thewest.com.au/news/health/researchers-reveal-technology-is-proving-a-pain-in-the-neck-ng-b881234805z">The West.</a> The sustained stress on the skull is creating bone de-position which usually takes years. The simple solution? Lift your head. “Bringing the weight of the head back to rest on the bones and not on the muscles,” Dr Shahar said.

Technology

Australian cricket legend Matthew Hayden rushed to hospital after freak accident

Former Australian Test cricketer Matthew Hayden was rushed to hospital after a nasty surfing accident last week, which caused the fracturing of his neck and head lacerations. In a post on his Instagram account, the former opening batsman was almost unrecognisable due to his injuries, as he lay pictured in a neck brace, and revealing his neck and head injuries, as well as a black eye. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/BooQT4wgIz4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BooQT4wgIz4/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank">Ok. Last attention seeking post I promise. Just wanted to say a big thank you to all our mates on Straddie who have been so supportive.✅🏄🏽‍♂️🙏 Especially Ben & Sue Kelley for the fast diagnosis with MRI, CT scan. Fractured C6, torn C5,C4 ligaments safe to say I truly have dodged a bullet. Thank you everyone ❤️ On the road to recovery 🏄🏽‍♂️🎣</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/haydos359/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_medium=loading" target="_blank"> Matthew Hayden</a> (@haydos359) on Oct 7, 2018 at 3:44am PDT </div> </blockquote> Hayden said he had hit his head on a sandbank while surfing with his son Josh on a family holiday in Stradbroke Island in Queensland on Friday. “Took on Straddie back bank yesterday with @josh_hayden28 and lost!!! Game over for a few days,” he wrote. The cricket legend acknowledged he “truly dodged a bullet” with the freak accident, referring to a brush with breaking his neck, and thanked everyone who had come to his rescue. “Ok. Last attention seeking post I promise. Just wanted to say a big thank you to all our mates on Straddie who have been so supportive,” he wrote. “Especially Ben & Sue Kelley for the fast diagnosis with MRI, CT scan. Fractured C6, torn C5, C4 ligaments. Safe to say I truly have dodged a bullet. Thank you everyone. On the road to recovery.” During his 15-year cricket career, <a rel="noopener" href="http://www.matthewhayden.com/the-cricketer/" target="_blank">Hayden </a>racked up 103 matches, 8600 runs and 30 centuries in Test cricket. He retired from Test cricket in 2009.

Caring

Gentle yoga moves to help ease neck and shoulder tension

Tracy Adshead is a yoga teacher specialising in yoga for seniors. She is passionate about bringing healing and healthy ageing to the community. This is a gentle yoga practice for improving neck, upper back and shoulder mobility and for relieving mental tension that sometimes causes shoulder discomfort. It should be practiced from a seated position. Move slowly with awareness. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/N1i0OcG52Ro" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> Follow Tracy on Facebook <a href="http://www.oversixty.com.au/%20https:/www.facebook.com/TracyChairYoga/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf">here</a>.

Body

4 ways to reduce the signs of ageing on your neck

If you’re like many of us, you seen a lot of time using beauty products on your face. But what about the skin exposed just a few centimetres below the face? The neck is just as visible as the face, yet it is often very much neglected in the beauty routines of women around the world. Try these simple tips to keep the skin on your neck in good shape (to match your gorgeous face). 1. Use your cleansers, moisturiser and anti-ageing creams on your neck Don’t stop your creams and cleansers at your jaw line; go all the way down to your neck, where the skin is thinner and more prone to showing the signs of ageing. 2. Choose natural fibres for jumpers and scarves If you’re wrapping up with a scarf or wearing a jumper that goes onto your neck, be sure to avoid synthetic fibres that can irritate the sensitive skin there. They’re also more likely to pull moisture from the skin if they’re not natural wool or cotton. 3. Keep perfume to a minimum There’s no need to just spray your fragrance on the neck area only, as this can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight. Instead, dab a little perfume on the neck, wrists and behind the ears where it’s less likely to cause issue. 4. Avoid irritants like sun and cigarette smoke Skin damage from the sun can quickly age you, and smoking can cause more wrinkles on the face and neck. Be sure to cover up with a good quality sunscreen on your face and neck, and steer clear of smoke if at all possible. Have you got any further advice that we might have missed that you’d like to share in the comments?

Beauty & Style

This might be Australia’s most remarkable natural formation

Visit one of Australia’s most remarkable natural formations. What is it? Eaglehawk Neck Tessellated Pavement in Tasmania is one of the world’s most spectacular geological phenomena. A tessellated pavement is an incredibly rare rock formation that is only found in a few places on earth. Over thousands of years, a section of flat sedimentary rock that sits close to the ocean gets broken up into a series of regular blocks through cracking and erosion. There are two potential results: a series of small rectangular pools that fill and empty with the tides or rounded rocks that bulge upwards in a ‘loaf’ formation. Though it looks manmade, the formations are entirely natural. The rock comes to resemble a traditional Roman mosaic floor, which is where the name ‘tessellated pavement’ comes from. Where is it? Eaglehawk Neck is the thin strip of land that separated the Tasman Peninsula to the Forestier Peninsula, on the southeast coast of the island of Tasmania. It is around 400 metres long and 30 metres wide. The Port Arthur prison was opened on the Tasman Peninsula in the 1830s and the narrow isthmus formed a natural barrier to prevent convicts escaping to the main island. To add an extra degree of difficulty, the entrance to the peninsula was guarded by a line of fearsome dogs chained together. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3W8nS0wyQzs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> How can I visit? The Tessellated Pavement is a one-hour drive from Hobart along a pretty coastal route. You can stop at the lookout on the sea cliffs above to get a birds’ eye view of the entire formation. At low tide, you can walk across the rocks and out to Clydes Island. The rocks can be uneven and slippery, so take care and wear appropriate footwear. Have you ever visited this incredible attraction?

International Travel

Three yoga exercises to relieve neck and shoulder stress

Tracy Adshead is a yoga teacher specialising in yoga for seniors. She is passionate about bringing healing and healthy ageing to the community. Try letting your shoulders drop or settle now into their most comfortable position, take them back and down a little. It isn’t too difficult to do for the moment but to maintain this position unconsciously in our daily lives is another matter. We raise our shoulders unnaturally when on the computer, when we’re shocked by a loud noise or when we feel stressed. All your muscles are all linked together, firing together, supporting each other. However, if one muscle group is being overused then discomfort (and possibly pain) will soon follow. It only takes a slight but frequent rising of the shoulders to create enough tension to throw the nervous system out of balance, producing anxiety, stiff necks or headaches. An excellent way to start managing stress is to use these three yoga practices for necks and shoulders along with deep breathing. Practiced daily they will signal the muscles to release and to relax. Yoga postures should be practiced slowly and gently, with awareness, ideally synchronized with the breath. They should not be practiced absent-mindedly as you may hurt yourself. If you encounter any discomfort or pain stop immediately. For the shoulders Sitting on a sturdy straight backed chair, lengthen your spine by lifting the crown of the head up towards the ceiling. Take the shoulders back and down a little. Hold this posture. As you inhale lift the shoulders up towards the ears, hold the shoulders here and hold the breath. Count to four. Now slowly exhale, counting to eight, while relaxing the shoulders down. Repeat four more times. <img width="498" height="665" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22875/for-the-shoulders_498x665.jpg" alt="For The Shoulders (1)"/> For the neck Note: For anyone with whiplash or neck injuries, take extreme caution in approaching any new exercises. Lift your chin and look up as you inhale, exhale relax your chin down towards your chest. Repeat twice more. Bring your head back to a neutral position; begin to move your chin around in small circles so that you are literally just moving your skull around at the top of your spine. Make it relaxing and easy. When you have gone seven to ten times in one direction, pause, and reverse the movement for the same number of rotations. Over time, when it feels comfortable, you may find that you can increase the size of the circles you are making with your chin. For the neck and shoulders Place your fingertips on to your shoulders, inhale, as you exhale drop your chin towards your chin and bring the elbows towards each other, possibly touching them together in front of your chest. Feel the shoulder blades behind separating. Inhale, take to elbows wide out to the side and lift your chin to look up. Press the shoulder blades together behind as you gently press the elbows back. Repeat this three to five times. <img width="500" height="333" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/22873/neck_500x333.jpg" alt="Neck"/> Awareness improves as time goes on The key is to keep doing these practices regularly; you will eventually become aware of emotions or situations that trigger feelings of tension and be able to consciously relax, letting the tension go before it builds up. Where do you find you hold the most tension, neck or shoulders? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/health/body/2016/05/how-to-improve-your-balance-with-yoga/">How to improve your balance with yoga</a> <a href="/news/news/2016/02/yoga-to-relieve-still-muscles-and-joints/">Gentle yoga moves you can do in bed</a> <a href="/health/body/2016/02/reasons-to-give-yoga-a-chance/">10 reasons to give yoga chance</a>

Body

Fashion tips for flattering the neck

Josephine Lalwan is the owner of fashion blog <a href="http://www.chicatanyage.com/" target="_blank">Chic at any age</a>, a fashion resource for women over 50 who want to learn more about style, fashion and what will suit them as mature women. I recently discovered the series Grace and Frankie on Netflix. It can be little over the top, but quite fun to watch on an evening when there is nothing inspiring on terrestrial TV. Jane Fonda, who plays the character of Grace, portrays a chic and elegant style in my opinion. At times a little too classic for my taste but overall I like her look, especially the knitwear. One aspect that particularly got my attention was how she continually wore her shirt collars up. I began to realise that this “trick” gave a flattering frame to the face. You would need to have a reasonable long neck for this to work for you. I do, so it seems to suit me. I have even started using it for some of my jackets. Scroll through the gallery above to see some more examples of how Jane pulls of this look. Have you been taking note of the fashions on “Grace and Frankie”? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/5-tips-for-creating-the-perfect-wardrobe/">5 tips for creating the perfect wardrobe</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/ways-to-use-vaseline-in-your-beauty-routine/">6 surprising ways to use Vaseline in your beauty routine</a> <a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/04/things-to-do-with-shampoo/">9 surprising things you can do with shampoo</a>

Beauty & Style

Why does this Chihuahua end the day with a neck massage?

It’s been a hard day for one little Chihuahua. So much so that he throws all his responsibilities out the window to kick back, enjoy a neck massage and read the paper. Well, not quite but it sure looks like it doesn’t it! Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/07/baby-owl-sheriff/">Sheriff catches too-cute baby owl on video</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/07/97-year-old-worker/">97-year-old man refuses to retire </a> <a href="/news/news/2015/07/worlds-most-popular-books/">World’s most popular books revealed</a>

News

“iPad neck”: Why tablets can be really bad for your neck

They’re as popular as ever but tablets could be wreaking havoc with our necks.A new study has found that devices such as iPads and tablets put three times as much strain on our neck muscles than desktop computers. Neck problems can in turn cause back pain and other problems, experts have warned.After conducting a study of 33 university students and staff, researchers found the tablet increased demand on neck muscles by three to five times more than a neutral position. They noted it was the position of the tablet, rather than what it was being use for, that was the problem. Having the tablet flat or on a lap was found to have the same effect as when the tablet was propped up.The authors concluded: “Our findings are important for developing ergonomics guidelines for tablet computer use.”Previous research has shown that bending the head at a 60 degree angle to look at a smartphone screen puts 27 kilograms worth of pressure on the cervical spine.Sammy Margo, spokeswoman for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said the research confirms what physios have long known.“Using a tablet for prolonged periods of time is not ideal especially if placed flat on your lap. This means your neck muscles are stretched if your head is heading towards your chest position. Using a docking station or desk top set up is better, because you are facing forwards instead of downwards,” she said. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/03/reading-tablet-in-bed-harmful/" target="_blank">You’ll think twice before using your tablet in bed after reading this</a><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/02/how-to-clean-electronic-devices/" target="_blank">Do you clean your phone and other devices? Here’s why you should do it.</a><a href="/lifestyle/technology/2015/02/phone-charging-tips/" target="_blank">Phone charging tips for when you’re short on time</a>

News

Ease neck pain in four simple steps

While a niggling pain or knot in any muscle in the body is a bother, it's especially frustrating when it’s in the neck because things we take for granted – such as turning your head or looking up – become an arduous task. Getting a massage or sitting in the sauna can both be great pain reducers and help you on the road to recovery, chances are that from time to time it’s not that simple to book in for a massage or get to a sauna.There’s good news, however, there are some things you can do yourself to help knead away neck pain. Here are four simple steps to help you say goodbye to neck pain!Step 1: Locate the painful spot. For a spot on your right side, use your right hand and vice versa for your left. Of course, if the area is very sore, or it’s swollen or hot to touch, it’s a good idea to get it looked at by your healthcare practitioner. Step 2: Begin by pushing into the knot with your fingers, using firm pressure. While it’s likely there will be some discomfort when you begin, it should be tolerable.Step 3: Gently turn your head in the opposite direction of the pain. Next, bend it diagonally – almost as if you were trying to touch your armpit with your chin. Working the muscle while apply a little pressure can help to relax the kink.Step 4: You’ll want to repeat all steps from anywhere from three to 20 times. Afterward, give your neck and upper back a nice, long, stretch. For best results, repeat this throughout the day to keep your muscle relaxed and try these exercises to beat back pain.As with any exercise, it’s important to listen to the signals your body gives you, and not push the stretch further than is comfortable. If the pain doesn’t respond to gentle stretching, or it’s been there for some time, it’s naturally a good idea to get it checked out by a healthcare practitioner.

Body

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