Back care instructions (cont)

- Parents of small children must be very careful to not bend from the back but bend from the knees when lifting any child from the bed or floor.

- You must have a good, firm mattress to sleep on, with no lumps or sags, as one-third of your life is spent in bed.

- Never sleep on your stomach. Sleep on your back or side instead. When on your back, lie flat
with a pillow under your head and neck, as well as a pillow under your knees. Do not sleep with
more than one pillow under your head. Your neck should not be pushed up so that your chin
moves down toward your chest. A pillow should support your neck according to its natural
curve, allowing your head to rest in a neutral position.

- When you sleep on your side, support the head and neck so your spine will remain in a straight
line as you are viewed from the front. Your legs should be at a 30- to 45-degree angle and not
drawn up in a knot. You may feel more comfortable with a pillow between your knees to keep
your pelvis from being tilted.

- Do not use a regular foam pillow. A shaped, cervical pillow or a feather pillow is best.

- Do not rest on a couch with your head propped on the arm rest.

- No reading in bed--neither propped on your elbows, nor lying flat.

- In ordinary cases, do not do any excessive lifting (over 15-20 lbs.) during the first 4-6 weeks of
treatment.

Back care instructions page one

YOUR COOPERATION IS IMPORTANT AS WE CARE FOR YOUR SPINE !