Using the Mind-Body Connection to Reduce Chronic Back Pain

Kumuena Tekasala most recently served as an occupational therapist for Canadian public school students with disabilities and other challenges. To enhance his skills, Kumuena Tekasala keeps up with techniques to manage long-standing pain.

A recent study showed that non-physical interventions can reduce chronic back pain. The researchers compared results with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and traditional physical therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to increase happiness and solve problems by changing unproductive thoughts, actions, and feelings, and has been applied to numerous psychological disorders. MBSR alleviates stress by building awareness of the present moment through meditation and yoga.

The researchers asked men and women aged 50 to 70 with years of back pain to receive CBT, practice MBSR, or try physical therapies (when necessary) for 26 weeks. Most of the study's 342 subjects were women.

When asked to describe their experiences at the end of the study, more people who used CBT or MBSR reported less pain and better function, compared to those who used conventional methods. However, 26 months later only the MBSR group reported continued reduced pain.

The Difference Between Soccer Match and Training Balls

Kumuena Tekasala, an occupational therapist based in Winnipeg, Canada, most recently served at River East Transcona School Division and Riverview Health Centre. Outside of work, Kumuena Tekasala enjoys an active lifestyle and is fond of playing soccer.

In soccer, there are two main types of balls that you should know about - training and match balls. Soccer training balls are designed to be used every single day as part of individual or team training. Due to their repeated use, most training soccer balls are very durable and are made from medium to high-quality materials. This not only helps them last through extended play, it also helps them stand up well to being kicked against a wall.

Match soccer balls, on the other hand, are high in quality, but the construction techniques and materials used to make them don’t promote a long life. For example, they are hand-stitched instead of machine-stitched or molded, and they feature a thicker foam layer underneath the outer PU cover, making them softer to the touch. Because of this shorter life, match balls are generally reserved for use in official matches only.

Since match balls are used in official matches, they must adhere to certain criteria laid out by various soccer organizations. They also cost more, on average, and may range in price from $60 to $120. Training balls typically cost from $20 to $80.