[notheguyouthink]

I think we as humans really need to learn a line between medical treatments and help-your-self. Medicine is dolled out far too easily, when as you mentioned, activity that our body is meant to do is so much more effective.

The simply things in life like exercise are so amazing for us. At work I have back problems, yet they completely go away as long as I keep my core in check. I did this by simply buying a pull up bar for easy upper body workouts and almost like magic, the pain is gone. As an aside, physical activity (mild lifting weights, and pull-ups) also seems to stay off repetitive elbow pain I was having from computers too.

We're simply machines being used wrong and seeking incorrect fixes. Medicine is obviously needed in many cases - running won't fix everything.. but I wish doctors would be harder on people. We know what helps, we know what fixes things. Doctors seem almost to be enablers, more than anything. Almost to a harmful degree..

[joshmarlow]

I'll add my own anecdote here. I'd been having arm/shoulder aches for several years due to typing/mousing and when I started indoor rock climbing, it basically entirely disappeared. I'm assuming stretching/strengthening other arm muscles is what addressed it.

[overcast]

I always tell people to do pushups. It's the simplest exercise to do just about anywhere with your height in floor space. I guarantee that will clear up 99% of your back issues, especially those from excess time spent in a computer chair. Every hour or so, get up, bang out 10-20 pushups. You'll be amazed.