First Aid for Backs

Don’t let back pain stop you in your tracks.

The Solution – End Back Pain.

It wasn’t until that acute pain “lightning bolt” struck my back one day while working outside that a solution entered my mind.  I realized that prior to this episode I had been feeling increasingly angry and frustrated, and in an instant the physical effort of lifting a piece of wood took me to my knees.  Rather than getting more upset with myself, for some reason, I chose to do something different than I had in the past. Lying quietly on my back, I allowed myself to relax and while breathing into the pain I slowly began to move in small, non-threatening ways.  Something felt so reassuring about this process that I knew it was some sort of breakthrough. I committed to continue with this new breathing and movement plan for three days, and I was astonished by what happened. What would have been weeks of acute pain was GONE in 72 hours.  Since that time, I have employed the same process during each subsequent acute back pain episode. The last time I had a back attack, a couple years ago, the “lightening bolt” struck at 7am and I was walking two miles that same afternoon!

How First Aid for Backs became a method of treatment

I wouldn’t wish back pain on anyone. Before my discovery of the First Aid for Backs process I often had felt as helpless in treating other people with their back pain as I did my own. Now I see my own personal experience with back pain as a great gift and an opportunity to offer new possibilities to people who are suffering as well. I knew what happened on the ground that day wasn’t a fluke and was compelled to first, scientifically explain my successful treatment and second, systemize the process to benefit others. I can now confidently say that both of these things have been achieved in what we call the First Aid for Backs program. This program has further blossomed into an effective system of thinking and moving which has benefited people all over the country.  Construction workers, teachers, desk jockeys, and super moms have all chosen to return to life faster and more completely after acute back pain.”

-Brian Trzaskos, Creator of the First Aid for Backs program

The First Aid for Backs Method

• #1 Pain is Output: Modern neuroscience tells us that our brains actually create an experience of pain based on several factors. Once we understand the factors that our brain uses to create pain we can consciously choose to make changes that result in pain-free, natural movement.
• #2 Abdominal Breathing: The body has two nervous systems. The first is the Somatic nervous system (i.e. brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves), which is controlled by volition, meaning that you can wiggle your toes by thinking about it. The second is the Autonomic nervous system (i.e. Sympathetic, parasympathetic) which is controlled by perception, meaning that when you feel threatened your muscles automatically tense and your heart rate increases. Acute muscle spasm is controlled by the autonomic nervous system and abdominal breathing is the quickest, most efficient way of accessing it to decrease perceptions of threat and restore normal muscle tone.
• #3 Yellow Zone Movement: When your brain perceives threat it creates protective muscle spasms to further restrict movement, and because perceptions aren’t rational it may not make sense to us that something as simple as putting on our socks should be threatening, yet rest assured if you are experiencing pain then indeed your nervous system is feeling threatened. Yellow Zone motion means moving in ranges and patterns, which reassures your brain that you can be trusted, which in turn allows painful muscle spasms to relax.