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Simon Stefanos & Pravin Philip

Simon Stefanos is the ebullient owner of Relax The Back,which is the largest retail reseller in the country selling therapeutic products to prevent and relief back and neck pain.

Back health is an issue that progressive HR Managers support

Backing up to Success in NJ Business
Why caring for your back is one of the best investments you can make

Simon Stephanos, is the owner of Relax the Back, the ultimate "back to the future store." He is passionate about preventing back problems among NJ business people. Just watching him talk to a customer is a special experience. The time and effort he takes to understand the needs of his clients is truly unusual. Being in the business of back health, he espcially understands how important it is for the business community to prevent problems of the back.

According to the National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal diseases about one-fourth of U.S. adults experience at least 1 day of back pain every three months. It is one of our society’s most common medical problems. This is not surprising considering that most people spend an average of 8 hours sleeping on their backs and a further 8 hours sitting at their desks.

This is why progressive HR Managers and business owners often invest in the right chairs for their employees (especially senior executives). Some companies also negotiate special demos of and discounts for a wide variety of products and services designed to prevent back problems. These in addition to quality chairs, include Tempur-Pedic mattresses, cushions, lumbar supports and many more innovative and useful products that are now emerging.

Many individuals or corporate employees also forget that given the amount of time they engage their backs each day, investing in the right bed or chair can actually save money.

Here are some statistics published by the Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal diseases

The costs of low-back pain vary by provider specialty, patient race, and nationality.
-    Five percent of Americans miss at least 1 day of work annually because of low-back pain.

-    Over 80 percent of workers who report an episode of low-back pain return to work within 1 month, 90 percent return by 3 months, and 5 percent never return.

-    By the time a worker has been out of work for 6 months, the likelihood of ever returning to work drops to 50 percent. And by the time a worker has been out of work for 1 year, the likelihood of ever returning to work drops to 25 percent.

There are various products that can make a big difference in back health. Those who plan on purchasing one or more of these products should go to a specialty store such as Relax The Back, the largest specialty retail store for therapeutic products and staffed with knowledgeable Spinal Health product specialists. The buyer can ask questions, try various products and be custom fitted for exactly the right product. Purchasing discount products of questionable origin could be a waste of money because it could be the wrong type of product or have substandard quality.

There are so many innovative and helpful products that support the back that it makes sense to actually visit a specialty store when buyers can browse and learn more about the products that could protect their back health and in so doing transform their lives for the better. Here below are a sampling of products designed to support your back and protect it.

Tempur-Pedic Mattresses and Pillows: the core material is TEMPUR, a material unlike any other memory material used in other sleep systems. The TEMPUR material conforms to an individual’s unique shape and distributes pressure evenly, anatomically supporting the neck and the spine. Furthermore, adjustable base equipped beds allow patients to sit up or lie back in bed and elevate legs for improved blood circulation

Zero gravity recliners: One of the greatest contributing factors to neck and back pain is the position of the body when sitting, sleeping and reclining. To prevent neck and back pain, the spine must be properly positioned and supported and zero gravity recliners do just that. They come in a variety of sizes, manual or electric powered for custom fit.

Ergonomic office chairs: These have various features to meet specific needs. Ergonomic is the science of fitting the work environment to the worker. This leads to increased productivity; fewer lost work days, and improved comfort. Related products that are often considered are computer accessories and workstations.

In-home massage equipment: These can help maintain spinal health, relieve stress, improve blood circulation, and increase oxygen supply and nutrients to the blood vessels. Available products include Calf and foot massagers, hand held massagers, massage bed and massage recliners such as the prestigious INADA family’s Sogno + massager.

Spinal support products can reduce the strain of awkward posture and vehicle vibration. In this category, corporate executives and professional drivers opt for various Lumbar supports for the car while driving, at home and in the office; Also popular are cervical supports for the neck, seat supports and other specialized supports.

Last but not least here are also a variety of fitness tools, such as inversion tables, exercise Balls, neck and Shoulder relaxers and lumbar extenders

What Are the Risk Factors for Back Pain?

Risk for issues of the back rises dramatically for:
- People who have occupational risk factors such as having a job that requires heavy lifting, pushing, or pulling, An inactive job or a desk job may also lead to pain, especially if you have poor posture or sit all day in an uncomfortable chair.
- People between the ages of 30 and 40. Also back issues are more common with age.
- Those who are not fit. Such individuals are more likely to have back issues.
- "Weekend warriors”—who exercise a lot after being inactive all week—
- People who eat a diet high in calories and fat, combined with an inactive lifestyle, which can lead to obesity, & hence back pain

There are many other risk factors as well. For example, even smoking may lead to pain by blocking your body’s ability to deliver nutrients to the disks of the lower back.

Given the incidence of back pain in American society today, there is a growing realization that investing in the right mattress, chairs and lumbar supports can make a vital difference in an individual’ s quality of life. People spend large amounts of money on relatively ephemeral pursuits like vacations and golf. More and more American’s now see that selecting the right mattress or special chair is vital considering the amount of time spent in it.

For more information, or a complimentary consultation on ways to support the back, please contact Simon Stephanos at rtheback@optimum.net or call him at 732-249-0660.
You can also stop by "Relax the Back" in North Brunswick and play with all the toys for the back that they have there! Relax the back is located at
The Shoppes At North Brunswick, 530 Shoppes Blvd., North Bruswick, NJ 08902

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