CATHRYN JAKOBSON RAMIN

Videos

And Now For Something Completely Different:
Jaseng Hospital in Seoul

There are places in the world that take a dramatically different approach to treating back pain. Join Cathryn on her journey to visit the Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine in Seoul, where she'll meet Dr. Joon-Shik Shin, who pioneered a non-surgical treatment program that consists of acupuncture, Chuna manipulation, herbal medicine and exercise.

There are places in the world that take a dramatically different approach to treating back pain. The Jaseng Hospital of Korean Medicine specializes treating back pain. Join me on my journey to visit Seoul, South Korea, where we'll have a look around and meet Dr. Joon-Shik Shin, who pioneered the practice and leads it today.

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BackFirst Comes Between Bus Drivers
and Back Trouble

How do you combat millions of dollars lost in work comp claims for workers on the move? Create a gym that moves with them! Michael Leary, a well-known physical therapist in Marin County, discovered a unique solution to the ongoing back and health problems of the Bay Area bus and cable car drivers.

San Francisco bus drivers’ back pain was costing the city millions of dollars in workers’ compensation claims. But how can you treat back pain in people whose jobs keep them always on the go? Create a gym that moves with them! Michael Leary, a well-known physical therapist in Marin County, discovered a unique solution to the ongoing back and health problems of the Bay Area bus and cable-car drivers. Meet Michael, his team, and some of the bus drivers who have recovered, both physically and mentally, thanks to the BackFirst program and the HealthStrong mobile bus.


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The End of the Office Chair As We Know It

Truthfully, the field of "ergonometrics" is more closely related to marketing than to science. But if you spend most of your waking hours with your backside in a chair, there are useful options to consider. Here, Cathryn separates the wheat from the chaff with David Kahl, the founder of ErgoDepot. His business is now called Fully, with retail stores in San Francisco and Portland, OR.

Truthfully, the field of "ergonometrics" is more closely related to marketing than to science. But if you spend most of your waking hours with your backside in a chair, there are useful options to consider. Here, Cathryn separates the wheat from the chaff with David Kahl, the founder of ErgoDepot.

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What's The Deal With Epidural Steroids?

Cathryn Jakobson Ramin is a journalist, essayist, lecturer and author of the upcoming book Crooked: Outwitting the Back Pain Industry and Getting On the Road to Recovery, which aims to put an end to the confusion and hopelessness that has plagued the back pain sufferer.

This 15-part series provides information on epidural steroid injections in light of the public health crisis from contaminated steroid injections that killed 64 people in 2012. Cathryn explains what caused these deaths, and whether these shots are safe and effective for back pain sufferers.


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Goodbye To Bicycle Backache

Mike’s Bikes, in San Rafael, CA, not only sells bikes and related equipment, but can also adjust a bike to fit your body and motion perfectly. Follow Cathryn to her fitting session with Kelley Hale, a certified specialist in what is known as BG FIT: Body Geometry Fit Integration Technology. BG FIT technicians like Kelley can help fit a rider’s bicycle – no matter the type – to the rider, rather than the rider having to accommodate the bicycle. In her session, which is typical of BG Pro 3D Video FIT sessions, Cathryn first describes her injury history and her riding goals. Kelley takes relevant measurements in order to find the ideal position and the perfect balance for Cathryn to finally ride comfortably. Cathryn comes away from the session with a custom-fitted bike, a happy back, and the details of her settings so that she can get a bike fitted perfectly, say for that bike trip in France she'd like to take.

Mike's Bikes, in San Rafael, CA, not only sells bikes and related equipment, but can adjust a bike to fit your body and motion perfectly. Follow Cathryn to her fitting session with Kelley Hale, a certified specialist in what is known as BG FIT: Body Geometry Fit Integration Technology.

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Happy Backs Need Exercise

Take a trip to the gym with Cathryn, where she trains with her personal Goddess of Exercise, Diana Williams, who has helped her on her journey to building a strong and healthy back. Get some ideas for a back-happy workout routine here, but be sure to check them with your physician or back pain practitioner before getting started.

Take a trip to the gym with Cathryn, where she trains with her personal Goddess of Exercise, Diana Williams, who has helped her on her journey to building a strong and healthy back. Get some ideas for a back-happy workout routine here, but be sure to check them with your physician or back pain practitioner before getting started.


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Killer Heels

We hardly ever consider it, but the condition of our feet has a lot to do with the state of our backs. High heels, which admittedly, we love, are troublemakers. But are we doomed to go around in sensible shoes? Here, Cathryn explores how the high-heel fetish got started, how Sex and the City put Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik on the map, what those shoes are doing to your pelvis and spine, and why Sarah Jessica Parker has given up on the footwear she made famous. For more information related to this video, click here.

Sexy? Sure. But here's the rest of the story.

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Sitting Pretty

I met Bob Erickson at an annual art fair held in my hometown. His beautiful wooden chairs stood out amongst the standard blown glass, jewelry and pottery - and they are made for back pain sufferers. These chairs are customizable functioning sculpture made from domestic hardwoods.

Cathryn met Bob Erickson at an annual art fair held in her hometown. His beautiful wooden chairs stood out amongst the standard blown glass, jewelry and pottery -- and they are made for back pain sufferers. These chairs are customizable functioning sculpture made from domestic hardwoods. They're very expensive -- from $2500 to $5000 -- but keep in mind that they are handmade, with a limited production of 75 pieces a year, and they are in the collections of several museums. For more information about Erickson Woodworking, visit: www.ericksonwoodworking.com.


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Luggage and Backs

Cathryn introduces her best four-wheeled travel companions and shares some tips on what back pain sufferers should look for when buying luggage (and how to pack that suitcase so you can actually lift it into the overhead compartment!)

Uploaded by Cathryn Ramin on 2013-06-26.

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