Plus, the circus is coming to town.
 
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Prisma Health on Call: Your back + neck questions, answered
A scoliosis patient receiving therapy.
Prisma Health’s orthopedics team offers a variety of services to care for your bones, joints, and muscles. | Photo provided by Prisma Health
From sitting at work all day to getting your steps in at the Riverwalk, it’s always important to keep your back and neck health in mind to avoid pain and injury.

For this round of Prisma Health On Call, we asked you, our readers, to send us your questions about back and neck care. Here with the answers are Prisma Health orthopedics experts P. Douglas deHoll, MD, and Josh Whitney, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT.

How do I prevent or lessen the risk of back injury with age?

Unfortunately, up to 80% of individuals will experience at least one bout of back pain in their lifetime. However, consistency with exercising (both strength training and cardio), along with postural exercises, good body position when lifting, and healthy eating habits will help lessen the risk of back injury. Avoid smoking at all costs.

Is it better to sleep on your back or side?

Side and back sleeping are safe when you have a back issue. Both positions help maintain a neutral alignment of your spine and take stress off the joints of the back, as well.

Pro tip: Work to improve your sleeping posture for better rest.

What’s one quick way to relieve back or neck pain at home?

Movement or a change in position should help lessen stress on your neck and back. Using heat and/or ice, taking over-the-counter medications, and being as active as you can tolerate can also help relieve the pain. To prevent back and neck pain, try regular exercise and stretching.

What exercises can I do to prevent or combat tech neck?

The human head weighs roughly 8 to 12 pounds and can become very heavy on your neck and surrounding muscles when your head is held stationary at a computer or phone screen.

To avoid tech neck, maintain a neutral neck posture and be aware of sustained positions that would overwork your neck muscles. You may also have to make minor adjustments to your workstation and add specific daily stretches to your neck, upper back, and shoulder muscles to combat this postural problem.
 
Prisma Health
 
Events
 
Wednesday, Aug. 21
  • Forest Acres Farmers Market | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 2-6 p.m. | Forest Acres Farmers Market | Price of purchase | Grab your locally grown fruits and veggies at this market each Wednesday.
  • Columbia Fireflies vs. Fredricksburg Nationals | Wednesday, Aug. 21 | 7:05 p.m. | Segra Park | $6-$18 | Trash the Poop Dog Days of Summer: Treat your furry friend to a night out at Segra Park and enjoy $5 White Claws on White Claw Wednesday.*
Thursday, Aug. 22
  • Meeting Street Artisan Market - Summer Series | Thursday, Aug. 22 | 4-8 p.m. | Interactive Art Park | Price of purchase | With plenty of free parking, mingle with the makers who are as unique as their creations + explore the River District.
  • “Dandelion” | Thursday, Aug. 22-Sunday, Aug. 25 | Times vary | Trustus Theatre | $30-$35 | This brand-new, completely original contemporary musical examines what it means to truly love yourself and the people you’re closest to.
Friday, Aug. 23
Saturday, Aug. 24
  • Main Street Latin Festival | Saturday, Aug. 24 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Main Street, Columbia | Free | Join the celebration as the streets are filled with the sounds of salsa, merengue, reggaetón and grupero music, folkloric dancers and Latin foods.
Click here to have your event featured.
 
 
News Notes
 
Announced
  • Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will bring the reimagined “Greatest Show On Earth” to Colonial Life Arena from Friday, Feb. 7 through Sunday, Feb. 9. Featuring 75 performers from 18 nations, the two-hour show includes stunts, music, and comedy. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, Aug. 27.
Festival
  • Get your superhero outfit ready, Soda City Comic Con is back this weekend at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The event features celebrity guests like Peter Cullen and Khary Payton, cosplay, panels, games, and a pop-up arcade.
Transit
  • The SC Department of Transportation will host a public meeting on Friday, Aug. 22 to discuss safety improvements for Assembly Street from Elmwood Avenue to Rosewood Drive. Potential upgrades include medians, sidewalks, signals, and pedestrian crossings. (The Post and Courier)
Opening
  • Bojangles will hold a grand reopening on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at the corner of Fort Jackson Boulevard and Devine Street at Cross Hill Market. The newly expanded location features a 3,100-sqft space with dual drive-thru lanes. (The State)
Try This
  • Baby Goat Yoga returns this fall at Steel Hands Brewing with Gabby’s Goat Farm on select dates. Enjoy a one-hour yoga class, followed by goat snuggles and a free pint. Sessions are limited to 40 spots, are $30 per person, and 21+ only.
Sports
  • Clemson opens the season against the Georgia Bulldogs and the teams are more alike than you think. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the Clemson Tigers with Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
    Listen
    • If you’re a new mom (or about to be), breastfeeding can be overwhelming — especially with the abundance of information floating around. To simplify things, start with these essential breastfeeding tips.*
    Finance
    • Finance experts call this card a cash rewards dream: unlimited cash rewards on purchases, $200 bonus after spending $500, long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers + more.*
    Older Adults
    • Wanted: Local retirees to grocery shop with neighbors, tutor local students, help in community gardens, and more. Get the info on local activities.*
     
     
    Development
     

    🌳 Hey, it’s Pen Branch Creek
    Richland Mall Rendering
    The new park features swings, sitting areas, a pavilion, and grassy lawns. | Rendering via The LandPlan Group South
    Forest Acres revealed an early vision of the new public park set to replace the former Richland Mall. The six-acre park will be the largest in Forest Acres and feature an amphitheater, event space, playground, and walking path along Pen Branch Creek — which has long been hidden beneath the mall.

    Designed by Columbia’s LandPlan Group South, the park aims to foster a sense of community, complementing the surrounding development. With an estimated $15 million price tag, final approval of the park’s plan will trigger a year-long site engineering phase, followed by construction.

    Mayor Thomas Andrews emphasized the park as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create a community gathering space, reflecting the desires of area residents. The adjacent development — including retail spaces, residences, and a brewery — is set to revitalize the area following the mall’s 2023 closure and ongoing demolition.
     
    The Buy
     
    A foldable hand vacuum. Perfect for hard-to-reach spaces, this cordless vacuum cleaner features a pivoting design, powerful suction, and two brush attachments + a crevice tool that support multi-surface cleaning capabilities.
     
     
    The Wrap
     
    David Stringer wearing a dark button-down shirt

    Today’s edition by:
    David
    From the editor
    The Gamecock men’s basketball team released its 2024-25 SEC schedule, which includes a visit from Texas, playing their first season in the SEC. Of the nine SEC squads coming to Colonial Life Arena this year, six made the NCAA tournament last season, so the Gamecocks have their work cut out for them.
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