Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together
at once for many chiropractic patients, prompting a visit to Johnson Chiropractic. We’re prepared to
help! Getting older has some unique challenges for those
who experience back, hip and spine pain but also some unique positive effects
today due to new ways to maintaining
stability and coping with and easing pain. Your
Richmond chiropractor keeps on top of these new
approaches and is prepared to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks understand that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and
its own set of unique oddities. Different
aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or
evening, requiring attention. For those Richmond back
pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and
strength may foretell how 12 months later a
chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Decreased hip strength and
range of motion predicted a decline in
function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1)
Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and knows some simple tests of hip
strength and range of motion – gait speed, 6-minute walk test, subjective
questionnaires, even imaging as necessary - to rule
out osteoarthritis.
3D IMAGING BENEFITS
Imaging has come a long way! Today, MRI images
of the spine in 3D are now clinically possible.
Their benefit is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any
plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more accurate.
Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back
pain sufferers who have undergone back surgery already with metal implants, etc., and now have pain
again is that 3D imaging permits viewing
around the metal. (2) Such views can assist doctors in seeing issues at adjacent spine levels.
A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME
Pain issues in one area of the spine can certainly
affect other areas and even prompt more pain. A
postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may experience is
called Pisa Syndrome which is characterized by lateral flexion of
the spine greater than 10 degrees which sets them up
to falls, a lesser quality of life, and greater
risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential
for such patients, important enough that they should do these always
to reduce fall risk. (3) Johnson Chiropractic is all about
stability!
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back
surgery. Back pain specialists like your Richmond chiropractor are able
to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Schedule your Richmond
chiropractic appointment soon. Richmond chiropractic
patients find kinship with each other when it comes to back pain, hip pain, and
spine stability as well as relief from their chiropractic care. We
look forward to seeing you soon!