April 2022 Healthy News from Johnson Chiropractic Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important
“Why are you asking me all these questions, doc?”
Our Richmond chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. Johnson Chiropractic wants to understand each you and your pain experience well, treat you well, and be sure you are satisfied with your care and outcome. That is why we ask you to describe your pain to us, sometimes a few times and in several different ways! Words mean different things to different people: “discomfort” to one may signify “pain” to another while “stiffness” means “pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It is true! Researchers did a deep-dive into these different words and their meanings to patients. An example of this is the description of “feeling”: pain signified sharp/shooting, discomfort signified dull/tingling, stiffness signified tight/restricted. (1) It's important for Johnson Chiropractic to know our patient’s experience with pain to better reach expectations and enhance satisfaction with care. Patients who visited an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms rated their pain as 5/10 (10 being greatest pain) and reported multiple pain locations (9 of 17 participants), low back pain (13 of 17), and neck pain (8 of 17). Those are very common of rationales patients pursue chiropractic care! In this setting, patients were satisfied with the collaboration among the various healthcare team members due to the trust they had in their physician. Patients appreciated consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2) Johnson Chiropractic knows our patients value - and can expect - these same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Richmond CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Strengthen Multifidus Muscles While Standing
Back pain. It is a simple description that may stem from a multitude of factors including the muscles of the spine, those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, deep, smaller muscles that run beside the spine from the cervical spine to the sacrum. These muscles assist movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted. (3) Lately, researchers proposed that the multifidi may be a possible source of back pain since they are described as being stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is linked to lumbodorsal musculature (which includes the multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus well enough which may avert low back pain initiated by muscle fatigue. (4) “Superman” (on-the-floor) exercises are well known. Standing back extension and “superman” exercises are newly reported as equally beneficial in strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great news! Richmond back pain sufferers can do easy, standing exercises like this anywhere! The multifidi benefit!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Paula Hugulet on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes the value of improving muscle strength and function as part of back pain care following the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic
Schedule your next Richmond chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and potentially avert back pain. Johnson Chiropractic will ask you questions, and you are welcome to ask Johnson Chiropractic questions, also!