Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, prompting a visit to Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka. We’re here to
help! Getting older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine
pain patients but also some unique benefits
today thanks to novel approaches to maintaining
stability and dealing with and reducing pain. Your
Sitka chiropractor keeps on top of these new
approaches and is ready 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 peculiarities. Different
aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or
evening, requiring attention. For those Sitka back
pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and
strength may predict 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 has 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 far! Today, MRI images
of the spine in 3D are now clinically possible.
Their advantage is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any
plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more precise.
Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back
pain sufferers who have had prior
back surgery with metal implants, etc., and now have continued pain 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 surely
impact other areas and even trigger 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 important
for such patients, important enough that they should do these always
to reduce fall risk. (3) Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka is all about
stability!
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
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 Sitka chiropractor are able
to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Schedule your Sitka
chiropractic appointment today. Sitka chiropractic
patients find kinship with each other when back pain, hip
pain, and spine stability are involved as well as help from their chiropractic care. We
look forward to seeing you soon!