Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, bringing
them into Chiropractic Care. We are here to
help! Getting older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine
pain sufferers but also some unique benefits
today due to new approaches to maintaining
stability and coping with and reducing pain. Your
West Palm Beach 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 peculiarities. Different
aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or
evening, demanding attention. For those West Palm Beach back
pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and
strength may predict how 12 months down the road a
chronic low back pain patient may be performing. Researchers tested
this out! 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 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 help doctors
see 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 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 lower quality of life, and greater
risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential
for such patients, essential enough that they should do these always
to reduce fall risk. (3) Chiropractic Care is all for
stability!
CONTACT Chiropractic Care
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 West Palm Beach chiropractor are able
to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Schedule your West Palm Beach
chiropractic appointment today. West Palm Beach chiropractic
patients find camaraderie with each other when it comes to back pain, hip pain, and
spine stability as well as help from their chiropractic care. We
look forward to seeing you soon!