April 2022 Healthy News from Connected Chiropractic Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important
“Why do you ask me so many questions, doc?”
Our Elgin chiropractic patients are central to our practice. We want to understand each you and your pain experience well, treat you well, and ensure that you are satisfied with your care and outcome. That’s why we have you to describe your pain to us, sometimes several times and in several different ways! Words mean different things to different people: “discomfort” to one may mean “pain” to another while “stiffness” means “pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It’s true! Researchers studied just what these different words mean to patients. An example of this is the description of “feeling”: pain signified sharp/shooting, discomfort was dull/tingling, stiffness signified tight/restricted. (1) It's important for Connected Chiropractic to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet expectations and enhance satisfaction with care. Patients who visited an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms assessed 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 typical of rationales patients seek chiropractic care! In this setting, because patients trusted their main physician, patients were satisfied with the collaboration among the various healthcare team members. Patients appreciated consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2) Connected Chiropractic knows our patients value - and can expect - these same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Elgin CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Strengthen Multifidus Muscles While Standing
Back pain. It is a simple description that may stem from many factors including the muscles of the spine, those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, deep, smaller muscles that run alongside the spine from the neck to the sacrum. These muscles assist movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted. (3) Recently, researchers suggested 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 incorporates the multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus sufficiently which may avert low back pain caused by muscle fatigue. (4) “Superman” (on-the-floor) exercises are well known. Standing back extension and “superman” exercises are newly documented to be equally helpful in strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That’s great news! Elgin back pain sufferers can do simple, standing exercises like this anywhere! The multifidus muscles benefit!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Paula Hugulet on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she explains the value of increasing muscle strength and function as part of back pain treatment via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Connected Chiropractic
Schedule your next Elgin chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles will be strengthened via proper exercise to lessen and potentially avert back pain. Connected Chiropractic will ask you questions, and you are welcome to ask Connected Chiropractic questions, also!