Healthy News November 2021 Relieving Chiropractic Care for Hyperkyphosis Curves & Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
The spine has its own normal curvature or kyphosis. Connected Chiropractic knows the spine’s curves quite well! Most Elgin chiropractic clients don’t think about the spinal curve, its normalcy or its function, until there is an issue caused by a curve that is overly curvy. Take for example the thoracic spine, the upper back part of the spine. Its normal kyphosis ranges from 20 to 40 degrees in young spines. For 20 to 40percent of over-60-year-old adults, this kyphosis is documented to grow beyond 40°. This “age-related kyphosis” (aka ‘hyperkyphosis’) affects both men and women but is more often seen in women who experience more functional disorders like reduced back extensor muscle strength and ability to use erector spinal muscles plus other poor health issues. (1,2) Spinal manipulation and mobilization of the thoracic spine are common ways chiropractors treat musculoskeletal issues in older adults with issues like hyperkyphosis. Older spines effectively received the SMM forces similar to younger spines in research studies. (3) Fortunately, manual therapy has been researched and described as effective to decrease and prevent musculoskeletal problems due to thoracic hyperkyphosis. A recent report described how such therapy improved the thoracic kyphosis angle, thoracic extension range of motion, and thoracic extension strength. (4) And a bonus: Thoracic mobilization is demonstrated to boost diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory function to control and prevent respiratory dysfunction in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. (5) Your Elgin chiropractor delivers gentle, effective, distractive thoracic spine manipulation that is both hyperkyphosis-relieving and comfortable. Once you feel it, you will ask for it again!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Joseph D’Angiolillo on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes gentle distraction care of upper spine pain with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common diagnosis for older Elgin adults. It is associated with a higher utilization of healthcare services. And surgery is not always the answer according to a study reporting that 1 in 3 lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced a poor clinical outcome after surgery. Moreover, 36.1% of 529 patients had a poor leg pain outcome while 27.6% had a poor overall outcome. Promisingly, patients who exercised regularly and those who received pre-operative chiropractic or physiotherapy care were less likely to report a poor overall outcome. (6) A recent study reported that receiving such non-operative care beginning within the first 30 days of diagnosis decreased the use of riskier and more costly health care services in the following year. Less than 2% of Medicare beneficiaries receive such care in a timely fashion. (7) Lastly, manual manipulation for 8 weeks was shown to be effective for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis by decreasing their pain and bettering their function. (8) Connected Chiropractic is ready to get started treating your spinal stenosis today, non-surgically and safely.
CONTACT Connected Chiropractic
Make your next Elgin chiropractic appointment today. Spinal conditions like thoracic spine hyperkyphosis and lumbar spinal stenosis react well to chiropractic treatment!