Elgin Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging

Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, bringing them into Connected Chiropractic. We’re here to help! Growing older presents some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine pain sufferers but also some unique positive effects today due to novel ways to keeping stability and dealing with and easing pain. Your Elgin chiropractor keeps abreast of these novel approaches and is prepared to help you!

SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES

Older folks know that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of distinctive oddities. Different aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those Elgin back pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and strength may foretell how 12 months down the road a chronic low back pain patient may be performing. Researchers put this to the test! Decreased hip strength and range of motion predicted a deterioration in function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1) Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and has some easy-to-do 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 a long way! 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 accurate. Neat! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have had previous back surgery with metal implants, etc., and now have continued pain is that 3D imaging permits seeing around the metal. (2) Such views can assist doctors in seeing problems at adjacent spine levels.

A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME

Pain issues in one area of the spine can certainly impact other areas and even trigger more pain. A postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may have is called Pisa Syndrome which is caused by lateral flexion of the spine greater than 10 degrees which sets them up to falls, a lesser quality of life, and increased 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) Connected Chiropractic is all about stability!

CONTACT Connected Chiropractic

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back surgery. Back pain specialists like your Elgin chiropractor are able to examine, diagnose, and manage post-surgical continued pain.

Set up your Elgin chiropractic appointment now. Elgin chiropractic patients find kinship with each other when it comes to back pain, hip pain, and spine stability as well as help from their chiropractic care. See you soon!