CRITICISM OF NOT CONSIDERING NON-SURGICAL, CONSERVATIVE CARE: Cervical Radiculopathy and Lumbar Spine Stenosis
Conservative treatment – like chiropractic spinal manipulation
and Cox® Technic - of a couple of the highly common spinal
pain conditions is too many time ignored in medical studies regardless of the plethora
of studies showing benefit. (The “why?”
discussion is for another article.) Here are a
couple examples. (1) One example is in treating
cervical radiculopathy patients, patients with neck-related arm pain, and
myelopathy. The original study looked at the outcomes 12
months after cervical spine surgery for these conditions with no
comparison to conservative care for patients who ponder
what would ensue if they chose not to have surgery.
(1) The research regarding Cox® Technic for patients with cervical
spine radiculopathy show benefits for such
patients. Cervical radiculopathy due to a large C5-6 settled
with flexion distraction. (2) In a 39-patient study, cervical radiculopathy
treated with Cox® Technic provided relief in a mean of 13.2 visits.
(3) At 2-year follow-up for a cervical disc herniation patient with arm pain after 10 weeks and 15 treatments, relief remained stable. (4) (2) The other example
is not suggesting non-surgical treatment for lumbar
spine stenosis. In a review of published clinical practice
guidelines for the care of lumbar spinal stenosis,
researchers wrote that non-surgical treatments (28.6%) were less commonly given than injections (92.3%) and
surgery (66%). (5) The research on the advantage and effectiveness
of conservative care of lumbar spinal stenosis is growing, especially
with Cox® Technic. A case report affirmed that Cox® flexion
distraction decreased frequency and intensity of radicular leg
pain and back pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. (6) Another
described that 12 visits for flexion distraction treatment
and ancillary therapies alleviated low back and leg pain symptoms
of stenosis. (7) In a 30-patient study of lumbar spine stenosis,
flexion distraction decreased pain and disability. (8) In a 57
lumbar spine stenosis patient study, Cox® relieved pain by 76%. Disability
got better in 73%. (9) In a 30-patient study, Cox® was proved
to be a helpful intervention for treating pain and
dysfunction in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. (10) Now is the time for non-surgical, conservative care of conditions like cervical radiculopathy and lumbar
spine stenosis. Spinal Care Clinic offers such chiropractic care. Your Burlington and Hamilton
chiropractor is experienced in its delivery. Come see!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Amanda Harris on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she explains
her use of the Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for lumbar spine stenosis.
Burlington and Hamilton CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH:
Practice Sit-To-Stand for Balance
Spinal Care Clinic talks with our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic
patients about practicing sit-to-stand motion to maintain
and improve mobility and health. Sit-to-stand test is revealed
by how many times you can get up from a fully seated position
in 30 seconds. A lower number of stands indicates
a higher fall risk. By age, the number of
stands for risk differs. In women from ages 60-64, less
than 12 is a higher risk; 65-69, less than 11; 70-79, less than 10; 80-84, less
than 9, 85-89, less than 8; 90-94, less than 4. Men 60-64, less than 14; 65-74,
less than 12; 75-79, less than 11; 80-94, less than 10; 85-89, less than 8;
90-94, less than 7. (11) Moving slowly as we age may reduce the quality of daily life.
Improving motion speed may boost
mobility in older folks. (12) The faster the speed of
the STS, the more the low back and knee moved which
should be taken into consideration when testing back pain and
knee pain patients. (13) Try out your sit-to-stand ability.
How is it? Spinal Care Clinic can work with you to tackle
back pain and knee pain problems that may be slowing you down!
CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic
Thank you for confiding in Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic
care for your healthcare needs. We are
happy to be a member of your healthcare mobility
and spinal care team and look forward to seeing you at Spinal Care Clinic
for your next appointment!