WORDS DESCRIBING PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why are you asking me all these
questions, doctor?”
Our Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. Spinal Care Clinic wants
to understand each you and your pain experience well,
treat you well, and ensure that you are satisfied with your care
and outcome. That is why we ask you to explain
your pain to us, sometimes several times and in several
different ways! Words mean different things to different people: “discomfort”
to one may signify “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 with regards to
the description of “feeling”: pain was
sharp/shooting, discomfort signified dull/tingling, stiffness was
tight/restricted. (1) It is important for us
to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet
expectations and boost satisfaction with care. Patients who visited an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain
and depressive symptoms rated their pain as 5/10 (10 being
greatest pain) and indicated 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 pursue chiropractic care! In this setting, because patients trusted their main physician, patients were satisfied with the collaboration amongst
the various healthcare team members. Patients appreciated
consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2)
Spinal Care Clinic knows our patients value - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Burlington and Hamilton CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE
MONTH: Strengthen
Multifidus Muscles While Standing
Back pain. It’s a simple description that may
stem from a multitude of factors including the muscles of the spine,
those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, deep,
smaller muscles that run parallel to 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 includes the
multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus
well enough 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 reported
as equally beneficial to strengthen these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great
news! Burlington and Hamilton 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 describes
the benefit of increasing muscle strength and
function as part of back pain care following the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic
Schedule your next Burlington and Hamilton
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Spinal Care Clinic will ask you questions, and you
are welcome to ask Spinal Care Clinic questions, too!