Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together
at once for many chiropractic patients, bringing
them into Spinal Care Clinic. We are prepared to
help! Getting older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine
pain patients but also some unique benefits
today due to novel ways to maintaining
stability and dealing with and easing pain. Your
Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor keeps on top of these new
approaches and is prepared to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks understand that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and
its own set of unique peculiarities. Different
aches and pains rear their heads one morning or mid-afternoon or
evening, demanding attention. For those Burlington and Hamilton back
pain sufferers who are a bit older, hip range of motion and
strength may predict how 12 months down the road a
chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Decreased hip strength and
range of motion forecast a deterioration in
function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1)
Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and knows 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 far! 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 makes available seeing
around the metal. (2) Such views can help doctors
see issues at adjacent spine levels.
A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME
Pain issues in one area of the spine can surely
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 lower quality of life, and increased
risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are important
for such patients, essential enough that they should do these forever
to decrease fall risk. (3) Spinal Care Clinic is all for
stability!
CONTACT Spinal Care Clinic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back
surgery. Back pain specialists like your Burlington and Hamilton chiropractor are able
to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Schedule your Burlington and Hamilton
chiropractic appointment today. Burlington and Hamilton chiropractic
patients find kinship with each other when back pain, hip
pain, and spine stability are involved as well as help from their chiropractic care. We
look forward to seeing you soon!