DESCRIPTIONS OF PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why do you ask me so many
questions, doc?”
Our Williamson chiropractic patients are central
to our practice. We want
to understand each you and your pain experience well,
treat you well, and ensure that you are satisfied with your care
and outcome. That’s why we ask you to describe
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” is
“pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It is true! Researchers studied
just what these different words mean to patients. An example with regards to
the description of “feeling”: pain signified
sharp/shooting, discomfort was dull/tingling, stiffness was
tight/restricted. (1) It's beneficial 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 assessed their pain as 5/10 (10 being
greatest pain) as well as 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 among
the various healthcare team members. Patients appreciated
consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2)
Apple Country Chiropractic knows our patients value - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Williamson CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE
MONTH: Strengthen
Multifidus Muscles While Standing
Back pain. It’s a simple description that may
stem from many factors including the muscles of the spine,
those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, deep,
smaller muscles that run alongside the
spine from the cervical spine 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 potential source of back pain since they are found to be stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is linked to lumbodorsal musculature (which incorporates the
multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus
sufficiently which may avert low back pain initiated
by muscle fatigue. (4) “Superman” (on-the-floor) exercises are well known. Standing
back extension and “superman” exercises are newly reported
as equally helpful in
strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That’s great
news! Williamson back pain sufferers can do simple, standing
exercises like this anywhere! The multifidi benefit!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Paula Hugulet on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she explains
the benefit of improving muscle strength and
function as part of back pain care following the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Schedule your next Williamson
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be strengthened via proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Apple Country Chiropractic will ask you questions, and you
are welcome to ask Apple Country Chiropractic questions, too!