The Illusive Pop of Spinal Manipulation
“To Pop or Not to Pop” is understandably a
twist on an age-old Shakespearean quote for an age-old chiropractic
spinal manipulation discussion point. The answer
today is that it is not a necessary
gauge of back pain relief from spinal
manipulation treatment (SMT), but back pain and neck pain patients undergoing SMT want and need to know more. Present-day
guidelines for handling low back pain
highlight patient education and exercise as important
issues. Healthcare practitioners are
pretty good (72% overall) at providing
information. By profession, though, chiropractors lead in
providing patient education for 76% of patients with
physical therapists at 74% and general practitioners at just 44%. The
more emotional distress a patient
showed or pain described as below the knee,
information was shared with 78% of patients. (1) An important
topic for Williamson back pain and neck pain patients undergoing spinal
manipulation treatment (SMT) is this sometimes-audible pop. A systematic
review of published studies revealed that regardless of the spinal
area or follow-up time after the SMT, nothing was found that showed evidence
of improved pain outcomes or treatment success related to an audible pop. (2) This is good to know since some patients have it, and some don’t.
Patients whose practitioners explained the audible pop to them - and others who were
not spinal manipulation patients - reported
interesting theories of what created that sound
and had overemphasized ideas of its importance. (3) Instead of
the question “To pop or not to pop?” the better question
for you and your Williamson chiropractor might “Is
there pain relief or not?” With our gentle chiropractic care, there is
pain relief for many Williamson back pain and neck pain sufferers. Let’s talk about all of this at your
next chiropractic visit at Apple Country Chiropractic!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he details
the gentle spinal manipulation treatment of spinal stenosis with The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
[[CHIROPRACTIC]] TIP OF THE MONTH:
Vitamin D for Adrenal Gland Support
Vitamin D is
popular and abundantly researched beyond its
earlier role of supporting phospho-calcium
metabolism and skeletal bone disorders. Today, research has
well-established vitamin D as a hormone and recounted vitamin D
as influential in a variety of diseases from cancer,
inflammation, and autoimmunity (Hashimoto’s, Graves’, diabetes) to adrenal
gland health and disease (Cushing’s, Addison’s). (4) The adrenal gland has two
main parts: (A) The adrenal cortex makes cortisol which
controls the sleep/wake cycle, body’s use of
fats/proteins/carbs, inflammation, blood pressure as well as
raises blood sugar and reduces bone formation.
(B) The adrenal medulla manufactures “stress hormones”
epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) responsible for the fight or flight response. (5) Adrenal gland issues
keep people awake at night…literally! Although not yet
definitive, 800-2000IU a day was proposed in
one new study to support adrenal health. (6)
Apple Country Chiropractic is excited to discuss vitamin D
and any adrenal gland issues you may be experiencing.
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
Set your next Williamson
chiropractic visit with Apple Country Chiropractic now! We
have a lot to talk about!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."