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April 2022 Healthy News from New Roads Chiropractic Center Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important

Your New Roads chiropractor listens to every word you use to describe the back pain experience to develop the proper, relieving treatment plan.

 
WORDS DESCRIBING PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHIROPRACTOR

“Why are you asking me all these questions, doc?”

Our New Roads chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. We want to understand each of our patients and your pain experience well, treat you well, and be sure you are satisfied with your care and outcome. That is why we have you to describe your pain to us, sometimes several times and in a variety of 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 did a deep-dive into these different words and their meanings to patients. An example of this is the description of “feeling”: pain was sharp/shooting, discomfort signified dull/tingling, stiffness signified tight/restricted. (1) It's beneficial for us to know our patient’s experience with pain to better reach 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) 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 quite typical of reasons patients seek chiropractic care! In this setting, patients were satisfied with the collaboration amongst the various healthcare team members due to the trust they had in their physician. Patients valued consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2) New Roads Chiropractic Center knows our patients value - and can expect - these same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!

Your New Roads chiropractor listens to every word you use to describe the back pain experience to develop the proper, relieving treatment plan. 

New Roads CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Strengthen Multifidus Muscles While Standing

Back pain. It is 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, smaller, deep muscles that run alongside 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 potential 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 sufficiently which may prevent 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 beneficial to strengthen these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great news! New Roads 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 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 New Roads Chiropractic Center

Schedule your next New Roads chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and potentially avert back pain. New Roads Chiropractic Center will ask you questions, and you are welcome to ask New Roads Chiropractic Center questions, also!

"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."