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!
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!