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April 2022 Healthy News from Vancouver Disc Centers Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important

Your Vancouver chiropractor listens to every word used to describe the back pain experience to develop the proper, relieving treatment plan.

 
DESCRIPTIONS OF PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO YOUR CHIROPRACTOR

“Why do you ask me so many questions, doctor?”

Our Vancouver chiropractic patients are the core of 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 have you to describe your pain to us, sometimes a few times and in several different ways! Words mean different things to different people: “discomfort” to one may denote “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 with regards to the description of “feeling”: pain signified sharp/shooting, discomfort signified dull/tingling, stiffness was tight/restricted. (1) It is 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) and indicated multiple pain locations (9 of 17 participants), low back pain (13 of 17), and neck pain (8 of 17). Those are quite common of rationales 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 appreciated consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2) Vancouver Disc Centers knows our patients value - and can expect - these same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!

Your Vancouver chiropractor listens to every word used to describe the back pain experience to develop the proper, relieving treatment plan. 

Vancouver CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Strengthen Multifidus Muscles While Standing

Back pain. It’s a simple description that may stem from a multitude of factors including the muscles of the spine, those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, smaller, deep muscles that run beside the spine from the neck to the sacrum. These muscles aid movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted. (3) Lately, researchers suggested that the multifidi may be a possible 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 includes the multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus well enough 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 in strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great news! Vancouver back pain sufferers can do easy, 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 describes the value of increasing muscle strength and function as part of back pain care following the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

Schedule your next Vancouver chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles will be strengthened via proper exercise to lessen and potentially avert back pain. Vancouver Disc Centers will ask you questions, and you are urged to ask Vancouver Disc Centers questions, too!

"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."