April 2022 Healthy News from Vancouver Disc Centers Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important
“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 be sure you are satisfied with your care and outcome. That is why we have you to explain your pain to us, sometimes a few times and in several 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 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 signified dull/tingling, stiffness signified 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 went to an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain and depressive symptoms assessed their pain as 5/10 (10 being greatest pain) and reported multiple pain locations (9 of 17 participants), low back pain (13 of 17), and neck pain (8 of 17). Those are quite typical of rationales patients pursue 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) Vancouver Disc Centers knows our patients appreciate - and can expect - these same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Vancouver CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Strengthen Multifidus Muscles While Standing
Back pain. It is 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, deep, smaller muscles that run beside 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 possible source of back pain since they are found to be stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is associated with lumbodorsal musculature (which includes the multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus sufficiently which may avert low back pain produced 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’s great news! Vancouver back pain sufferers can do easy, 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 value of increasing muscle strength and function as part of back pain treatment via 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 directed in 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, also!