WORDS DESCRIBING PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why do you ask me so many
questions, doctor?”
Our Minster chiropractic patients are central
to our practice. We want
to understand each of our patients 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 explain
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 denote “pain” to another while “stiffness” is
“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 Minster Chiropractic Center
to know our patient’s experience with pain to better reach
expectations and enhance satisfaction with care. Patients who went
to an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain
and depressive symptoms rated 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 typical of rationales
patients pursue chiropractic care! In this setting, because patients trusted their main physician, patients were satisfied with the collaboration among
the various healthcare team members. Patients appreciated
consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2)
Minster Chiropractic Center knows our patients appreciate - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Minster CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE
MONTH: Standing Exercise for Multifidus Muscle Strengthening Works
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, deep,
smaller 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 associated
with lumbodorsal musculature (which includes the
multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus
sufficiently which may prevent low back pain caused
by muscle fatigue. (4) “Superman” (on-the-floor) exercises are well known. Standing
back extension and “superman” exercises are newly documented to be equally helpful in
strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great
news! Minster 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 explains
the value of improving muscle strength and
function as part of back pain treatment via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Schedule your next Minster
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Minster Chiropractic Center will ask you questions, and you
are welcome to ask Minster Chiropractic Center questions, also!