April 2022 Healthy News from Minster Chiropractic Center Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important
“Why are you asking me all these 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 be sure 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 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’s 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 was dull/tingling, stiffness signified tight/restricted. (1) It is important for Minster Chiropractic Center 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) 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 amongst the various healthcare team members. Patients valued consistency in care from one caregiving chiropractor. (2) Minster Chiropractic Center knows our patients value - 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 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, 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) Recently, researchers suggested that the multifidi may be a possible source of back pain since they are described as being stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is associated with lumbodorsal musculature (which incorporates the multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus well enough 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 reported as equally beneficial to strengthen these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great news! Minster back pain sufferers can do simple, 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
Make your next Minster chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles will be strengthened via 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, too!