WORDS DESCRIBING PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why do you ask me so many
questions, doc?”
Our Sitka chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka wants
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 is why we ask 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 mean “pain” to another while “stiffness” is
“pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It is 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 was
sharp/shooting, discomfort signified dull/tingling, stiffness was
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 reported multiple pain
locations (9 of 17 participants), low back pain (13 of 17), and neck pain (8 of
17). Those are very typical of reasons
patients seek 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)
Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka knows our patients value - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Sitka 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 parallel to the
spine from the neck to the sacrum. These muscles assist
movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted.
(3) Lately, researchers proposed 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 linked to lumbodorsal musculature (which incorporates 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 documented to be equally beneficial to strengthen these multifidus muscles. (5) That’s great
news! Sitka 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 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 Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Schedule your next Sitka
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka will ask you questions, and you
are encouraged to ask Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka questions, too!