April 2022 Healthy News from Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka Words Describing Back Pain and Exercises to Strengthen the Multifidi Are Important
“Why do you ask me so many questions, doc?”
Our Sitka chiropractic patients are the center of 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 is 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 is true! Researchers studied just what these different words mean to patients. An example of this is the description of “feeling”: pain signified sharp/shooting, discomfort was dull/tingling, stiffness was tight/restricted. (1) It is important for Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet expectations and enhance 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) 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 quite typical of rationales 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 many factors including the muscles of the spine, those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, deep, smaller muscles that run alongside 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 potential 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 initiated 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 is great news! Sitka 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 describes the benefit of improving muscle strength and function as part of back pain care following the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka
Make 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 urged to ask Arctic Chiropractic, Sitka questions, too!