WORDS DESCRIBING PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why do you ask me so many
questions, doc?”
Our West Des Moines chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa 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’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 denote “pain” to another while “stiffness” is
“pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It’s 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 signified dull/tingling, stiffness signified
tight/restricted. (1) It's beneficial for Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet
expectations and enhance 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 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 rationales
patients pursue chiropractic care! In this setting, patients were satisfied with the
collaboration among 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)
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows our patients value - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
West Des Moines CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE
MONTH: Strengthen
Multifidus Muscles While Standing
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, smaller, deep muscles that run alongside the
spine from the cervical spine 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 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 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’s great
news! West Des Moines 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 describes
the benefit of increasing muscle strength and
function as part of back pain treatment via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Make your next West Des Moines
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa will ask you questions, and you
are welcome to ask Executive Chiropractic of Iowa questions, too!