Fear of back pain? Once you’ve had
it, you answer “yes!” Your West Des Moines chiropractor totally
understands this. West Des Moines back pain and neck pain
patients do not want to feel that pain again.
Executive Chiropractic of Iowa helps spine pain sufferers regain their confidence with encouragement and exercise.
FEAR AVOIDANCE DUE TO BACK PAIN
Back pain sufferers don't want to revisit
back pain if they have any options at all. That desire -
whether obvious or subtle, stated or just ruminated in the mind – sets
up the ‘perfect storm’ for a behavior called
fear-avoidance. Patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome - post-surgically
induced or not – provoked high levels of
fear avoidance, anxiety, and depression. (1) Researchers noted
that the pain experience is not just physical because
emotions, behaviors and beliefs are involved as well. Fear
avoidant behavior like fearing object lifting
grows and impacts muscle behavior without realizing it. A new
study compared fear-avoidant beliefs and the use of lumbar paraspinal muscle activity while lifting in
both back pain and in pain-free persons. Fear of lifting an object
with a flexed spine as described in a questionnaire was negatively
associated with erector spinae activity to protect the spine from
injury. The proper way to lift has been argued
for a long time. Lifting with a straight back has been described
as safer than lifting with a flexed back though research has not necessarily
supported that while lifting with a lordotic posture has been found
to result in more erector spinae muscle activity resulting in
muscle fatigue and pain. (2) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows the significance
of handling fear avoidance and its link to better quality of
life.
HOW TO MANAGE FEAR AVOIDANCE
Researchers noted that back pain
sufferers today ‘get’ that they must keep moving but some require
a bit more support and encouragement to move and exercise because
of a lack of confidence in their spines’
ability to exercise without causing pain. The healthcare
provider not only can provide the latest findings on
pain control but also teach the back pain patient to be
physical in the safest way possible. (3) If you are that patient, Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is
your trainer! We are a team and can help you move better
and with less fear and provide gentle, relieving spinal
manipulation. 12 weeks of chiropractic manipulation along
with exercise for older adults with chronic back pain boosted
their self-efficacy and fear-avoidant behaviors together with decreases in disability. A 30% or more reduction
in the Oswestry Disability Index indicated positive response to
care. (4) The more engaged a patient is with treatment, the greater the influence
on the feeling of self-efficacy and disability reduction. (5) Let us
work together to control your West Des Moines back pain so it doesn’t control you.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tom Menendez on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
illustrates the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management for an older patient with back pain for whom fear avoidance is understandable.
Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic
appointment today so that if you are questioned whether you fear back pain, you can say “no”!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."