Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, bringing
them into Executive Chiropractic of Iowa. We’re ready to
help! Getting older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine
pain sufferers but also some unique positive effects
today thanks to new ways to keeping
stability and dealing with and easing pain. Your
West Des Moines chiropractor keeps on top of these novel
approaches and is ready to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks understand that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and
its own set of distinctive oddities. Different
aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or
evening, requiring attention. For those West Des Moines back
pain sufferers who are a bit older, hip range of motion and
strength may foretell how 12 months down the road a
chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Decreased hip strength and
range of motion predicted a deterioration in
function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1)
Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and knows some easy-to-do tests of hip
strength and range of motion – gait speed, 6-minute walk test, subjective
questionnaires, even imaging as necessary - to rule
out osteoarthritis.
3D IMAGING BENEFITS
Imaging has come a long way! Today, MRI images
of the spine in 3D are now clinically possible.
Their benefit is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any
plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more precise.
Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back
pain sufferers who have undergone back surgery already with metal implants, etc., and now have pain
again is that 3D imaging permits seeing
around the metal. (2) Such views can assist doctors in seeing problems at adjacent spine levels.
A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME
Pain issues in one area of the spine can surely
affect other areas and even trigger more pain. A
postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may experience is
called Pisa Syndrome which is characterized by lateral flexion of
the spine greater than 10 degrees which sets them up
to falls, a lesser quality of life, and greater
risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are important
for such patients, important enough that they should do these forever
to reduce fall risk. (3) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is all for
stability!
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back
surgery. Back pain specialists like your West Des Moines chiropractor are equipped
to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Make your West Des Moines
chiropractic appointment today. West Des Moines chiropractic
patients find camaraderie with each other when it comes to back pain, hip pain, and
spine stability as well as help from their chiropractic care. We
look forward to seeing you soon!