West Des Moines Spine Stability Helped by Breathing and Diaphragm Training
Spinal stability is the basis for spine movement. Spinal stability protects the nervous system structures, the spinal cord, and spinal nerve roots. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa assesses spinal stability in all our West Des Moines back pain patients as part of our chiropractic service. Spinal stability relies on strong, stable musculature to do its job. New research is indicating that the role of the diaphragm and breathing is to support spinal stability.
SPINAL STABILITY
All the assorted parts of the spine play a part in spinal stability, even the slightest spinal motion segment’s vertebra (the bony part of the spine). Bones, discs, and ligaments in the spine supply all types of coupled motions of the spine and conduct proprioceptive impulses to the central nervous system which coordinates muscle tone, movement, and reflexes. If any of the spinal structures are damaged or otherwise in peril – like a degenerated disc – spinal instability is feasible. (1) That is where your West Des Moines chiropractor comes onto the scene with chiropractic spinal manipulation and a helpful treatment plan including exercise.
BREATHING TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Chiropractic care at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa addresses spinal stability with some typical exercise recommendations and explores the use of newer exercise methods like breathing that appear promising. Maximal abdominal contraction maneuver compared with maximal expiration exercise resulted in better increased spinal stability. As a breathing exercise to increase spinal joint stability, it had a positive effect on improving co-contraction and spine stability as shown by significantly greater muscle thickness of the transverse abdominis and rectus abdominis. (2) Forced breathing exercise therapy improved trunk stability and activities of daily living in chronic low back pain sufferers. (3) West Des Moines back pain patients will value how something they do every day – done with just a little more thought - may help them with their back pain!
DIAPHRAGM TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Certainly, breathing and the diaphragm are intimately coupled, and both offer some hope in tackling spinal stability issues. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa found some new studies on how diaphragm training addresses spinal stability. In a study of rehabilitating athletes with nonspecific low back pain, inserting diaphragm training (breathing) to electrical stimulation therapy was beneficial in improving function, stability, pain, and balance. (4) Diaphragm training significantly reduced the severity of pain and also altered the thickness of active stabilizers - transversus abdominis, lumbar multifidus muscle - in the lumbar spine. (5) Strong, thick spinal stabilizers are good in combatting West Des Moines back pain.
CONTACT Executive Chiropractic of Iowa
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen and Cheri Hazen RN, ICHC, FNLP, LE, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as they describe their combined treatment approach of breathing training and the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management helped a patient realize back pain relief.
Set up your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment now. Breathing and diaphragm training go a long way in helping keep the spine stable, easing West Des Moines back pain, and maintaining the foundation of spinal movement well conditioned.
