Healthy News November 2021 Relieving Chiropractic Care for Hyperkyphosis Curves & Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
The spine has its own normal curvature or kyphosis. Executive Chiropractic of Iowa knows the spine’s curves quite well! Most West Des Moines chiropractic clients don’t give a second though to the curvature of the spine, its normalcy or its function, until there is an issue caused by a curve that is overly curvy. Take for example the thoracic spine, the upper back part of the spine. Its normal kyphosis ranges from 20 to 40 degrees in young people. For 20% to 40% of over-60-year-olds, this kyphosis is seen to grow beyond 40°. This “age-related kyphosis” (aka ‘hyperkyphosis’) affects both men and women but is more frequently seen in women who have more functional disorders like decreased back extensor muscle strength and use of erector spinal muscles plus other poor health issues. (1,2) Spinal manipulation and mobilization of the thoracic spine are common ways chiropractors treat musculoskeletal issues in older adults with issues like hyperkyphosis. Older spines effectively experienced the SMM forces similar to younger spines in research studies. (3) Fortunately, research describes manual therapy as effective to reduce and avert musculoskeletal problems due to thoracic hyperkyphosis. A recent study noted that such therapy adjusted the thoracic kyphosis angle, thoracic extension range of motion, and thoracic extension strength. (4) And a bonus: Thoracic mobilization is demonstrated to increase diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory function to manage and prevent respiratory dysfunction in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. (5) Your West Des Moines chiropractor delivers gentle, effective, distractive thoracic spine manipulation that is both hyperkyphosis-relieving and comfortable. Once you feel it, you will ask for it again!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Joseph D’Angiolillo on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains gentle distraction treatment of upper spine pain with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a not uncommon diagnosis for older West Des Moines adults. It is associated with a higher utilization of healthcare services. And surgery isn’t always the solution according to a study that reported how 1 in 3 lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced a poor clinical outcome with surgery. Moreover, 36.1% of 529 patients had a poor leg pain outcome while 27.6% had a poor overall outcome. Encouragingly, patients who exercised regularly and those who received pre-operative chiropractic or physiotherapy care were not as likely to describe a poor overall outcome. (6) A recent study reported that receiving such non-operative care beginning within the first 30 days of diagnosis decreased the use of riskier and more costly health care services in the following year. Less than 2% of Medicare beneficiaries got such care in a timely fashion. (7) Lastly, manual manipulation for 8 weeks was reported to be effective for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis by decreasing their pain and improving their function. (8) Executive Chiropractic of Iowa is ready to get started treating your spinal stenosis today, non-operatively and safely.
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Schedule your next West Des Moines chiropractic appointment today. Spinal conditions like thoracic spine hyperkyphosis and lumbar spinal stenosis react well to chiropractic treatment!