West Des Moines Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging
Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together at once for many chiropractic patients, bringing them into Executive Chiropractic of Iowa. We’re ready to help! Growing older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine pain patients but also some unique benefits today thanks to new approaches to keeping stability and dealing with and easing pain. Your West Des Moines chiropractor keeps abreast of these new approaches and is prepared 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 peculiarities. Different aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those West Des Moines back pain sufferers who are a bit older, hip range of motion and strength may predict how 12 months later a chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Reduced 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 has some simple 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 advantage is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more accurate. Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have undergone back surgery already with metal implants, etc., and now have continued pain is that 3D imaging makes available seeing around the metal. (2) Such views can help doctors see problems at adjacent spine levels.
A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME
Pain issues in one area of the spine can surely impact other areas and even prompt more pain. A postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may have is called Pisa Syndrome which is caused by lateral flexion of the spine greater than 10 degrees which sets them up to falls, a lower quality of life, and increased risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential 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.
Set up your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment now. West Des Moines chiropractic patients find kinship 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!
