Baton Rouge Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging
Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, prompting a visit to Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers. We’re here to help! Getting older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine pain patients but also some unique positive effects today thanks to novel ways to keeping stability and dealing with and reducing pain. Your Baton Rouge chiropractor keeps on top of these novel approaches and is ready to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks know that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of unique peculiarities. Different aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those Baton Rouge back pain sufferers who are a bit older, hip range of motion and strength may predict how 12 months down the road a chronic low back pain patient may be performing. Researchers put this to the test! Reduced hip strength and range of motion forecast a decline in function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1) Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and has 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 exclude as a diagnosis 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. Neat! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have had prior back surgery with metal implants, etc., and now have continued pain is that 3D imaging makes available viewing 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 affect 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 important for such patients, important enough that they should do these always to reduce fall risk. (3) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers is all about stability!
CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he discusses his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back surgery. Back pain specialists like your Baton Rouge chiropractor are equipped to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Schedule your Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment soon. Baton Rouge 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!
