DESCRIPTIONS OF PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why do you ask me so many
questions, doc?”
Our Baton Rouge chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. We want
to understand each you and your pain experience well,
treat you well, and ensure that you are satisfied with your care
and outcome. That is why we ask you to describe
your pain to us, sometimes several times and in several
different ways! Words mean different things to different people: “discomfort”
to one may denote “pain” to another while “stiffness” means
“pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It’s true! Researchers did a deep-dive into these different words
and their meanings to patients. An example of this is the description of “feeling”: pain signified
sharp/shooting, discomfort was dull/tingling, stiffness signified
tight/restricted. (1) It is important for us
to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet
expectations and boost satisfaction with care. Patients who visited an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain
and depressive symptoms assessed their pain as 5/10 (10 being
greatest pain) as well as indicated multiple pain
locations (9 of 17 participants), low back pain (13 of 17), and neck pain (8 of
17). Those are quite typical of rationales
patients seek chiropractic care! In this setting, because patients trusted their main physician, patients were satisfied with the collaboration among
the various healthcare team members. Patients valued
consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2)
Spine & Sports Rehab Center knows our patients appreciate - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Baton Rouge CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE
MONTH: Strengthen
Multifidus Muscles While Standing
Back pain. It’s a simple description that may
stem from many factors including the muscles of the spine,
those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, deep,
smaller muscles that run beside the
spine from the cervical spine to the sacrum. These muscles assist
movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted.
(3) Lately, researchers suggested that the multifidi
may be a possible source of back pain since they are found to be stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is associated
with lumbodorsal musculature (which includes the
multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus
well enough which may avert low back pain caused
by muscle fatigue. (4) “Superman” (on-the-floor) exercises are well known. Standing
back extension and “superman” exercises are newly documented to be equally beneficial in
strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great
news! Baton Rouge back pain sufferers can do easy, standing
exercises like this anywhere! The multifidi benefit!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Paula Hugulet on The Back
Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she explains
the value of improving muscle strength and
function as part of back pain treatment via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Spine & Sports Rehab Center
Schedule your next Baton Rouge
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Spine & Sports Rehab Center will ask you questions, and you
are urged to ask Spine & Sports Rehab Center questions, too!