Spinal stability is the foundation for spine
movement. Spinal stability protects the nervous system structures, the spinal cord, and spinal nerve
roots. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic assesses spinal stability in all our McHenry
back pain patients as part of our chiropractic service. Spinal stability depends on strong, stable
musculature to do its job. New research is pointing to the role of the diaphragm
and breathing in supporting spinal stability.
SPINAL STABILITY
All the assorted parts of the spine play
a part in spinal stability, even the smallest
spinal motion segment’s vertebra (the bony part of the spine). Ligaments, bones,
and discs in the spine contribute to
all types of coupled motions of the spine and conduct
proprioceptive impulses to the central nervous system which manages
muscle tone, movement, and reflexes. If any of the spinal structures are injured
or otherwise at risk – like a degenerated disc – spinal instability
is possible. (1) That’s where your
McHenry chiropractor comes into play with
chiropractic spinal manipulation and an effective treatment plan
including exercise.
BREATHING TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Chiropractic care at OrthoIllinois Chiropractic addresses spinal stability
with some usual exercise recommendations
and explores the use of newer exercise methods
like breathing that are showing some promise. Maximal
abdominal contraction maneuver compared with maximal expiration exercise showed
itself better at increasing spinal stability. As
a breathing exercise to enhance spinal joint stability, it had a
beneficial 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 patients. (3)
McHenry back pain patients will value how something
they do every day – performed with just a bit more intention
- may ease their back pain!
DIAPHRAGM TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Certainly, breathing and the diaphragm are intimately intertwined,
and both offer some hope in fixing spinal
stability issues. OrthoIllinois Chiropractic found some new studies on
how diaphragm training manages 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 decreased the severity of pain and also influenced
the thickness of active stabilizers - transversus abdominis, lumbar multifidus
muscle - in the lumbar spine. (5) Strong, thick spinal stabilizers are good
in tackling McHenry back pain.
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
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.
Schedule your McHenry
chiropractic appointment soon.
Breathing and diaphragm training go a long way in keeping the spine stable, easing McHenry back
pain, and maintaining the foundation of spinal movement intact.