Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together
at once for many chiropractic patients, bringing
them into OrthoIllinois Chiropractic. We’re ready to
help! Growing older presents some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine
pain patients but also some unique benefits
today due to new approaches to keeping
stability and dealing with and reducing pain. Your
McHenry chiropractor keeps on top of these novel
approaches and is prepared 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, requiring attention. For those McHenry back
pain sufferers who are a bit older, hip range of motion and
strength may foretell how 12 months down the road a
chronic low back pain patient may be performing. Researchers tested
this out! Reduced hip strength and
range of motion forecast 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 easy-to-do 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, 3D MRI images of the spine 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 undergone back surgery already 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
impact other areas and even trigger 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 predisposes such folks
to falls, a lesser quality of life, and increased
risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential
for such patients, essential enough that they should do these forever
to reduce fall risk. (3) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic is all for
stability!
CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic
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 McHenry chiropractor are equipped
to examine, diagnose, and manage post-surgical continued pain.
Make your McHenry
chiropractic appointment soon. McHenry chiropractic
patients find camaraderie with each other when it comes to back pain, hip pain, and
spine stability as well as relief from their chiropractic care. See you soon!