WORDS DESCRIBING PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why are you asking me all these
questions, doc?”
Our Sandy Springs chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. Cross Chiropractic Center wants
to understand each of our patients and your pain experience well,
treat you well, and be sure you are satisfied with your care
and outcome. That is why we ask you to describe
your pain to us, sometimes a few 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 studied
just what these different words mean to patients. An example with regards to
the description of “feeling”: pain signified
sharp/shooting, discomfort was dull/tingling, stiffness was
tight/restricted. (1) It's important for us
to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet
expectations and boost satisfaction with care. Patients who went
to an integrated hospital for care of their musculoskeletal pain
and depressive symptoms rated 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 pursue chiropractic care! In this setting, because patients trusted their main physician, patients were satisfied with the collaboration amongst
the various healthcare team members. Patients valued
consistency in care from one caregiving chiropractor. (2)
Cross Chiropractic Center knows our patients value - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Sandy Springs 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, smaller, deep muscles that run parallel to the
spine from the cervical spine to the sacrum. These muscles aid
movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted.
(3) Recently, researchers proposed that the multifidi
may be a potential source of back pain since they are described
as being stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is associated
with lumbodorsal musculature (which incorporates the
multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus
sufficiently which may avert low back pain produced
by muscle fatigue. (4) “Superman” (on-the-floor) exercises are well known. Standing
back extension and “superman” exercises are newly reported
as equally beneficial in
strengthening these multifidus muscles. (5) That is great
news! Sandy Springs back pain sufferers can do simple, 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 details
the benefit of increasing muscle strength and
function as part of back pain care following the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic Center
Make your next Sandy Springs
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be strengthened via proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. Cross Chiropractic Center will ask you questions, and you
are welcome to ask Cross Chiropractic Center questions, too!