Manahawkin Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging
Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together at once for many chiropractic patients, bringing them into Manahawkin Chiropractic Center. We’re ready to help! Growing older has some unique challenges for back, hip, and spine pain sufferers but also some unique positive effects today thanks to new approaches to keeping stability and coping with and easing pain. Your Manahawkin chiropractor keeps abreast of these new approaches and is prepared to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks understand that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of unique peculiarities. Different aches and pains rear their heads one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, requiring attention. For those Manahawkin 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 predicted 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 far! 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. Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have undergone back surgery already with metal implants, etc., and now have pain again is that 3D imaging makes available seeing around the metal. (2) Such views can assist doctors in seeing issues 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 experience is called Pisa Syndrome which is characterized by lateral flexion of the spine greater than 10 degrees which predisposes such folks to falls, a lesser quality of life, and greater risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are important for such patients, important enough that they should do these always to decrease fall risk. (3) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center is all about stability!
CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back surgery. Back pain specialists like your Manahawkin chiropractor are equipped to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Set up your Manahawkin chiropractic appointment today. Manahawkin chiropractic patients find kinship 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!
