Easley 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, prompting a visit to Young Chiropractic. We are here to help! Growing older presents some unique challenges for those who experience back, hip and spine pain but also some unique positive effects today thanks to novel approaches to keeping stability and dealing with and easing pain. Your Easley chiropractor keeps on top of these new approaches and is ready to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks know that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of distinctive oddities. Different aches and pains rear their heads one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those Easley back pain sufferers who are a bit older, hip range of motion and strength may foretell how 12 months later a chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers tested this out! Decreased hip strength and range of motion forecast a decline in function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1) Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and knows 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 exclude as a diagnosis osteoarthritis.
3D IMAGING BENEFITS
Imaging has come a long way! Today, 3D MRI images of the spine are now clinically possible. Their advantage is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more accurate. Pretty cool! 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 assist doctors in seeing problems 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 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, important enough that they should do these always to reduce fall risk. (3) Young Chiropractic is all for stability!
CONTACT Young Chiropractic
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 Easley chiropractor are able to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Schedule your Easley chiropractic appointment now. Easley chiropractic patients find camaraderie with each other when back pain, hip pain, and spine stability are involved as well as relief from their chiropractic care. We look forward to seeing you soon!
