DESCRIPTIONS OF PAIN ARE IMPORTANT TO
YOUR CHIROPRACTOR
“Why do you ask me so many
questions, doctor?”
Our Colorado Springs chiropractic patients are the core of our practice. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR wants
to understand each you and your pain experience well,
treat you well, and be sure you are satisfied with your care
and outcome. That is why we have you to describe
your pain to us, sometimes several times and in several
different ways! Words mean different things to different people: “discomfort”
to one may signify “pain” to another while “stiffness” is
“pain” or “discomfort” to a another. It is 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 signified dull/tingling, stiffness signified
tight/restricted. (1) It's beneficial for The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
to know our patient’s experience with pain to better meet
expectations and enhance 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) and reported multiple pain
locations (9 of 17 participants), low back pain (13 of 17), and neck pain (8 of
17). Those are quite typical of reasons
patients seek chiropractic care! In this setting, patients were satisfied with the
collaboration among the various healthcare team members due to
the trust they had in their physician. Patients appreciated
consistency in care from a single caregiving chiropractor. (2)
The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR knows our patients value - and can expect - these
same things from us: consistency, care, collaboration, and results!
Colorado Springs CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE
MONTH: Standing Exercise for Multifidus Muscle Strengthening Works
Back pain. It’s a simple description that may
stem from a multitude of factors including the muscles of the spine,
those seen and unseen. The multifidus muscles are such unseen muscles, smaller, deep muscles that run beside the
spine from the neck to the sacrum. These muscles aid
movements like lateral (side) flexion and rotation of the spine when contracted.
(3) Recently, researchers suggested that the multifidi
may be a potential source of back pain since they are found to be stiffer in low back pain sufferers. Low back pain is associated
with lumbodorsal musculature (which includes the
multifidus muscle) fatigue. Standing back extension exercise fatigued the multifidus
well enough which may avert low back pain initiated
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! Colorado 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 describes
the value of improving muscle strength and
function as part of back pain treatment via the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CONTACT The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR
Make your next Colorado Springs
chiropractic appointment today. Your words will be heard. Your multifidus muscles
will be directed in proper exercise to lessen and
potentially avert back pain. The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR will ask you questions, and you
are encouraged to ask The Chiropractic TRUhealthDR questions, too!