Richmond 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 Johnson Chiropractic. We’re here to help! Getting older has some unique challenges for those who suffer with back, hip and spine pain but also some unique benefits today due to novel ways to maintaining stability and coping with and reducing pain. Your Richmond chiropractor keeps abreast of these novel 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 distinctive oddities. Different aches and pains arise one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those Richmond back pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and strength may foretell how 12 months later a chronic low back pain patient may be functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Decreased 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 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 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 accurate. Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have had previous back surgery with metal implants, etc., and now have continued pain is that 3D imaging permits seeing around the metal. (2) Such views can help doctors see issues at adjacent spine levels.
A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME
Pain issues in one area of the spine can certainly affect other areas and even trigger 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 lower quality of life, and greater risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are important for such patients, essential enough that they should do these always to decrease fall risk. (3) Johnson Chiropractic is all for stability!
CONTACT Johnson 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 Richmond chiropractor are able to examine, diagnose, and treat post-surgical continued pain.
Set up your Richmond chiropractic appointment today. Richmond 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. We look forward to seeing you soon!
