On Spinal Stenosis

While the term “stenosis” comes from Greek and means a “choking”, spinal stenosis, however, has little in common with choking. So what is spinal stenosis?

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/spinal-stenosis/what-spinal-stenosis

3 Things to do For Controlling Degenerative Disc Disease

3 suggestions to control pain from disc degeneration:  1-stay active 2-modify any activity that puts stress on your back 3-improve your nutrition

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/degenerative-disc-disease/controlling-degenerative-disc-disease-pain-three-things-you-can

Integrating Care in Chiropractic

What's the best way to incorporate chiropractic care in with care from other doctors?

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/integrating-chiropractic-care-other-doctors

Battling Heat & Back Pain

Sometimes battling the heat with back pain can be tough. Check out these tips.

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/battling-heat-and-back-pain

Chiro Post-Operative Care

Even though there is usually some temporarily added muscle soreness (similar to the feeling of having completed an aggressive exercise session) after the manipulation, the patient should experience an immediate increase in range of motion post-anesthesia care.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/post-operative-care

About that cracking sound...

Sometimes joint cavitation or cracking does not occur during a chiropractic adjustment. Why not? And what are the chiropractors next steps?

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-adjustment

Sources of Whiplash Pain

When the cervical spine (neck) is subject to whiplash, there is usually a combination of factors that contribute to whiplash pain in the neck and back, and ultimately need to be addressed individually by a chiropractor, who maintains a "holistic" view of the patient's whiplash pain. This article explains how chiropractors approach treating neck pain, back pain, and/or other whiplash symptoms, and help patients prevent chronic whiplash pain.

Whiplash Pain Management for Joint Dysfunction

Joint dysfunction from whiplash occurs when one of the joints in the spine or limbs loses its normal joint play (resiliency and shock absorption). A chiropractic technique called motion palpation gently moves the joint in different directions and assesses its joint play. When a joint develops dysfunction, its normal range of movement may be affected and it can become painful.

Muscle Dysfunction from Whiplash Injuries

When joint dysfunction develops, muscles are affected by becoming tense and overactive or inhibited and underactive. In either case, these muscles can develop trigger points that may necessitate whiplash treatment involving muscle relaxation or stimulation.

Trigger points are areas of congestion within the muscle where toxins accumulate and can irritate the nerve endings within the muscle and produce pain. This whiplash pain can occur in the muscle itself or can be referred pain (perceived in other areas of the body).

The muscle can also send abnormal neurological signals into the nervous system, which can then cause disruption of the ability of the nervous system to properly regulate muscles in other parts of the body, leading to the development of faulty movement patterns.

Faulty Movement Patterns and Whiplash Pain

It is thought that the intense barrage of pain signals from a traumatic whiplash injury to the cervical spine can change the way the nervous system controls the coordinated function of muscles.

The disruption of coordinated, stable movement is known as faulty movement patterns which cause increased strain in the muscles and joints, leading to neck pain and back pain. They can involve the neck itself or can arise from dysfunction in other areas of the body such as the foot or pelvis.

Instability is also considered part of faulty movement patterns. There are two types of instability that can occur in whiplash:

- Passive—the ligaments of the neck are loosened, making it more susceptible to whiplash pain; and

- Dynamic—the nervous system disruption causes a disturbance in the body’s natural muscular response to common, everyday forces.

Instability can cause even mild, innocuous activities difficult to perform as they often exacerbate the
whiplash pain.

Whiplash Pain from a Herniated Disc

The force of whiplash can cause injury to the discs between the vertebrae, and small tears can develop. If the gelatinous middle of the disc seeps out, it can irritate the nerve endings in this area. This is known as disc derangement.

Occasionally, the gel can seep all the way out and press on a nerve root exiting the spinal cord behind the disc, known as disc herniation.

A herniated disc may involve whiplash pain in the neck as well as sharp, shooting pain down the arm and possibly neurological symptoms such as numbness, tingling and muscle weakness.

Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash

Each case of whiplash is different so it’s not possible to generalize about the chiropractic whiplash treatment.

Chiropractors commonly employ different chiropractic treatments for whiplash, often including:

- Manipulation
- Muscle relaxation and/or stimulation
- Various exercises
- Ergonomic and lifestyle changes.

Preventing Chronic Pain from Whiplash

After sustaining whiplash injuries, it is fairly common for people to suffer from chronic neck pain. Chiropractors can detect certain factors in a patient’s history and chiropractic exam to better determine patients who may be more susceptible to chronic pain from a whiplash injury. This process will identify when aggressive preventative measures should be taken for patients who may be at a greater risk of developing chronic neck pain from whiplash injuries.

Learn more about whiplash and its treatment at http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/neck-pain/what-whiplash

Treating Pulled Muscles and Lower Back Strain

The majority of acute lower back pain episodes are caused by muscle strain (pulled muscles) and sprain. Fortunately, back muscle strains usually heal with time, often within a few days and almost all resolving within 3 to 4 weeks. Learn more about the causes of and treatments available for low back strain.

Featured Article:
Pulled Back Muscle Treatment


More Information

Pulled Back Muscle and Lower Back Strain
When the muscles or ligaments in the low back are strained or torn, the area around the muscles will become inflamed. This leads to back spasm, which can cause both severe lower back pain and difficulty moving. Learn more...

Back Care for Lower Back Pain
It is often advisable for patients to employ back care on their own early in the course of low back pain. Do-it-yourself back care can include rest, over-the counter medications, and ice/heat therapy. Learn more...

Lower Back Pain Treatment
Treatment for lower back pain depends upon the patient's history and the type and severity of pain. The vast majority of lower back pain cases get better within six weeks, though surgery may be an option if pain persists. Learn more...

Lower Back Strain Video

Lower Back Strain

Lower back strain is acute pain caused by damage to the muscles and ligaments of the back. It is often referred to as a pulled muscle. Learn more about the muscles affected by and symptoms of lower back strain.

Start watching...

Exercise in Chiropractic

Exercise and chiropractic care go hand in hand as part of a comprehensive treatment plan to back or neck recovery.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/exercise-and-chiropractic-therapy

In the assessment of lower back pain, differential diagnosis utilizing a "triage" concept of classifying low back injuries into one of three categories helps to guide the doctor of chiropractic.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-diagnosis

History of Chiropractic

Since its inception in 1895, chiropractic has provided treatment for patients with back pain, neck pain and headache.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/american-chiropractic-history-treatment-back-pain-and-neck-pain

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! Are any of you convinced by this post to stand more at your office this week?

http://www.spine-health.com/blog/new-health-epidemic-sitting-disease

Hamstring Stretches for Sciatica/Lower Back Pain Relief

Most low back pain and sciatica problems will benefit from a regular routine of hamstring stretching. Read all about it and check out the videos, too.

http://www.spine-health.com/wellness/exercise/hamstring-stretching-exercises-sciatica-pain-relief

Whiplash Cases in Chiropractic

Because each individual case of whiplash is different, it is not possible to generalize about the chiropractic whiplash treatment.

http://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-treatments-whiplash

Biking - It's Good For You!

Biking is a popular form of aerobic exercise, and is often a favored form of exercise by people with low back pain conditions. Biking may be a good exercise option for many reasons:

http://www.spine-health.com/conditions/sports-and-spine-injuries/bicycling-and-back-pain