Back Clinic Chiropractic. This is a form of alternative treatment that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of various musculoskeletal injuries and conditions, especially those associated with the spine. Dr. Alex Jimenez discusses how spinal adjustments and manual manipulations regularly can greatly help both improve and eliminate many symptoms that could be causing discomfort to the individual. Chiropractors believe among the main reasons for pain and disease are the vertebrae’s misalignment in the spinal column (this is known as a chiropractic subluxation).
Through the usage of manual detection (or palpation), carefully applied pressure, massage, and manual manipulation of the vertebrae and joints (called adjustments), chiropractors can alleviate pressure and irritation on the nerves, restore joint mobility, and help return the body’s homeostasis. From subluxations, or spinal misalignments, to sciatica, a set of symptoms along the sciatic nerve caused by nerve impingement, chiropractic care can gradually restore the individual’s natural state of being. Dr. Jimenez compiles a group of concepts on chiropractic to best educate individuals on the variety of injuries and conditions affecting the human body.
Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory arthritis that causes changes in posture that occur over time. Can exercise and maintaining spinal alignment help improve posture problems?
Ankylosing Spondylitis Posture Improvement
Ankylosing spondylitis/AS is an autoimmune arthritis that primarily affects the spine. It can also spread to other joints of the body and affect the internal organs. Back pain problems are a common side effect of the condition and depending on the severity of damage to the spine, it can have a serious impact on posture.
Affects Posture
The condition usually first affects the sacroiliac joints at the bottom of the spine where they attach to the pelvis. As the condition progresses it works its way to the upper spine. The spine consists of 26 vertebrae/bones stacked on top of each other.
Line up the ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles in a straight line.
Squeeze the shoulder blades together and down toward the back pockets.
Relax the arms at the sides.
Look straight ahead.
Tuck the chin back slightly.
Sitting
The natural curves of the spine need support for proper posture when sitting. Try these tips when at a desk or at a table:
Position the height of the chair so the hips and knees are bent at 90-degree angles.
Place the feet flat on the floor or use a footstool based on chair height.
Place a lumbar support pillow or rolled-up towel behind the lower back.
Position the screen monitor at eye level to keep the upper back straight.
Keep the keyboard and mouse close to the body to prevent overreaching which can increase the rounding of the shoulders and upper back.
Lying Down
Ankylosing spondylitis can make lying down uncomfortable. To support the spine while lying down try to:
Sleep on a semi-firm mattress or type like memory foam to conform to the body.
Place a pillow between the knees to maintain a straight spine when lying on the side.
Use a specialized pillow to prevent placing the upper back in a rounded position.
Posture Exercises
For individuals with ankylosing spondylitis stretching and strengthening exercises can help improve body posture. Individuals are recommended to talk to their healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program.
Chin Tucks
Sit up straight.
Squeeze the shoulder blades together.
Rest the arms at your sides.
Look straight ahead, pull the chin back and in until the stretch is felt along the muscles of the neck.
Hold for three to five seconds and relax.
Repeat 10 times.
Corner Stretch
Stand facing a corner.
Raise the arms to shoulder height.
Place one forearm flat against each wall.
Stagger the feet.
Slowly shift weight over the front leg and lean in toward the corner.
Stop once the stretch is felt across the chest.
Hold for 10 to 20 seconds and relax.
Repeat three times.
Scapular Squeezes
Sit up straight with arms resting at the sides.
Squeeze the shoulder blades together like they are holding an object between them.
Hold for three seconds and relax.
Repeat 10 times.
Maintaining spinal alignment will help decrease back pain that occurs with AS.
Targeted exercises can help stretch tight muscles and strengthen the muscles responsible for maintaining spinal alignment.
Maintaining healthy posture when sitting, standing, and sleeping can help prevent deformities in the spine.
Regular physical activity can help combat stiffness and help maintain overall strength.
For an individualized exercise program, see a physical therapist or chiropractor on incorporating posture exercises to help prevent complications from developing.
Arthritis
References
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Ankylosing spondylitis.
De Nunzio, A. M., Iervolino, S., Zincarelli, C., Di Gioia, L., Rengo, G., Multari, V., Peluso, R., Di Minno, M. N., & Pappone, N. (2015). Ankylosing spondylitis and posture control: the role of visual input. BioMed research international, 2015, 948674. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/948674
In individuals with lumbar back pain, can pain specialists utilize distraction techniques to reduce muscle spasms?
Introduction
Many individuals dealing with specific or nonspecific back pain can agree that it can dampen their moods as they try to find the relief they seek to get back to their routine. More often than not, back pain is a common multifactorial musculoskeletal disorder that can affect the entire body, and it all starts with how people do simple movements incorrectly, causing compression to the spine. Since the spine is the main backbone of the body, it is responsible for training, stability, and flexibility. The surrounding muscles that encompass the spine act like a barrier to protect the skeletal joints and the spinal cord from injuries that are either traumatic or normal wear and tear. Lumbar back pain is also an economic burden that can cause unnecessary stress to the body, which leads to muscle spasms and causes even more stress to the individual. With lumbar back pain being a common nuisance to everyone worldwide, many will opt for treatment to reduce the pain and continue their daily activities. In today’s article, we will explore the issues of lumbar back pain and how treatments with distraction techniques alleviate the effects of lumbar back pain and reduce muscle spasms. We speak with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide numerous treatment plans to mitigate lumbar back pain associated with environmental factors. We also inform our patients that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms related to lumbar back pain and reduce the effects of muscle spasms. We encourage our patients to ask astounding educational questions to our associated medical providers about the pain-like symptoms they are experiencing correlating with the lumbar spine. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
The Issues Of Lumbar Back Pain
Do you often feel pain radiating from your lower back to your legs after work? Did you lift something heavy that caused your back muscles to strain and be in pain? Or do you and your loved ones feel muscle spasms in your lower back after stretching in the morning? When many individuals are dealing with these musculoskeletal issues, it often correlates with lumbar back pain. As stated earlier, the spine is the body’s backbone, and its main job is to support the body’s weight, provide stability to the upper and lower quadrants, and allow the host to move without pain or discomfort. When normal or traumatic factors start to affect many individuals over time, it can lead to the development of lumbar back pain, and it can become an issue for many young and older adults. Since lumbar back pain can be mechanical or nonspecific, it can arise intrinsically from the spine and the spinal components through repetitive muscle trauma that can be overused while being one of the common causes many people experience pain in their lumbar spine. (Will et al., 2018) When many individuals are dealing with lumbar back pain, it can become a reoccurring issue, and many go to medical clinics to get treatment for their lumbar back pain.
Another issue that lumbar back pain causes is affecting the spinal structure and the surrounding muscles, tissues, and ligaments that protect the spine. Since the body is remarkable for sensing when pain affects the spine, the vital structures are affected and start to respond by adopting other measures to maintain the spine’s stability. (Hauser et al., 2022) This means that when the body starts to develop muscle spasms in the spine, the stretched ligaments react rapidly to prevent the spine from destabilizing. This leads to individuals feeling aches and pain in their lower back, which then causes them to miss out on their activities.
The Road To Recovery: Chiropractic Care- Video
When it comes to lumbar back pain, many everyday factors can contribute to its development and cause issues for many individuals. Many individuals with lumbar back pain often experience referred pain in their lower extremity regions as the lumbar portions of the spine have compressed spinal discs, which can also correlate with nerve entrapment. To this point, many will seek out various treatments to reduce low back pain and its associated symptoms. When patients have prolonged symptoms correlating with lumbar pain, conservative management that is either non-surgical or surgical can help treat the pain-like symptoms related to lumbar back pain. (Mohd Isa et al., 2022) Lumbar back pain treatments can be customizable and cost-effective to the person’s pain severity. Non-surgical treatments can help lumbar back pain issues and reduce referred pain symptoms from different body locations in the upper or lower body quadrants. When people go to get their lumbar back pain treated, pain specialists like chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists utilize various techniques and treatments to reduce pain affecting the surrounding ligaments, tissues, and muscles through stretches and traction. The video above explains how these treatments can help reduce pain caused by environmental factors and also help speed up recovery.
Distraction Techniques To Reduce Lumbar Back Pain
When many individuals get treated for lumbar back pain, many opt for non-surgical treatments due to being more affordable than surgical treatments. Pain specialists like chiropractors or massage therapists use distraction techniques to reduce the pain. These pain specialists also incorporate manual and mechanical therapy to be body-oriented to mobilize, manipulate, and stretch out the soft tissues and strengthen them. (Kuligowski et al., 2021) This, in turn, can help reduce lumbar back pain while allowing the individual to be more mindful about their actions to reduce the chances of back pain from returning. At the same time, the effectiveness of treating lumbar back pain through traction can effectively reduce nerve root compression and unresponsive movement symptoms. (Vanti et al., 2021) Traction therapy is a non-surgical treatment that gently stretches the spine to alleviate pain and help kick-start the natural healing process.
Distraction Techniques Reducing Muscle Spasms
Pain specialists incorporate distraction techniques to reduce lumbar back pain and muscle spasms in the lumbar region. As stated earlier, distraction techniques associated with non-surgical treatments can be an excellent way to minimize lumbar back pain. Distraction manipulation can help elevate the affected intervertebral disc by reducing the pressure off the disc and increasing its height in the spine. (Choi et al., 2015) Many individuals feel better when they incorporate distraction therapy to reduce lumbar pain. At the same time, distraction therapy can also be incorporated into a personalized plan to reduce muscle spasms and strengthen weak muscles that surround the lumbar region. The effects of lumbar traction combined with distraction therapy can improve pain and reduce functional disability within the lumbar spine. (Masood et al., 2022) When many people start to think more about their health and wellness, they can make small changes in their routine to prevent low back pain from progressing into something chronic and strengthen their weak muscles to control the pain-like symptoms from returning.
References
Choi, J., Lee, S., & Jeon, C. (2015). Effects of flexion-distraction manipulation therapy on pain and disability in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 27(6), 1937-1939. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.1937
Hauser, R. A., Matias, D., Woznica, D., Rawlings, B., & Woldin, B. A. (2022). Lumbar instability as an etiology of low back pain and its treatment by prolotherapy: A review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil, 35(4), 701-712. https://doi.org/10.3233/BMR-210097
Kuligowski, T., Skrzek, A., & Cieslik, B. (2021). Manual Therapy in Cervical and Lumbar Radiculopathy: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18116176
Masood, Z., Khan, A. A., Ayyub, A., & Shakeel, R. (2022). Effect of lumbar traction on discogenic low back pain using variable forces. J Pak Med Assoc, 72(3), 483-486. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.453
Mohd Isa, I. L., Teoh, S. L., Mohd Nor, N. H., & Mokhtar, S. A. (2022). Discogenic Low Back Pain: Anatomy, Pathophysiology and Treatments of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010208
Vanti, C., Turone, L., Panizzolo, A., Guccione, A. A., Bertozzi, L., & Pillastrini, P. (2021). Vertical traction for lumbar radiculopathy: a systematic review. Arch Physiother, 11(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40945-021-00102-5
How can spinal decompression reduce pain while restoring spinal flexibility in many individuals with lumbar degenerative disorders?
Introduction
As we naturally age, so do our spines and spinal discs, as the natural fluids and nutrients stop hydrating the discs and cause them to degenerate. When disc degeneration starts to affect the spine, it can cause pain-like symptoms in the lumbar regions, which then develop into lower back pain or other musculoskeletal disorders that affect the lower extremities. When disc degeneration starts to affect the lumbar region, many individuals will notice that they are not as flexible as when they were younger. The physical signs of straining their muscles from improper lifting, falling, or carrying heavy objects can cause muscle strain and pain. When this happens, many individuals will treat the pain with home remedies, which can provide temporary relief but can aggravate it more when people make repetitive motions to their lumbar spine, which can result in injuries. Fortunately, non-surgical treatments that can help slow down the process of disc degeneration while rehydrating the spinal disc. Today’s article looks at why disc degeneration affects lumbar flexibility and how treatments like spinal decompression reduce disc degeneration while restoring lumbar flexibility. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce the disc degeneration process and provide pain relief. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with disc degeneration and help restore lumbar flexibility. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
How Does DDD Affect Lumbar Flexibility?
Have you been experiencing stiffness in your back when you wake up in the morning? Do you feel muscle aches and pains when bending down and picking up heavy objects? Or do you feel radiating pain in your legs and back? When many individuals are in excruciating pain, many don’t often realize that their lower back pain could also be associated with their spinal disc degenerating. Since the spinal disc and the body can degenerate naturally, it can lead to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. DDD, or degenerative disc disease, is a common disabling condition that can greatly impact the musculoskeletal system and is the main cause of individuals missing out on their daily activities. (Cao et al., 2022) When normal or traumatic factors begin to cause repetitive motions to the spine, it can cause the spinal disc to be compressed and, over time, degenerate. This, in turn, causes the spine to be less flexible and becomes a socio-economic challenge.
When disc degeneration starts to cause spinal inflexibility, it can lead to the development of low back pain. Since low back pain is a common health concern, it can affect many individuals worldwide, as disc degeneration is a common factor. (Samanta et al., 2023) Since disc degeneration is a multi-factorial disorder, the musculoskeletal and organ systems are also affected as it can cause referred pain to different body locations. Luckily, many individuals can find the treatment they are looking for, as many seek relief from the many pain issues that disc degeneration has caused.
Lumbar Spine Injuries In Athletes- Video
Since disc degeneration is a multi-factorial cause of disability, it can become a primary source of back pain. When normal factors contribute to back pain, it likely correlates with disc degeneration and can cause cellular, structural, compositional, and mechanical changes throughout the spine. (Ashinsky et al., 2021) However, many individuals seeking treatment can look into non-surgical therapies as they are cost-effective and safe on the spine. Non-surgical treatments are safe and gentle on the spine as they can be customizable to the person’s pain and combined with other treatment forms. One of the non-surgical treatments is spinal decompression, which uses gentle traction on the spine to rehydrate the spinal disc from degeneration and help kick-start the body’s natural healing process. The video above shows how disc degeneration is correlated with disc herniation and how these treatments can reduce its pain-like effects on the spine.
Spinal Decompression Reducing DDD
When many individuals are going in for treatment for disc degeneration, many will often try spinal decompression as it is affordable. Many healthcare professionals will assess the individual by creating a personalized plan before entering the traction machine. Many individuals will get a CT scan to assess the changes caused by DDD. (Dullerud & Nakstad, 1994) This determines how severe the disc space is. The traction machine for spinal decompression determines the optimal treatment duration, frequency, and mode of administrating traction to the spine to reduce DDD. (Pellecchia, 1994) Additionally, the efficiency of traction from spinal decompression can help many people with low back and provide relief. (Beurskens et al., 1995)
References
Ashinsky, B., Smith, H. E., Mauck, R. L., & Gullbrand, S. E. (2021). Intervertebral disc degeneration and regeneration: a motion segment perspective. Eur Cell Mater, 41, 370-380. https://doi.org/10.22203/eCM.v041a24
Beurskens, A. J., de Vet, H. C., Koke, A. J., Lindeman, E., Regtop, W., van der Heijden, G. J., & Knipschild, P. G. (1995). Efficacy of traction for non-specific low back pain: a randomised clinical trial. Lancet, 346(8990), 1596-1600. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(95)91930-9
Cao, G., Yang, S., Cao, J., Tan, Z., Wu, L., Dong, F., Ding, W., & Zhang, F. (2022). The Role of Oxidative Stress in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2022, 2166817. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2166817
Dullerud, R., & Nakstad, P. H. (1994). CT changes after conservative treatment for lumbar disk herniation. Acta Radiol, 35(5), 415-419. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8086244
Samanta, A., Lufkin, T., & Kraus, P. (2023). Intervertebral disc degeneration-Current therapeutic options and challenges. Front Public Health, 11, 1156749. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1156749
Can healthcare professionals help individuals with spinal pain by incorporating non-surgical spinal decompression to restore mobility?
Introduction
Many individuals don’t realize that putting unwanted pressure on their spines can lead to chronic pain within their spinal discs that is affecting their spinal mobility. This usually happens with demanding jobs requiring individuals to carry heavy objects, step wrong, or be physically inactive, which causes the surrounding back muscles to be overstretched and leads to referred pain that affects the upper and lower body portions. This can cause individuals to go to their primary doctors to get treated for back pain. This leads to them missing out on their busy work schedules and paying a high price to get treated. Back pain correlating with spinal issues can be a huge problem and make them feel miserable. Fortunately, numerous clinical options are cost-effective and personalized to many individuals dealing with spinal pain that is causing them to find the relief they deserve. Today’s article focuses on why spinal pain affects many people and how spinal decompression can help reduce spinal pain and restore spinal mobility. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce spinal pain affecting their backs. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with spinal issues in the body. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
Why Spinal Pain Is Affecting Many People?
Have you often experienced pain from your back muscles that seem to ache after bending down constantly to pick up objects? Do you or your loved ones feel muscle stiffness in the back and experience numbness in your upper or lower body portions? Or are you experiencing temporary relief after stretching your back muscles, only for the pain to return? Many individuals with back pain never realize that their pain is within their spinal column. Since the spine is an S-curve shape with three different regions in the body, the spinal discs within each spinal segment can become compressed and become misaligned over time. This causes degenerative changes within the spine and can cause the three different spinal regions to develop pain-like issues in the body. When several environmental factors start to be the causes of degeneration of the spinal discs, it can affect the spinal structure. It can become a strong influence affecting their function, predisposing the disc to injuries. (Choi, 2009) At the same time, this can cause a significant impact when getting treated due to its high cost and can start normal age-related changes that cause pathophysiological issues to the vertebral body. (Gallucci et al., 2005)
When many individuals are dealing with spinal pain associated with herniated discs, it can not only cause discomfort but also mimic other musculoskeletal disorders that can cause radiating pain to different locations in the body. (Deyo et al., 1990) This, in turn, causes individuals to suffer constantly and research various treatments to reduce the pain they are experiencing. When spinal pain affects most individuals, many will seek cost-effective therapies to ease the pain they are experiencing and to be mindful of the daily habits they adopt over time and correct them.
Spinal Decompression In-Depth- Video
Do you often feel constant muscle aches and pains in your body that are your general areas of complaint? Do you feel your muscles pull uncomfortably after lifting or carrying a heavy object? Or do you feel constant stress in your neck, shoulders, or back? When many individuals are dealing with general pain, they often assume that it is just back pain when it could be a spinal issue that can be the root cause of the pain they are experiencing. When this happens, many individuals opt for non-surgical treatments due to its cost-effectiveness and how it can be personalized depending on the severity of the pain. One of the non-surgical treatments is spinal decompression/traction therapy. The video above gives an in-depth look at how spinal decompression can help reduce spinal pain associated with low back pain. Spinal pain can increase with age and be provoked by extreme lumbar extension, so incorporating spinal decompression can help reduce pain in the upper and lower extremities. (Katz et al., 2022)
How Spinal Decompression Can Reduce Spinal Pain
When individuals develop spinal issues, spinal decompression can help restore the spine to its original position and help the body naturally heal itself. When something is out of place within the spine, it is important to naturally restore it to its proper place to allow the affected muscles to heal. (Cyriax, 1950) Spinal decompression uses gentle traction to pull the spinal joints to let the spinal disc back in its original position and help increase fluid intake back in the spine. When people start incorporating spinal decompression into their health and wellness routine, they can reduce their spinal pain after a few consecutive treatments.
Spinal Decompression Restoring Spinal Mobility
Spinal decompression can also be incorporated with other non-surgical treatments to restore spinal mobility. When pain specialists utilize spinal decompression within their practices, they can help treat various musculoskeletal conditions, including spinal disorders, to allow the individual to regain spinal mobility. (Pettman, 2007) At the same time, pain specialists can use mechanical and manual manipulation to reduce the pain the individual feels. When spinal decompression starts to use gentle traction on the spine, it can help minimize radical pain correlated with nerve entrapment, create negative pressure within the spinal sections, and relieve musculoskeletal disorders causing pain. (Daniel, 2007) When people start thinking more about their health and wellness to reduce their pain, spinal decompression can be the answer through a personalized plan and can help many individuals find the relief they deserve.
Daniel, D. M. (2007). Non-surgical spinal decompression therapy: does the scientific literature support efficacy claims made in the advertising media? Chiropr Osteopat, 15, 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1340-15-7
Gallucci, M., Puglielli, E., Splendiani, A., Pistoia, F., & Spacca, G. (2005). Degenerative disorders of the spine. Eur Radiol, 15(3), 591-598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-004-2618-4
Katz, J. N., Zimmerman, Z. E., Mass, H., & Makhni, M. C. (2022). Diagnosis and Management of Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Review. JAMA, 327(17), 1688-1699. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2022.5921
Can healthcare professionals provide the best non-surgical therapeutic options for individuals with chronic low back pain?
Introduction
Chronic low back pain can happen to numerous individuals, affecting their daily routine and making them miss out on important life events. With the ever-changing world, many individuals, especially working individuals, will experience chronic low back pain at some point due to unbearable stress that seems to affect the surrounding muscles that protect the lumbar spine. This causes many individuals to overstretch or shorten the muscles that are contributing to lower back pain, which can be the causing factor in the development of lower back pain. At the same time, when individuals suffer from low back pain, it can be imposed as a grave economic cost to society. (Pai & Sundaram, 2004) This, in turn, causes many individuals to miss out on work and be financially burdened as the cost of chronic low back pain treatment is high. However, numerous therapeutic options are cost-effective, safe, and effective in reducing chronic low back pain. Today’s post looks at the effects of chronic low back pain and how many individuals can look at various non-surgical options that many individuals can utilize to reduce chronic low back pain. Coincidentally, we communicate with certified medical providers who incorporate our patients’ information to provide various treatment plans to reduce chronic low back pain. We also inform them that there are non-surgical options to reduce the pain-like symptoms associated with the factors that cause chronic lower back pain. We encourage our patients to ask amazing educational questions to our associated medical providers about their symptoms correlating with body pain in a safe and positive environment. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an academic service. Disclaimer
The Effects Of Chronic Low Back Pain
Have you been dealing with chronic pain that flares up in your lower back after a hard workday? Do you feel muscle aches or pains that don’t relieve itself after a day of rest? Or do you and your loved ones take any medication to temporarily relieve your back pain, only to have it come back after a few hours? Many people with chronic low back pain will feel symptoms of stiffness, muscle aches, and radiating pain traveling to their lower extremities. When chronic low back pain is associated with musculoskeletal conditions, it can impact their daily routine. To that point, musculoskeletal disorders correlating with chronic low back pain can encompass a spectrum of conditions and increase naturally over time. (Woolf & Pfleger, 2003) When many individuals are dealing with chronic low back pain, it can become a socio-economic burden that leads to disability. (Andersson, 1999) However, there are numerous options for individuals with chronic lower back pain who can find the relief they need to reduce its effects and will be able to get back to their daily routine.
Understanding Long-Lasting Injuries- Video
Chronic low back pain is when back pain that lasts longer than a few weeks and is one of the most common problems many people experience. When finding relief for chronic low back pain, many individuals will try home remedies to alleviate the pain. However, it can temporarily relieve the issue and mask the symptoms. When individuals see their primary doctor for chronic low back pain, many will seek a personalized plan to reduce chronic low back pain and its associated symptoms. When relieving chronic low back pain, comprehensive pain management treatments often rely on physical therapy, multidisciplinary approaches, and non-surgical options to reduce chronic low back pain. (Grabois, 2005) When understanding how the individual has chronic low back pain, it is important to identify the causes and how it can cause lifelong injuries that can develop into disability. When primary doctors start to utilize non-surgical treatments in their practices, many individuals can find the benefits of non-surgical treatments as they are cost-effective, safe, and gentle on the spine and lumbar region and can be personalized with associated medical providers to reduce pain-like symptoms correlating with chronic low back pain. Check out the video above to learn more about how non-surgical treatments can help reduce chronic low back pain and help revitalize a person’s body through a personalized treatment plan.
Non-Surgical Options For Chronic Low Back Pain
When treating chronic low back pain, non-surgical treatments effectively relieve pain and restore mobility to the back. Non-surgical treatments can be customized to the individual’s pain severity while being cost-effective. When individuals are evaluated for chronic low back pain, they are provided with many healthcare providers to reduce the pain-like symptoms caused by chronic low back pain. (Atlas & Deyo, 2001) Many individuals will incorporate various treatment options like:
Exercises
Spinal Decompression
Chiropractic care
Massage Therapy
Acupuncture
Many of these treatments are non-surgical and incorporate various mechanical and manual manipulation techniques to stretch and strengthen the weak back muscles, elongate the spine through realignment, and help restore movement while reducing symptoms in the lower extremities. When individuals incorporate non-surgical treatments consecutively, they will have a positive experience and feel better in the long run. (Koes et al., 1996)
Koes, B. W., Assendelft, W. J., van der Heijden, G. J., & Bouter, L. M. (1996). Spinal manipulation for low back pain. An updated systematic review of randomized clinical trials. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 21(24), 2860-2871; discussion 2872-2863. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199612150-00013
For individuals about to engage in physical activity or exercise, how does warming up the body help prepare for the work ahead?
Central Nervous System Activation
A proper warm-up before physical activity or working out prepares the mind and body to reduce risks of injury, mentally and physically transition to physical activity work, and enhance performance. A well-designed warm-up also primes the central nervous system/CNS for activity. The central nervous system transmits messages to the muscles to prepare them for action. Central nervous system activation increases motor neuron recruitment and engages the sympathetic nervous system so the body can better handle the physical stressors. The process may seem complex, but priming the nervous system is as simple as warming up with light aerobic activity before getting into more explosive movements.
CNS
The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. This central communication system uses another part of the nervous system known as the peripheral nervous system or PNS to transmit and receive messages throughout the body. The PNS is connected to the entire body and the brain and spinal cord (CNS).
Nerves run throughout the body, receiving signals from the CNS to the muscles, fibers, and organs, transmitting various information back to the brain. (Berkeley University. N.D.)
There are two types of systems within the peripheral nervous system – somatic and autonomic.
Somatic nervous system actions are those controlled by the person through voluntary actions like choosing to pick something up.
Properly preparing the body for an intense strength training session or other physical activity needs the correct messages to be sent through the autonomic nervous system.
Parasympathetic and Sympathetic States
The autonomic nervous system consists of two subcategories, which are parasympathetic and sympathetic.
The sympathetic nervous system helps the body get ready to face stress which includes physical stress. (R. Bankenahally, H. Krovvidi. 2016)
The fight, flight, or freeze response describes the sympathetic nervous system’s aspect.
The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for relaxation and de-stressing.
Individuals are recommended to perform a few calming movements and actions after a workout to return the body to a parasympathetic state. This can be:
Activating the CNS can increase performance and prevent injuries. The process wakes up and alerts the body for the activity. Individuals are recommended before beginning a training session, to communicate to the body about the physical stress it is about to endure and to prepare for the work ahead. This is a concept known as post-activation potentiation/PAP. (Anthony J Blazevich, Nicolas Babault. 2019) PAP helps increase force and power production, which enhances physical performance.
Whenever an individual trains, the brain adapts and learns what the body is doing and the purpose of the training.
Muscle memory describes this interaction.
Individuals who have started up a new strength training routine or after an extended break report feeling awkward for the first few sessions, or even weeks, depending on their experience. (David C Hughes, Stian Ellefsen, Keith Baar, 2018)
However, after a few sessions, the body is more adept at performing the movements and ready to increase resistance, repetitions, or both.
This has to do with the neural drive and muscle memory than it has to do with true potential physical abilities. (Simon Walker. 2021)
The first step is a general warm-up that should use large muscle groups and be of low intensity so as not to exhaust the body before beginning the actual training. General warm-up benefits central nervous system activation and the entire body include: (Pedro P. Neves, et al., 2021) (D C. Andrade, et al., 2015)
Increases blood circulation.
Assists the release of oxygen from hemoglobin and myoglobin.
Warms the muscles, so they contract more effectively.
Increases nerve impulse speed.
Increases nutrient delivery.
Lowers joints’ resistance through increased synovial fluid/joint lubrication.
Increases joint range of motion.
Improves joint resiliency.
Removes metabolic waste quicker.
Reduces risk of injury.
A general warm-up can be simple as any aerobic activity will work. This can include:
Performing bodyweight movements – light jumping jacks or jogging in place.
Treadmill
Rowing machine
Stair climber
Elliptical trainer
It is recommended to use the rating perceived exertion scale/RPE to determine the general warm-up effort. An exertion rating of between 5 to 6 is equivalent to moderate walking or a slow jog. Individuals should be able to speak clearly without taking a pause.
Try this strategy before the next workout to see increased performance and reduced injury risks.
Blazevich, A. J., & Babault, N. (2019). Post-activation Potentiation Versus Post-activation Performance Enhancement in Humans: Historical Perspective, Underlying Mechanisms, and Current Issues. Frontiers in physiology, 10, 1359. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2019.01359
Hughes, D. C., Ellefsen, S., & Baar, K. (2018). Adaptations to Endurance and Strength Training. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 8(6), a029769. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a029769
Walker S. (2021). Evidence of resistance training-induced neural adaptation in older adults. Experimental gerontology, 151, 111408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2021.111408
Andrade, D. C., Henriquez-Olguín, C., Beltrán, A. R., Ramírez, M. A., Labarca, C., Cornejo, M., Álvarez, C., & Ramírez-Campillo, R. (2015). Effects of general, specific, and combined warm-up on explosive muscular performance. Biology of sport, 32(2), 123–128. https://doi.org/10.5604/20831862.1140426
As the body ages, individuals want to stay active and maintain a healthy pain free lifestyle. Can regenerative cells for arthritis and cartilage damage be the future of neuromusculoskeletal medicine and joint healing?
Regenerative Cells For Arthritis and Cartilage Damage
Individuals want to continue to do the physical activities they love, which require healthy joints. Scientists are learning how to harness the abilities of regenerative cells to repair and regrow damaged and deteriorated cartilage. Current stem cell treatment of cartilage problems has not been shown to reverse the effects of arthritis and while studies show clinical improvement, further research is necessary. (Bryan M. Saltzman, et al., 2016)
Cartilage and How It Gets Damaged
Cartilage is a type of connective tissue. In the joints, there are a few types of cartilage. The most commonly referred to is the smooth lining known as articular or hyaline cartilage. This type forms a smooth layer of cushion on the end of a bone at the joint. (Rocky S. Tuan, et al., 2013)
The tissue is very strong and has the ability to compress and absorb energy.
It is very smooth allowing a joint to glide effortlessly through a limb’s range of motion.
When joint cartilage is damaged, the cushioning can wear down.
In traumatic injuries, a sudden force can cause the cartilage to break off and/or suffer damage, that exposes the underlying bone.
In osteoarthritis – degenerative or wear-and-tear arthritis, the smooth layer can wear down thin and unevenly.
Eventually, the cushion wears away, the joints become inflamed and swollen and movements become stiff and painful.
There are treatments for arthritis and cartilage damage, but these treatments are usually focused on relieving symptoms by smoothing down the damaged cartilage or replacing the joint surface with an artificial implant, like knee replacement or hip replacement surgeries. (Robert F. LaPrade, et al., 2016)
Regenerative Cells
Regenerative stem cells are special cells that have the ability to multiply and develop into different types of tissue. In an orthopedic surgery setting for joint problems, stem cells are obtained from adult stem cell primary sources which are bone marrow and fatty tissue. These cells have the ability to develop into cartilage cells, called chondrocytes. (Rocky S. Tuan, et al., 2013)
They also help by stimulating the body to reduce inflammation, stimulate cell repair, and improve blood circulation.
This process is caused by cellular signals and growth factors to stimulate the body to activate the healing processes.
Once stem cells have been obtained, they need to be delivered to the area of cartilage damage.
Cartilage is a complex tissue that is described as a scaffold structure that is composed of collagen, proteoglycans, water, and cells. (Rocky S. Tuan, et al., 2013)
To regenerate cartilage, the complex tissues must also be reconstructed.
There are studies on types of tissue scaffolds engineered to recreate a similar type of cartilage structure.
The stem cells can then be injected into the scaffold, in hopes of restoring a normal type of cartilage.
Non-Surgical Arthritis Treatments
Standard treatments such as cortisone shots or physical therapies work as well and provide benefits that could be utilized in combination with regenerative cells for arthritis and cartilage damage in the near future. Data takes time and therefore how this impacts the long-term health of a joint needs continued research in terms of tissue engineering and cell delivery to determine the best approach to help individuals.
Arthritis
References
LaPrade, R. F., Dragoo, J. L., Koh, J. L., Murray, I. R., Geeslin, A. G., & Chu, C. R. (2016). AAOS Research Symposium Updates and Consensus: Biologic Treatment of Orthopaedic Injuries. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 24(7), e62–e78. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-16-00086
Saltzman, B. M., Kuhns, B. D., Weber, A. E., Yanke, A., & Nho, S. J. (2016). Stem Cells in Orthopedics: A Comprehensive Guide for the General Orthopedist. American journal of orthopedics (Belle Mead, N.J.), 45(5), 280–326.
Tuan, R. S., Chen, A. F., & Klatt, B. A. (2013). Cartilage regeneration. The Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 21(5), 303–311. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-21-05-303
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