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.
Anyone that has dealt with low back pain can describe it in various ways. Some may describe it as a mild, dull ache that can be a gradual nuisance throughout the day, while others describe it as sudden throbbing, burning pain that can radiate pain that travels down to the feet. Either way, having low back pain is horrible, and it could be developed more if people don’t change their habits to relieve back pain. Some of the risk factors can be poor lifestyle choices, common factors like looking down at your phone or lifting heavy objects, while others can be due to stress and anxiety. These risk factors can cause more pressure on the lower back; however, there are a variety of treatments that can help alleviate low back pain. Today’s article focuses on the differences between two non-surgical treatments, traction therapy and decompression therapy, and how they can relieve low back pain in their unique way. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is essential for asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
The Difference Between Traction & Decompression Therapy
Are you feeling a wide variety of pain in your lower back? Has the pain been a dull gradual ache that causes you to place your hand on your lower back? Or is it a sudden throbbing pain that hinders your ability to do any errands? This type of pain is called low back pain, and trying out either traction therapy or decompression therapy could be the answer you are looking for low back relief. Say you want to try traction therapy. Well, research studies have mentioned that traction therapy can be both manually and mechanically used to gently pulls on the spine to increase the spinal disc height while reducing the internal pressure. This allows the pain-sensitive fibers surrounding the outer layer of the spinal disc to relax. Traction therapy also allows the physical function of the spine to recover and return to normal posture; plus decreases the pain and improves the biomechanic function of the spine’s mobility. Other research studies have found that when individuals try traction therapy, the positive results show that traction therapy can help alleviate leg pain conditions like sciatica and relieve nerve root tension.
If traction therapy is not suitable for you, decompression therapy can help. As research has stated, Decompression therapy is a treatment that helps reduce the pressure off the irritated spinal nerve roots that are sending out pain signals throughout the entire lower half of the body. Decompression helps compressed, bulging discs that are touching pinched nerve roots retract back to the spine and cause the relief to the individual. That allows the reduction of muscular back spasms and loosens tense soft tissues. Additional information has been provided that decompression works well with physical therapy by restoring lumbar functionality on the spine and enhancing muscle endurance on the back. Decompression even provides relief for individuals suffering from other back pain conditions such as herniation, slipped disc, poor posture, and pinched nerves.
An Overview Of Lumbar Traction-Video
Feeling aches and pains all over your back? How about stiff muscles on your lower back when you stretch side to side? Does the pain come in a gradual or sudden throbbing way? These can be issues of low back pain and decompression, along with traction therapy can help you. The above explains what traction does while using the Chatanooga Trition machine. The machine helps many people suffering from low back pain issues and helps alleviate other chronic problems like sciatica, bulging disc, lumbar scoliosis, and pinched nerves in the lumbar region. People will feel instant relief after going in for a treatment to relieve low back pain. Suppose you want to learn more about decompression or traction therapy and how it can benefit you in relieving low back pain and other low back conditions? This link will explain what these two therapies do for the lower back.
How Both Traction & Decompression Therapy Alleviate Low Back Pain
Both traction and decompression therapy have unique ways of alleviating low back pain as both are non-surgical treatments. Research studies have demonstrated that the effects of both these treatments have increased back muscle activities through muscle endurance from the torso. Traction and decompression therapy can also provide valuable information in relieving low back pain due to degenerative changes in the spinal discs, as studies have concluded. Both treatments are excellent for many people suffering from lumbar, cervical, and leg pain, restricting their quality of life. Non-surgical treatments help people worldwide recuperate from suffering so long with back pain and help them utilize non-surgical therapy as part of their path to recovery.
Conclusion
Overall, even though traction and decompression therapy has unique functions to help alleviate pain, they both have one thing in common: they are used in non-surgical treatments to ease low back pain for many individuals. Integrating non-surgical treatments for a person’s health and wellness journey can help them live longer, develop new habits, and even help supply relief to their back. While traction therapy increases spinal disc height and decompression relieves pressure off irritated, pinched nerves, having low back pain is no laughing matter when it stops a person’s quality of life. Knowing that there are treatments for low back pain can help many individuals in the long run with their health and wellness.
References
Alrwaily, Muhammad, et al. “Assessment of Variability in Traction Interventions for Patients with Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.” Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, BioMed Central, 17 Sept. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139896/.
Amjad, Fareeha, et al. “Effects of Non-Surgical Decompression Therapy in Addition to Routine Physical Therapy on Pain, Range of Motion, Endurance, Functional Disability and Quality of Life versus Routine Physical Therapy Alone in Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy; a Randomized Controlled Trial.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 16 Mar. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8924735/.
Apfel, Christian C, et al. “Restoration of Disk Height through Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Is Associated with Decreased Discogenic Low Back Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 8 July 2010, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2912793/.
Horseman, Ian, and Mark W Morningstar. “Radiographic Disk Height Increase after a Trial of Multimodal Spine Rehabilitation and Vibration Traction: A Retrospective Case Series.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Elsevier, Dec. 2008, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2697595/.
Kang, Jeong-Il, et al. “Effect of Spinal Decompression on the Lumbar Muscle Activity and Disk Height in Patients with Herniated Intervertebral Disk.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Nov. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5140813/.
Oh, Hyunju, et al. “The Impact of Manual Spinal Traction Therapy on the Pain and Oswestry Disability Index of Patients with Chronic Back Pain.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Dec. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6279706/.
As the world moves, so does the body. When the body does everyday movements like running, jumping, and walking without feeling pain. When people incorporate daily habits to live longer and have healthier bodies, the body will not succumb to injuries and pain. However, when certain circumstances like stress, anxiety, and unhealthy habits start to take hold of the person’s body, it can lead to complications like obesity, chronic inflammatory responses, and low back pain affecting the body. Treatments like physical therapy and decompression therapy have been used to help many individuals trying to get their lives back together. Today’s article focuses on how obesity is associated with low back pain, how it affects the body, and how decompression therapy can help weight loss patients experiencing low back pain. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
Obesity and Low Back Pain
Feeling sluggish after walking around all day long? Do you feel shortness of breath? How about aches on your lower back? Experiencing any of these symptoms could result from obesity and low back pain affecting you. Research studies have mentioned that low back pain and obesity are the most common concerns for everybody worldwide. Since low back pain is the most musculoskeletal health concern and obesity is a health problem, many individuals will have an increased risk of lumbar radicular pain. This is due to the mass body index affecting the person’s body, as research studies have mentioned that obesity can have both biomechanical and meta-inflammatory effects on the spine. Since both male and female bodies are different in fat composition, it is more likely that female bodies tend to have more fat masses stored around the torso area, causing lower back pain issues than male bodies. In regards to that, lifestyle habits and changes can also cause obesity to progress further in both male and female bodies causing low back pain issues to develop further.
How Does It Affect The Body
When obesity and low back pain start to affect the body, research studies have shown that chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension are associated with obesity and can influence the path for diseases in the tendons and ligaments of the body. As the body goes through the natural aging process, this can lead to low back pain and cause many overweight individuals to be at risk of osteoarthritis. The excess weight starts putting more pressure on the knees, hips, feet, and lower back when this happens. This causes the pelvis to pull forward in the body, causing the lower back muscles to become strained. All is not lost as there are treatments to lose weight and alleviate the symptoms of low back pain.
DRX9000 Decompression Therapy-Video
Do you feel aches and strains on your lower back? How about feeling out of breath from walking? Do you feel the weight bearing down onto your legs and feet? Your weight could be affecting your back, and non-surgical treatments like physical therapy and decompression therapy might be able to help you out. The video above shows how the DRX9000 decompression machine can help alleviate low back pain by gently stretching the spine to elongate the disc height and loosen up the lower back muscles. While decompression therapy helps with low back pain, research studies have found that physical therapy can help promote weight loss. Losing the excess weight can alleviate low back symptoms that are causing the muscles and joints to relax and take the stress off the spine. Suppose you want to learn more about decompression and how it can benefit you in relieving low back pain and other low back pain conditions? This link will explain what it does for the lower back.
How Decompression Can Help Weightloss Individuals
As stated in a previous article, physical therapy and decompression go hand in hand in alleviating low back pain. For individuals suffering from obesity, physical therapy can help get them back in shape. With the right motivation to exercise, lose weight, and eat healthier, individuals will begin to see the excess weight be taken off and take the pressure off their lower backs. Research studies have mentioned that individuals who lose weight are allowed to do spinal decompression therapy. After a person starts to lose weight, the residual low back pain is still there and can be a nuisance to the back. Luckily, that is where decompression therapy comes in, and as research shows, decompression therapy can help relieve low back pain and reduce the symptoms of leg pain. This is beneficial for weight loss individuals as both of these therapies can help improve a person’s quality of life and help them on their weight loss journey.
Conclusion
Overall, obesity and low back pain can cause a person to become miserable and be in pain. When a person is obese, the excess weight around the torso can pressure the lower back, hips, knees, and feet. If a person is suffering from lower back issues, it can cause them to develop other back problems that can cause them to lean and find relief. Incorporating physical therapy and decompression therapy is a match made in heaven as many individuals lose weight and start to take the pressure off their lower back. Eating healthy foods, exercising, and changing certain lifestyles can help promote a healthy body without pain, and many individuals can benefit from that.
References
Chou, Louisa, et al. “The Association between Obesity and Low Back Pain and Disability Is Affected by Mood Disorders: A Population-Based, Cross-Sectional Study of Men.” Medicine, Wolters Kluwer Health, Apr. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4839843/.
Frilander, Heikki, et al. “Role of Overweight and Obesity in Low Back Disorders among Men: A Longitudinal Study with a Life Course Approach.” BMJ Open, BMJ Publishing Group, 21 Aug. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4550727.
Kakiuchi, Masaaki, et al. “Relief of Low Back Pain after Posterior Decompression for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis.” Spine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 15 Sept. 2021, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34435987/.
Mirtz, Timothy A, and Leon Greene. “Is Obesity a Risk Factor for Low Back Pain? an Example of Using the Evidence to Answer a Clinical Question.” Chiropractic & Osteopathy, BioMed Central, 11 Apr. 2005, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1151650/.
Ross, Donald A, et al. “Trends in Weight and Body Mass Index after Spinal Surgery for Degenerative Disease.” International Journal of Spine Surgery, International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery, Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8375684/.
The central nervous system in the body controls every muscle, tissue, organ, and nerve all over the entire structure. Since the nervous system in the body contains two main parts that keep the body functioning: the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system, these two systems work hand in hand as the central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. In contrast, the peripheral nervous system is composed of all the nerves branched out from the spinal cord and extended throughout the entire body. One of these nerves is the sciatic nerve, and when it gets irritated, it can send hot, burning pain from the lower back down to the feet. Luckily, non-surgical treatments like decompression can help alleviate sciatic nerve pain for many suffering individuals. For today’s article, we will be discussing the sciatic nerve, what happens when it gets affected and how decompression therapy can help alleviate sciatic nerve pain. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
What Is The Sciatic Nerve?
Are you feeling a searing, burning pain traveling from your buttocks to your feet? Has this pain felt uncomfortable when you try to stretch it out? Or does this pain hinders your ability to walk around to relieve the symptoms? It could be due to your sciatic nerve becoming irritated. Research shows that the sciatic nerve is the largest in the human body, originating from the lower back and traveling down to the feet. This nerve is part of the peripheral nervous system and is an important nerve that allows the legs to function like generally walking, running, and even standing so the body doesn’t fall over, as research shows. The sciatic nerve in the body provides two functions for the legs: motor function, which makes the leg’s muscles move from one place to another, and sensory function, which helps the person feel the sensations on their feet. When there are factors that cause the sciatic nerve to become irritated, it can lead to unwanted pain that can affect either side of the legs causing sciatica to form.
What Happens When The Sciatic Nerve Gets Affected?
When the sciatic nerve is being affected by numerous factors, research studies have stated that irritation, compression, and inflammatory factors affecting the lower back portion of the body also affect the sciatic nerve. This causes a symptom known as sciatica, and it can affect the lower half of the body down to the feet, affecting one side of the body in either leg. Research studies have found that sciatica usually starts to affect the legs through a herniated disc in the spine that pinches the sciatic nerve, causing searing, burning pain radiating down the back of the leg. Fortunately, there are treatments available to help sciatic nerve pain from progressing further and can even help alleviate other issues affecting the lumbar area of the back. When it is not treated right away, sciatica can cause permanent nerve damage to the lower half of the body.
Decompression Benefiting The Sciatic Nerve- Video
Feeling agonizing, burning pain emitting from the buttocks down to the feet? Does it hurt to walk a short distance? How about feeling low back pain on top of leg pain? You could be experiencing sciatic nerve pain, and decompression might give you the relief you are searching for. The video above explains the top 3 ways to apply traction or decompression to the spine and how it can help relieve back issues like sciatic nerve pain. Decompression helps the spine by taking the compressed spinal disc pressure off the irritated sciatic nerve root. This allows instant relief to individuals suffering from sciatica and alleviates other back and leg issues that make them miserable. Suppose you want to learn more about decompression and how it can benefit you in relieving sciatic nerve pain or even sciatica in the lower half of the body? This link will explain what it does for the sciatic nerve and the lower back.
Decompression Can Help Alleviate Sciatic Nerve Pain
Many beneficial treatments can help alleviate sciatic nerve pain and relieve many individuals suffering. Treatments like surgical decompression can help ease sciatic nerve pain. Research studies have found that endoscopic sciatic nerve decompression is helpful to help take the pressure off the sciatic nerve and improve the person’s hip function. This type of surgical decompression can help reduce the sciatic nerve pain associated with deep gluteal syndrome entrapping the sciatic nerve and causing radicular pain. Other treatments that can help with sciatic nerve pain are non-surgical decompression. Research studies have shown that non-surgical decompression can help increase the space of the intervertebral discs that are compressed and reduces the pressure off the irritated sciatic nerve root. Non-surgical decompression allows the lower half of the body to feel relieved by decreasing the mechanical stress it’s been under, improves mobility in the lower half, and reduces muscle spasms in the legs. Decompression treatments are beneficial to anyone that wants relief from sciatic nerve pain in their legs.
Conclusion
Therefore, the sciatic nerve is the largest in the peripheral nervous system, located in the lower back, and travels down to the feet. This nerve has two primary functions that help the legs be in motion and feel sensations occurring in the feet. When unwanted factors start to affect the lower back, it can either irritate, compress, or inflame the sciatic nerve causing symptoms like sciatica to affect the legs. Treatments like decompression therapy can help take the pressure off the irritated sciatic nerve and relieve the individual from low back and leg pain. Incorporating decompression therapy is beneficial for many individuals that want to be pain-free on their health and wellness journey.
References
Giuffre, Brittney A, and Rebecca Jeanmonod. “Anatomy, Sciatic Nerve.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 29 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482431/.
Ham, Dong Hun, et al. “Effectiveness of Endoscopic Sciatic Nerve Decompression for the Treatment of Deep Gluteal Syndrome.” Hip & Pelvis, Korean Hip Society, Mar. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5861023/.
Wegner, Inge, et al. “Traction for Low-Back Pain with or without Sciatica.” The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 19 Aug. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6823219/.
The back and spine are bound to the musculoskeletal system, where they work together to keep the entire body moving and upright. The back muscles surround the spine along with the nerve roots, blood vessels, and tissues that help the back to be able to bend, twist, sit, and stand without any injuries or feeling pain. However, as the body ages naturally, so do the back muscles. They are strained and overused from strenuous activities that can injure the back muscles and pressure the nerve roots, causing them to be irritated. Fortunately, some treatments can help alleviate the stress of the nerve roots and relax the back muscles by loosening them up. Today’s article will focus on the lumbar pinched nerves, their symptoms, and how decompression therapy can help alleviate the symptoms of lumbar pinched nerves for many individuals. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
What Are Lumbar Pinched Nerves?
Feeling a sharp, sudden pain in your lower back? How about stiff muscles that feel overused after just picking something heavy? How about burning throbbing pain that travels down the legs? You might be suffering from lumbar pinched nerves, which can affect your quality of life. Research studies have mentioned that lumbar pinched nerves are primarily associated with low back pain and are among the most common complaints about many suffering individuals. Low back pain can cause degeneration of the vertebrae disc and constantly irritate the nerve roots spread out on the lumbar area in the spine. The lumbar spinal nerve roots will experience uncomfortable signals like pain, numbness, and tingling sensations that can cause on and off signals that irritate the nerve roots to cause radicular symptoms. Other research studies have found that radicular pain can cause irritating pain alongside the lumbar nerve root without any neurological involvement causing the sensory fibers to be numb. This will cause unwanted sensations to the lower back down the legs.
The Symptoms
Research studies have stated that since radicular pain is one of the many reasons for low back pain, it can affect the nerve roots, depending on the severity. When the nerve roots are being compressed and start by sending on again off again signals, it can range from mild numbing pain that can cause numbing sensations to burning stinging pain that can cause motor dysfunction in the lower back. Some of the other symptoms that are caused by lumbar pinched nerves can include:
Numbness around the area where the nerve is located
Feeling a sharp burning pain radiating from the lower back down to the leg? How about feeling your foot has fallen asleep, and you can’t shake it off? Or have you lost the sensation in your lower back? These are all symptoms of lumbar pinched nerves that are associated with chronic low back pain. The best way to take the pressure off these irritated nerves is spinal decompression. The video explained how there are many techniques that spinal decompression has to offer when dealing with a variety of back issues like herniated discs, sciatica, low back pain, and even pinched nerves in the lumbar area of the spine. Spinal decompression can help relieve the pressure off the nerve roots that are branched out of the spine and relieve the symptoms causing pain. Suppose you want to learn more about decompression and how it can benefit you in alleviating pinched nerves on the lower back? This link will explain what it does for the lumbar area in the spine and provide relief to the back nerve roots.
How Decompression Therapy Can Help Lumbar Pinched Nerves
Since low back pain is associated with lumbar pinched nerves, various treatments can help take the painful symptoms away, and one of these treatments is spinal decompression. Research studies have mentioned that spinal decompression is a type of traction treatment that follows the fundamental goal and principle of relieving pain by using negative pressure. What this negative pressure does is that it causes any herniated or bulging discs to be repositioned and causes an influx of healing substances to come back to the compressed discs and take the pressure off the lumbar nerve roots that are causing the radiating pain. Other research studies have found that decompression therapy can significantly improve lumbar spinal stenosis that also causes lumbar pinched nerves to emit pain by relieving it and bringing physical function back to the legs and back. This will cause significant relief for many suffering individuals suffering from having lumbar pinched nerves.
Conclusion
Overall the lower back has nerves that are spread out and can provide a motor function for the back to move around while keeping the upper body upright. When these nerves are pinched or irritated constantly, they can cause unwanted back issues like low back pain, sciatica, or loss of all sensory and motor functions. When this happens, many individuals won’t have to worry about feeling low back pain or lumbar pinched nerves stopping them from daily activities. Spinal decompression therapy helps the individual gently take the pressure off the irritated nerve roots and causes relief to the lower back and legs. Spinal decompression therapy also allows the beneficial healing nutrients to restore the compressed spinal discs to the spine.
References
Alexander, Christopher E, and Matthew Varacallo. “Lumbosacral Radiculopathy – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 12 Feb. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430837/.
Allegri, Massimo, et al. “Mechanisms of Low Back Pain: A Guide for Diagnosis and Therapy.” F1000Research, F1000Research, 28 June 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4926733/.
Anjarwalla, N K, et al. “The Outcome of Spinal Decompression Surgery 5 Years On.” European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society, Springer-Verlag, Nov. 2007, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2223332/.
Dydyk, Alexander M, et al. “Radicular Back Pain – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 2 Nov. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546593/.
As the body’s central support structure in the musculoskeletal system, the spine ensures that the body can do everything without feeling discomfort or pain. The spine has three sections in an S-shaped curve known as the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar. Each section helps keep the body upright and is composed of ligaments, soft tissue muscles, and nerve roots spread out all over the back. The spine and sections suffer the most from neck or back pain when the back becomes injured. When this happens, non-surgical treatments can help alleviate the painful symptoms and cause relief for many individuals. Today’s article gives an overview of lumbar traction therapy, how it can help with low back pain, and how it differs from decompression therapy. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
What Is Lumbar Traction Therapy?
Feeling your muscles become stiff on your lower back? Does your back hurt after picking up something heavy? How about a mild ache on your lower back that won’t disappear? Why not try lumbar traction therapy to alleviate these symptoms. Research studies have mentioned that lumbar traction has been used to alleviate symptoms of low back pain. What lumbar traction therapy does is that it allows the extension of soft tissue muscles that are around the facet joints while decreasing the pressure off the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine. This allows the anterior and posterior ligaments to be extended while stretching and relaxing the muscle to stop them from spasming, improving blood circulation around the spine. Other research studies have found that lumbar traction has helped reduce the pain intensity and disability for many individuals suffering from chronic low back pain. Traction therapy gently relieves the pressure off the spine and helps bring the nutrients back to the spinal discs to promote relief to the individual.
How Does It Help With Low Back Pain?
Since chronic low back pain is common worldwide, many individuals try to alleviate low back pain without going to surgery. Some will try medication to reduce severe pain; others will do light physical activities like yoga or meditation to stretch out the tense muscles. Traction therapy can help alleviate low pain symptoms and prevent other chronic conditions from progressing even further. Research studies have stated that traction therapy can help increase the spinal disc height and reduce internal pressure. This allows the irritated pain-sensitive fibers around the outer layer of the spinal discs to relax and relieve the spinal joints to be put back into normal position. Fortunately, traction therapy and even decompression therapy for low back pain can work together with other non-surgical treatments to help decompress the spine and lower the effects of chronic low back pain.
Lumbar Traction Overview-Video
Feeling mild to severe pain in your lower back? How about tenderness on certain parts of your back? Do your muscles ache and become stiff when carrying or lifting heavy items? Suffering from low back pain can hinder your daily activities and make you feel miserable. Like the video above, utilizing lumbar traction therapy can help relax the back muscles and provide relief to the compressed spinal discs that are pressing on the nerve roots. Traction therapy is a non-surgical treatment that allows individuals to lay down on a traction machine and be strapped in. The traction machine begins to slowly pull on the spine, causing the intervertebral disc to increase its height in the spine and any nerve roots that were being irritated to stop sending pain signals to and from the brain. Suppose you want to learn more about lumbar traction and how it can benefit you? In that case, this link will explain what traction does for the lumbar area in the spine and provide relief to the back.
How Is Traction Different Than Decompression?
Research studies show that lumbar traction therapy immediately improved the pain and functional status of many individuals suffering from chronic low back pain. Since traction therapy help with chronic low back pain, how is it different when individuals use decompression therapy? Traction therapy is performed mechanically or manually to help widen the spaces between the spinal vertebrae. In contrast, decompression therapy helps relieve the pressure of irritated nerve roots that are causing pain along the spinal column. Research studies have found that decompression uses negative pressure to reduce spinal disc protrusion and intradiscal stress off the spinal nerve roots. Traction and decompression therapy have one thing in common: relieve pressure off the spine and alleviate low back pain. These two therapies can also be combined with physical therapy that allows the individual to reduce the stress of the nerve roots and strengthen the back muscle tissues. Incorporating traction or decompression therapy will benefit anyone on their wellness journey by providing relief to chronic low back pain.
Conclusion
Therefore, as part of the musculoskeletal system, the spine can be injured in various scenarios that cause low back pain. Incorporating lumbar traction therapy can help alleviate low back pain either manually or mechanically, stretching the spine to help widen the spaces in the spinal column to relieve compressed spinal discs and loosen up the stiff back muscle to promote blood circulation to the back. Since decompression and traction are different forms of therapy, they do have something in common when it comes to low back pain: to relieve the symptoms of the individual. Once people start incorporating traction therapy as part of their journey to a healthy lifestyle, they can feel relieved and become pain-free from chronic low back pain.
References
Borman, Pinar, et al. “The Efficacy of Lumbar Traction in the Management of Patients with Low Back Pain.” Rheumatology International, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2003, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12634941/.
Koçak, Fatmanur Aybala, et al. “Comparison of the Short-Term Effects of the Conventional Motorized Traction with Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression Performed with a DRX9000 Device on Pain, Functionality, Depression, and Quality of Life in Patients with Low Back Pain Associated with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Single-Blind Randomized-Controlled Trial.” Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Bayçınar Medical Publishing, 16 Feb. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6709608/.
Oh, Hyunju, et al. “The Impact of Manual Spinal Traction Therapy on the Pain and Oswestry Disability Index of Patients with Chronic Back Pain.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Dec. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6279706/.
Tadano, Shigeru, et al. “Lumbar Mechanical Traction: A Biomechanical Assessment of Change at the Lumbar Spine.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 9 Apr. 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6454715/.
Tanabe;Akai M;Doi T;Arai S;Fujino K;Hayashi K; ;, Hideki. “Immediate Effect of Mechanical Lumbar Traction in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Crossover, Repeated Measures, Randomized Controlled Trial.” Journal of Orthopaedic Science: Official Journal of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 27 Mar. 2021, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33785233/.
The body is a marvelous functional machine that requires constantly moving worldwide. The body can do everyday movements from the head to the feet and be in weird positions without feeling pain. However, ordinary factors like natural aging, wear and tear, and issues affect the body over time. When these factors start to affect the body, they can cause unwanted symptoms that can inflict pain on specific areas around the body. Some areas that suffer pain include the hips, lower back, neck, the body’s internal systems, and the spine, causing the individual to be miserable. Luckily many treatments do relieve pain in the body and help dampen the effects of the unwanted symptoms that are hindering the individual. Today’s article focuses on hip pain, its symptoms, and how decompression therapy can help many individuals suffering from hip pain. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.
What Is Hip Pain?
Are you feeling stiffness from your lower back and hips? Do your hips hurt after falling due to playing sports? How about pain from the lower back to the hips down to the feet? You might be experiencing hip pain. Research studies have stated that hip pain can be associated with many factors that can cause many individuals to be in distress, impair their daily activities, and affect their quality of life. Hip pain can be associated with simple movements that are damaged, like sitting and standing, which can be hard after a while. Other associations that hip pain can occur can be lower back pain, neuropathies, herniation, or chronic pain. According to research studies, hip pain is considered a musculoskeletal disorder. It shows that posterior hip pain in adults is caused by osteoarthritis or traumatic causes like sacral stress fractures that can affect the hips. This musculoskeletal disorder can become a problem for many older adults suffering from hip issues.
The Symptoms
Research studies have found that hip pain is a musculoskeletal complaint affecting young and old adults. Since hip pain is associated with various chronic issues, it can cause many individuals to be miserable and be in constant pain. For adults, hip pain can be one of the issues for those suffering from osteoarthritis in the anterior hip region. As research shows, in the posterior hip region, hip pain can be associated with chronic conditions like piriformis syndrome and lumbar radiculopathy that are centralized in the lower back. Other symptoms that hip pain cause on its own do associate with other chronic conditions, including:
Are you experiencing discomfort from your hips while sitting or standing? How about sharp, throbbing pain coming from your lower back and affecting your hips and legs? Do you feel tenderness and swelling on your joints? These symptoms are various forms of hip pain, and lumbar traction can help lower hip pain symptoms. The video above mentions how to prepare for lumbar traction therapy and how it can alleviate symptoms caused by hip pain. Lumbar traction helps compressed disc in the lumbar region of the spine to be restored to its original state and even takes the pressure off the sciatic nerve and other nerve roots that are causing hip pain to the body. Utilizing traction therapy increases the disc height and allows the lumbar spinal discs to be rehydrated again. Suppose you want to learn more about lumbar traction or decompression and how it can benefit you? In that case, this link will explain what decompression does for the lumbar area in the spine and provide relief from hip pain and its associates.
How Decompression Therapy Helps With Hip Pain
Since hip pain is associated with various other conditions that can affect the body, the most common condition that the body has suffered from is low back pain. There are ways to treat hip and low back pain; some individuals utilize heat and ice to neutralize the pain to go away, and others use chiropractic therapy to get the joints to realign themselves. One of the treatments used to relieve hip and low back pain is decompression therapy. Research studies have found that decompression therapy is safe and effective in helping to improve the blood circulation to the hips to provide relief to the hips. Since hip pain is associated with low back pain, decompression allows the herniated discs to be taken off the nerves surrounding the hips and provide pain relief. Other research studies show that traction is used to create negative gravity pressure to help reduce the pressure that is causing pain to the soft tissues and the nerve roots. This negative gravity allows the spine to separate and create more height for the disc to rehydrate while relieving the individual.
Conclusion
Overall the body is a marvelous machine that has the ability to move without pain. When issues start to affect the body, like the hips and lower back, it can cause the individual to suffer from various forms of pain. Since hip pain is associated with low back pain, it can lead to other chronic issues like sciatica or osteoarthritis, affecting the joints and causing them to swell. Treatments like decompression or traction therapy are used to alleviate the pain caused by the hips or lower back. When people incorporate decompression or traction into their wellness journey, they relax a bit as they are laid down and have their spine stretched slowly. This will cause them relief and take the pressure off the nerve roots that are sending pain signals to the brain. This ensures them that they can take back their lives pain-free.
References
Ahuja, Vanita, et al. “Chronic Hip Pain in Adults: Current Knowledge and Future Prospective.” Journal of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Wolters Kluwer – Medknow, 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8022067/.
Battaglia, Patrick J, et al. “Posterior, Lateral, and Anterior Hip Pain Due to Musculoskeletal Origin: A Narrative Literature Review of History, Physical Examination, and Diagnostic Imaging.” Journal of Chiropractic Medicine, Elsevier, Dec. 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5106442/.
Choi, Jioun, et al. “Influences of Spinal Decompression Therapy and General Traction Therapy on the Pain, Disability, and Straight Leg Raising of Patients with Intervertebral Disc Herniation.” Journal of Physical Therapy Science, The Society of Physical Therapy Science, Feb. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339166/.
Lee, Yun Jong, et al. “Causes of Chronic Hip Pain Undiagnosed or Misdiagnosed by Primary Physicians in Young Adult Patients: A Retrospective Descriptive Study.” Journal of Korean Medical Science, The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences, 11 Dec. 2018, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6300658/.
Wilson, John J, and Masaru Furukawa. “Evaluation of the Patient with Hip Pain.” American Family Physician, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 2014, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24444505/.
As part of the musculoskeletal system, the neck makes sure that the head stays upright and can move around. The neck is just like the lower back of the body as it is made up of ligaments and soft muscle tissues that can succumb to injuries and muscle strain. When this happens to the neck, the cervical area of the spine also gets affected, and it can cause pressure on the cervical nerve roots from herniation. This will cause the individual to suffer neck pain and muscle stiffness while also trying to find some relief. Thankfully, treatments that help alleviate neck pain have been effective by relaxing the tense muscles and taking the pressure off the cervical nerve roots. Today’s article will look at the neck’s function in the body, how neck pain affects the body, and how cervical traction can relieve many individuals suffering from neck pain. By referring patients to qualified and skilled providers specializing in spinal decompression therapy. To that end, and when appropriate, we advise our patients to refer to our associated medical providers based on their examination. We find that education is the key to asking valuable questions to our providers. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may. If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-09
The Neck’s Function To The Body
Since the neck is part of the musculoskeletal system, it is essential to know that the ligaments, soft tissue muscles, joints, nerve roots, and discs are located in the cervical area of the body. The neck can keep the head upright while also making it move around, turn, and rotate without feeling any pain. Sometimes the neck joints make a “popping sound” when the head is tilted on either side, causing a sense of relief. The neck structure has two primary regions that make up the neck: the anterior and posterior cervical regions. Research studies have shown that the posterior cervical region is located at the front and sides of the neck that encompasses the lymph nodes and blood vessels that provide motor functions for the jaw to move.
Research studies have stated that the anterior cervical region of the neck is located on the side and back of the neck where the cervical area of the spine is located. The anterior cervical region provides lymphatic drainage and various roles for the cranial nerves and protects them from injuries. These two regions help the structure and functionality of the neck and head as they’re responsible for providing a supportive connection to the brain and cervical spine, regulating metabolism, and amongst other necessary functions for the body; as other research studies explained, the neck’s purpose to the body.
Neck Pain Affecting The Body
While the neck’s purpose in the body is to keep the head upright and keep a supportive connection to the brain and the spine, it can succumb to injuries like the lower back. Research studies have found that neck pain is considered a multifactorial disease that affects many individuals with numerous risk factors that contribute to its development. Some risk factors can be ordinary, like poor posture due to reading a book, looking at the phone, or being hunched over on the computer during working hours. In comparison, other risk factors are psychological, like stress and anxiety, where a person’s shoulders and neck muscles are tense, causing pain and disability to the body. Other research studies have stated that other factors for neck pain can be non-specific and usually on a postural or mechanical basis like cervical spondylosis or traumatic like whiplash. When these risk factors cause problems to the neck and shoulders, they can turn chronic over time unless it gets treated right away. Fortunately, some treatments can alleviate acute neck pain and relieve tense neck muscles.
An Overview Of Cervical Traction-Video
Are you feeling muscle stiffness around your neck and shoulders? How about waking up with a crick in your neck? Have your shoulders and neck strain while being hunched over while working at a desk? If you’ve been with any of these symptoms of neck pain, then cervical traction therapy could be the answer. The video explains how cervical traction can help restore the compressed spinal disc in the cervical area of the spine. What traction does is that it stretches the cervical spine and helps take the pressure off the cervical nerve root. The other beneficial factor is that cervical traction allows the tense neck muscles to loosen up while increasing the disc height of the neck. Many individuals suffering from neck pain will find relief after several cervical traction therapy treatments. Suppose you want to learn more about cervical traction or decompression and how it can benefit you? In that case, this link will explain what decompression does for the cervical area in the spine and provide neck pain relief.
What Is Cervical Traction Therapy?
The neck is part of the musculoskeletal system and can succumb to injuries like the lower back with tense muscles and herniated discs that press on the nerve roots. Many treatments can help alleviate neck pain: cervical traction therapy when this happens. Cervical traction can help improve the spinal curvature and relieve tense neck and shoulder muscles causing neck pain. Research studies have mentioned that cervical traction therapy has allowed the cervical vertebra to be separated from the facet joints while decreasing the pressure on the discs or the nerves, causing neck pain. Other research studies have found cervical traction therapy is a non-invasive procedure that provides instant relief for various cervical pathologies associated with neck pain. Cervical traction therapy can help alleviate neck pain and offer many individuals to get back to their daily activities without worrying about being in pain again.
Conclusion
The neck is part of the musculoskeletal system where its primary job is to keep the head upright while also providing it movement. Like the lower back, the neck can get injured through many risk factors that can turn into chronic neck pain over time. Sometimes, the risk factors could be ordinary, like poor posture or a simple muscle strain that affects the neck, while psychological factors like stress or anxiety could cause the neck muscles to tense. Treatments like cervical traction therapy allow the neck muscles and cervical spinal disc to decompress and provide relief to the symptoms caused by neck pain. When people utilize cervical traction therapy on top of other treatments provided in their wellness journey, they can feel no pain in their neck and continue doing their daily activities.
References
Abi-Aad, Karl R, and Armen Derian. “Cervical Traction – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 13 Aug. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470412/.
Kazeminasab, Somaye, et al. “Neck Pain: Global Epidemiology, Trends and Risk Factors.” BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, BioMed Central, 3 Jan. 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8725362/.
Roesch, Zachary K, and Prasanna Tadi. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Neck.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 26 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK542313/.
Shah, Aaisha, and Bruno Cunha. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Anterior Cervical Region.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 31 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557475/.
Stathakios, James, and Michael A Carron. “Anatomy, Head and Neck, Posterior Cervical Region.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 27 July 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551521/.
Xiao, Liang-Xing, et al. “Effect of a Traction Exercise Neck Brace on Cervical Spondylopathy Radiculopathy: A Clinical Study and Finite Element Analysis.” Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine : ECAM, Hindawi, 13 Apr. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8060117/.
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