Back Clinic Spinal Hygiene. The spine is the protective housing for the nervous system, a system so powerful that it controls every function in the human body. The nervous system tells your body to breath, tells your heart to beat, tells your arms and legs to move, tells your body when and how to produce new cells and it even has the power to control healing. A damaged or misaligned spine can dramatically interfere with the signals constantly being sent through the nervous system, eventually resulting in bodily pain, internal deterioration and loss of many of the everyday functions we take for granted.
Spinal hygiene is extremely important, yet 89 percent of the world’s population does not realize the importance of maintaining proper alignment of the vertebrae through chiropractic adjustment, as well as protecting the spine from injury through healthy living practices. Instead we neglect our spines. As children we start our lives with tumbles and trips that jar our spines, we grow into adults with poor posture, we lift things that are too heavy, carry overloaded back packs, and we suffer injury through car accidents, sports impacts and stress.
Get in on the health trend of the future-today. Join the growing percentage of the population that enjoys greater health and wellness through regular care of their spines. Talk to your chiropractor today about ways you can improve your spinal hygiene.
Can the effects of vertebral decompression relieve individuals with herniated discs and reduce intradiscal pressure on the spine?
Introduction
The spine’s main job is to maintain the vertical pressure of the body without feeling pain or discomfort, especially when a person is in motion. The spinal discs are between the spinal joints, which are shock absorbers when pressure is implemented when a person is carrying a heavy object. The spinal column also has the spinal cord and nerve roots that are spread out from each section and have nerve root signals to be transmitted back and forth from the muscles to the brain to carry out its function. However, as the body ages, so does the spine, as many individuals are constantly adding unwanted pressure on their spines by doing normal factors and developing musculoskeletal disorders. At the same time, the spinal discs are also being affected as the unwanted pressure compresses them constantly, causing them to crack and herniate out of their position. To that point, the herniated disc aggravates the spinal nerve roots, leading to pain-like symptoms affecting the upper and lower body extremities. When this happens, many people will begin to experience musculoskeletal pain and cause overlapping risk profiles that cause their bodies to be misaligned. However, non-surgical treatments can be implemented as part of a daily routine for individuals dealing with herniated discs to reduce intradiscal pressure off the affected muscles in the upper and lower body extremities and restore functionality to the body. Today’s article focuses on why herniated disc affects many people and how vertebral traction can reduce intradiscal pressure off the spine while relieving the musculoskeletal system. Additionally, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who incorporate our patient’s information to reduce intradiscal stress correlating with herniated discs. We also inform them that vertebral traction therapy (spinal decompression) can help mitigate the pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and provide relief to the body. We encourage our patients to ask profound questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain-like issues. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Why Does Herniated Disc Affect People?
Have you or your loved ones been dealing with muscle aches or strains in their back, neck, or shoulders after carrying/lifting a heavy object? Do you feel a numbing or tingling sensation in your hands, legs, or feet after a long day after work? Or have you been constantly dealing with muscle and joint stiffness after a long workday? At some point in their lives, everyone has dealt with pain affecting their upper and lower extremities, leading to herniated discs in the spine’s upper, middle, or lower portions. As stated earlier, the body and the spine age naturally, leading to the development of herniated discs in the spine. Disc herniation occurs when the nucleus pulposus (inner disc layer) starts to break through the weaker annulus fibrosus (outer disc layer) and compress the surrounding nerve root, leading to an overlapping risk profile to the upper and lower body portions. (Ge et al., 2019) Disc herniation is developed when the spine goes through a natural degeneration, which causes them to be more susceptible to microtears. When individuals start to do normal activities like lifting or carrying heavy objects, it can enhance the progression further, leading to musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, the spinal degeneration associated with disc herniation can cause inflammatory responses when the protruding disc is compressing the nerve roots, which then causes symptoms of pain and numbness to the upper and lower extremities. (Cunha et al., 2018)
Why do herniated discs cause inflammatory responses to the compressed nerve roots that cause pain-like symptoms to the upper and lower body extremities? Well, when many individuals are experiencing pain associated with herniated discs, they believe they are dealing with upper or lower pain, depending on where the herniated disc is located. This causes referred pain symptoms where the pain is being perceived in one location than the site where the pain is originating. Coincidentally, when individuals are doing repetitive motions associated with herniated discs can cause the adjacent nerve root to be compressed, which then causes the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and soft tissues to be in pain. (Blamoutier, 2019) Pain developing from herniated discs can reduce a person’s quality of life and make them miss out on important life events.
Disc Herniation Overview-Video
Many factors associated with a herniated disc can lead to its development and range from mild to severe depending on where the disc is herniated. Since the spine and spinal disc do degenerate over time naturally, it can cause the disc to crack and dehydrate. This leads to restricted movement, the development of neck, back, and shoulder pain, a decrease in muscle strength in the extremities, and numbness. (Jin et al., 2023) These are some results when herniated discs are not being treated right away. Luckily there are non-surgical treatments to alleviate the pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and help reduce intradiscal pressure in the spine while restoring spinal mobility and muscle strength. Spinal decompression, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and physical therapy are some non-surgical treatments that can help alleviate herniated discs and its associated symptoms. Non-surgical treatments can help pull the herniated disc off the compressed nerve root through manual and mechanical manipulation and return it to its original position. Additionally, non-surgical treatments can be part of a daily health and wellness routine combined with other therapies to reduce pain-like symptoms associated with herniated discs and help restore the spine’s mobility. The video above explains the causes, factors, and symptoms associated with herniated discs and how these treatments can alleviate the pain.
The Effects Of Vertebral Traction On Disc Herniation
Non-surgical treatments like vertebral decompression can provide a positive outlook when reducing the effects of herniated discs. Vertical or spinal decompression can help reduce the underlying problem associated with herniated discs by relieving the pain and intradiscal pressure off the vital structures of the spine. (Ramos & Martin, 1994) Additionally, vertebral decompression uses gentle traction to relieve nerve pain associated with herniated discs. It helps reduce the compression force on the affected spinal discs, reducing nerve compression by expanding the disc height in the spine. (Wang et al., 2022)
With spinal decompression being incorporated to reduce the effects of herniated discs, individuals are strapped into a traction machine in a supine position. They will feel a mechanical pull to their spines as the herniated disc returns to its original position and the height of the spinal disc increases. (Oh et al., 2019) This allows the negative pressure from the traction to increase the body’s blood flow for the nutrients and fluids to rehydrate the discs while allowing the body’s natural healing process to kick into full gear. (Choi et al., 2022) After a few consecutive sessions with spinal decompression, many individuals will notice that the pain in their neck, back, and shoulders has decreased and that they can return to their daily activities. Spinal decompression allows the individual to regain their health and well-being while also reminding them to be more mindful of what certain factors can cause the pain to return to the spine. By being more aware of what is affecting a person’s body, they have the tools to continue their health and wellness journey.
References
Blamoutier, A. (2019). Nerve root compression by lumbar disc herniation: A french discovery? Orthop Traumatol Surg Res, 105(2), 335-338. doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2018.10.025
Choi, E., Gil, H. Y., Ju, J., Han, W. K., Nahm, F. S., & Lee, P. B. (2022). Effect of Nonsurgical Spinal Decompression on Intensity of Pain and Herniated Disc Volume in Subacute Lumbar Herniated Disc. International Journal of Clinical Practice, 2022, 6343837. doi.org/10.1155/2022/6343837
Cunha, C., Silva, A. J., Pereira, P., Vaz, R., Goncalves, R. M., & Barbosa, M. A. (2018). The inflammatory response in the regression of lumbar disc herniation. Arthritis Res Ther, 20(1), 251. doi.org/10.1186/s13075-018-1743-4
Ge, C. Y., Hao, D. J., Yan, L., Shan, L. Q., Zhao, Q. P., He, B. R., & Hui, H. (2019). Intradural Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Report and Literature Review. Clin Interv Aging, 14, 2295-2299. doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S228717
Jin, Y. Z., Zhao, B., Zhao, X. F., Lu, X. D., Fan, Z. F., Wang, C. J., Qi, D. T., Wang, X. N., Zhou, R. T., & Zhao, Y. B. (2023). Lumbar Intradural Disc Herniation Caused by Injury: A Case Report and Literature Review. Orthopaedic Surgery, 15(6), 1694-1701. doi.org/10.1111/os.13723
Oh, H., Choi, S., Lee, S., Choi, J., & Lee, K. (2019). Effects of the flexion-distraction technique and drop technique on straight leg raising angle and intervertebral disc height of patients with an intervertebral disc herniation. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 31(8), 666-669. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.31.666
Ramos, G., & Martin, W. (1994). Effects of vertebral axial decompression on intradiscal pressure. J Neurosurg, 81(3), 350-353. doi.org/10.3171/jns.1994.81.3.0350
Wang, W., Long, F., Wu, X., Li, S., & Lin, J. (2022). Clinical Efficacy of Mechanical Traction as Physical Therapy for Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Meta-Analysis. Comput Math Methods Med, 2022, 5670303. doi.org/10.1155/2022/5670303
Can decompression relieve intervertebral disc stress from individuals dealing with lumbar issues, restoring spinal mobility?
Introduction
The spine’s intervertebral disc acts like a shock absorber to the spine when axial overload is placed on the spine. This allows many individuals to carry, lift, and transport heavy objects without feeling discomfort or pain throughout the day. It is crucial that the spine not only stays functional but also provides stability and mobility for the intervertebral discs to allow these motions. However, as the body ages naturally, so do the intervertebral discs, as they lose water retention and begin to crack under pressure. To this point, the intervertebral discs start not to be functional as normal or traumatic actions cause pain-like issues to the spine and can lead to a life of disability. When repetitive motions cause unwanted pressures, the intervertebral discs become compressed and, over time, can lead to pain-like spinal issues. At the same time, the surrounding muscles, tissues, ligaments, and joints start to get affected in the lumbar region, which then leads to low back pain conditions associated with the lower extremities. Today’s article looks at intervertebral disc stress, how it affects spinal mobility, and how treatments like spinal decompression can restore spinal mobility while reducing intervertebral disc stress. At the same time, we work hand-in-hand with certified medical providers who use our patient’s information to treat and mitigate pain-like symptoms associated with intervertebral disc stress. We also inform them that non-surgical treatments like decompression can help mitigate pressure on the spinal discs. We also explain to them how decompression can help restore spinal mobility to the body and how the treatment can be added to their routine. We encourage our patients to ask essential and important questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their pain. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., incorporates this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Intervertebral Disc Stress
Have you been experiencing radiating pain shooting down to your legs that is making it difficult to walk? Do you often feel muscle aches and strains from holding heavy objects that you have to lean your back a bit to relieve the pain? Or do you feel pain in one location in your body that travels to a different location? Many of these pain-like scenarios are correlated with intervertebral disc stress on the spine. In a normal healthy body, the intervertebral disc has to take on the spinal load when the body is in an abnormal position without pain or discomfort. However, as the body ages naturally, the intervertebral discs degenerate over time, and the intradiscal pressure within the spinal disc cavity decreases. (Sato, Kikuchi, & Yonezawa, 1999) To that point, the body and intervertebral discs begin to become stiff over time, causing the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues to be overstretched and ache when unwanted pressure starts to cause musculoskeletal issues to develop over time. At the same time, degeneration and aging have a causal relationship, which causes dramatic changes to the composition and structure of the spinal disc. (Acaroglu et al., 1995) These changes cause stress on the intervertebral disc, which then causes the spine to be less mobile.
How Does It Affect Spinal Mobility
When the intervertebral disc is dealing with mechanical stress from unwanted pressure, as stated earlier, it can develop into dramatic changes to its composition and structure. When people are dealing with spinal mobility issues, it causes segmental instability, which then causes influence the entire lumbar motion of the spine and causes the intervertebral disc to be highly stressed and cause disability. (Okawa et al., 1998) When high ‘stress’ is concentrated within the intervertebral discs, over time, it can cause musculoskeletal pain to the lumbar spine, leading to further disruption to the lower extremities. (Adams, McNally, & Dolan, 1996) When there is degeneration within the intervertebral disc associated with mechanical stress, it can affect the spine’s mobility function. For working individuals, it can have a huge impact on them. When dealing with stress correlated with the intervertebral discs, individuals will develop low back pain problems that can cause a huge burden when they are getting treated. Low back pain associated with intervertebral disc stress can cause a socioeconomic risk factor for lumbar pain and disability. (Katz, 2006) When dealing with low back problems, people will find temporary remedies to continue working while dealing with the pain until they have to be admitted for treatment. This causes an unnecessary stress factor for the individual because they would have to take time off work to feel better. However, it is important to get treated for intervertebral disc stress early on before more issues begin to occur, as there are non-surgical treatments that are cost-effective and safe to restore spinal mobility.
Why Choose Chiropractic-Video
When it comes to treating low back pain associated with intervertebral disc stress, many individuals try out many home remedies and treatments to alleviate the pain. However, those at-home treatments provide temporary relief. Individuals who are experiencing spinal mobility issues can find the relief they are looking for by incorporating non-surgical therapies into their daily routines. Non-surgical treatments are cost-effective and can provide a positive outcome to many individuals as their health and wellness plans can be personalized. (Boos, 2009) This allows the individual to finally find the relief they seek and create a positive relationship with their primary doctor. Non-surgical treatments can also be combined with other therapies to relieve the individual’s pain further and reduce the chances of the problem returning. Treatments like chiropractic care, massage therapy, and spinal decompression are some non-surgical treatments that can help mitigate intervertebral stress and restore spinal mobility. The video above explains how these treatments can find the root cause of the problem and address the issues in a safe and positive environment.
How Decompression Relieves Intervertebral Disc Stress
Non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help with reducing the intervertebral disc stress that is causing low back pain issues in the lumbar region. Spinal decompression uses gentle traction on the spine to reduce the stress on the intervertebral disc. Spinal decompression allows many people to reduce their chances of going to surgery for their pain and, after a few sessions, have the pain intensity decreased significantly. (Ljunggren, Weber, & Larsen, 1984) Additionally, spinal decompression can create negative intradiscal pressure in the spinal column by allowing the nutrients and fluids to rehydrate the affected disc while promoting the body’s natural healing process. (Sherry, Kitchener, & Smart, 2001)
Decompression Restoring Spinal Mobility
Spinal decompression can also help restore spinal mobility to the lumbar region. When pain specialists incorporate spinal decompression into their practices, they can help by using various techniques to restore joint mobility. When pain specialists start to use these different techniques on the individual’s body, they can help stretch out the surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tissues that were affected around the spine and help restore mobility to the joint. (Gudavalli & Cox, 2014) Combined with spinal decompression, these techniques allow the individual to be more mindful of their bodies and alleviate the pain they have been dealing with for a while. By incorporating decompression as part of their routine, many individuals can return to their activities pain-free without worrying.
References
Acaroglu, E. R., Iatridis, J. C., Setton, L. A., Foster, R. J., Mow, V. C., & Weidenbaum, M. (1995). Degeneration and aging affect the tensile behavior of human lumbar anulus fibrosus. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 20(24), 2690-2701. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199512150-00010
Adams, M. A., McNally, D. S., & Dolan, P. (1996). ‘Stress’ distributions inside intervertebral discs. The effects of age and degeneration. J Bone Joint Surg Br, 78(6), 965-972. doi.org/10.1302/0301-620x78b6.1287
Boos, N. (2009). The impact of economic evaluation on quality management in spine surgery. Eur Spine J, 18 Suppl 3(Suppl 3), 338-347. doi.org/10.1007/s00586-009-0939-3
Gudavalli, M. R., & Cox, J. M. (2014). Real-time force feedback during flexion-distraction procedure for low back pain: A pilot study. J Can Chiropr Assoc, 58(2), 193-200. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24932023
Katz, J. N. (2006). Lumbar disc disorders and low-back pain: socioeconomic factors and consequences. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 88 Suppl 2, 21-24. doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.E.01273
Ljunggren, A. E., Weber, H., & Larsen, S. (1984). Autotraction versus manual traction in patients with prolapsed lumbar intervertebral discs. Scand J Rehabil Med, 16(3), 117-124. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6494835
Okawa, A., Shinomiya, K., Komori, H., Muneta, T., Arai, Y., & Nakai, O. (1998). Dynamic motion study of the whole lumbar spine by videofluoroscopy. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 23(16), 1743-1749. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199808150-00007
Sato, K., Kikuchi, S., & Yonezawa, T. (1999). In vivo intradiscal pressure measurement in healthy individuals and in patients with ongoing back problems. Spine (Phila Pa 1976), 24(23), 2468-2474. doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199912010-00008
Sherry, E., Kitchener, P., & Smart, R. (2001). A prospective randomized controlled study of VAX-D and TENS for the treatment of chronic low back pain. Neurol Res, 23(7), 780-784. doi.org/10.1179/016164101101199180
In many individuals with spinal issues, how does spinal decompression compared with traditional care restore muscle strength?
Introduction
Many people unknowingly put pressure on their spines during daily activities, causing intervertebral disc compression and tightness in surrounding ligaments, muscles, nerve roots, and tissues. Repetitive motions and aging can also lead to intervertebral disc cracking and misalignment, resulting in pain and discomfort in the three common areas: the back, neck, and shoulders. Spinal stenosis is a spinal condition where the spinal cord is compressed and narrow and can cause symptoms of muscle weakness and pain to the upper and lower body extremities if left untreated. This article explores how non-surgical treatments like advanced oscillation and spinal decompression can restore muscle strength and alleviate the effects of spinal stenosis. By working with certified medical providers who use our patients’ information to treat individuals suffering from spinal stenosis. We inform them about non-surgical treatments to regain spinal mobility and restore muscle strength. We encourage our patients to ask essential questions while seeking education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Alex Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Spinal Stenosis Causing Muscle Strength Issues
Do you find yourself struggling to hold onto objects while doing activities? Are you experiencing strange sensations like numbness or tingling in your arms or legs? Or you’re dealing with chronic back and neck pain that won’t go away. These issues can all be related to problems with your spine, which can cause your muscles to weaken and lead to conditions like low back pain, sciatica, and spinal stenosis.
Research shows that spinal stenosis is a common condition caused by nerve root impingement or ischemia in the spinal canal. This can lead to pain, weakness, sensory loss in your extremities, and tingling or numbness in your hands or feet. Additionally, studies have found that spinal stenosis in the lumbar spine can increase your risk of developing locomotive syndrome, which can further affect the muscle strength in your arms and legs. {Kasukawa, 2019}
Strong muscles are important for daily movements, such as using your arms, legs, hands, and feet. However, spinal stenosis affects your muscle strength. In that case, it can cause various issues, including numbness or tingling in your upper and lower limbs, severe pain when walking but relief when sitting or resting, decreased grip strength, sciatic pain that mimics and reduced walking distance. While spinal stenosis can be caused by normal or traumatic factors that affect the mobility, flexibility, and stability of the upper and lower muscle quadrants in the body, several available treatments can alleviate the effects of spinal stenosis and help restore muscle strength to the body.
Discovering The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care-Video
Many people experiencing musculoskeletal pain symptoms related to spinal stenosis use over-the-counter medication, hot/cold therapy, and stretching to alleviate the referred pain. Traditional surgery is an effective option to remove the damaged disc that is aggravating the nerve root and relieve the spinal column. However, this surgery is typically only recommended when other treatments have failed and can be expensive. {Herrington, 2023} Nevertheless, numerous cost-effective non-surgical treatments are available to help reduce the pain-like symptoms caused by spinal stenosis and alleviate associated symptoms. Chiropractic care and spinal decompression are non-surgical treatments that use mechanical and manipulated techniques to realign the body and minimize nerve entrapment that causes pain-like symptoms. The video above provides more information about how non-surgical treatments can assist many individuals in maintaining mobility and flexibility by providing a personalized treatment plan to prevent the recurrence of musculoskeletal and spinal conditions.
Advanced Oscillation For Spinal Stenosis
Many people opt for non-surgical treatments such as chiropractic care, massage therapy, spinal decompression, and advanced oscillation to alleviate pain. In “The Ultimate Spinal Decompression,” written by Dr. Eric Kaplan, D.C., FIAMA, and Dr. Perry Bard, D.C., it is noted that advanced oscillation therapy can be tailored to an individual’s needs, helping to minimize pain symptoms caused by spinal stenosis. Advanced oscillation settings can help reduce inflammation and muscle spasms associated with spinal stenosis while promoting the replenishment of nutrients in the spine. In addition, advanced oscillation can help the body restructure and re-tone the targeted spinal structures, loosening them up and reducing nerve entrapment. Advanced oscillation is one of the non-surgical treatments that synergizes well with spinal decompression.
Spinal Decompression To Restore Muscle Strength
Now spinal decompression has a unique ability to reduce the effects of spinal stenosis as it is safe on the spine, cost-effective, and non-invasive. What spinal decompression therapy does to the body is like advanced oscillation. It uses gentle traction to reduce intervertebral disc pressure through negative pressure, allowing oxygen, fluids, and nutrients to the spinal disc and releasing the aggravating nerve root. {Choi, 2015} Spinal decompression can also help restore disc height from the spine, allowing the compressed disc causing spinal stenosis to be put back into its original space. {Kang, 2016} When many individuals start thinking about their health and wellness, non-surgical treatments can give them a positive experience and improve their pain.
References
Choi, J., Lee, S., & Hwangbo, G. (2015). 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, 27(2), 481–483. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.27.481
Herrington, B. J., Fernandes, R. R., Urquhart, J. C., Rasoulinejad, P., Siddiqi, F., & Bailey, C. S. (2023). L3-L4 Hyperlordosis and Decreased Lower Lumbar Lordosis Following Short-Segment L4-L5 Lumbar Fusion Surgery is Associated With L3-L4 Revision Surgery for Adjacent Segment Stenosis. Global Spine Journal, 21925682231191414. doi.org/10.1177/21925682231191414
Kang, J.-I., Jeong, D.-K., & Choi, H. (2016). Effect of spinal decompression on the lumbar muscle activity and disk height in patients with herniated intervertebral disk. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 28(11), 3125–3130. doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3125
Kaplan, E., & Bard, P. (2023). The Ultimate Spinal Decompression. JETLAUNCH.
Kasukawa, Y., Miyakoshi, N., Hongo, M., Ishikawa, Y., Kudo, D., Kijima, H., Kimura, R., Ono, Y., Takahashi, Y., & Shimada, Y. (2019). Lumbar spinal stenosis associated with progression of locomotive syndrome and lower extremity muscle weakness. Clinical Interventions in Aging, Volume 14, 1399–1405. doi.org/10.2147/cia.s201974
Munakomi, S., Foris, L. A., & Varacallo, M. (2020). Spinal Stenosis And Neurogenic Claudication. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430872/
Factors that cause poor unhealthy posture can be caused by the day-to-day effects of gravity on the body, personal, work, or sports injuries, illness, genetics, or a combination of these factors is also common. This leads to neck and back pain that leads to various musculoskeletal health issues. Achieving consistent healthy posture requires technique and practice. Chiropractic treatment with massage and/or physical therapy can restore muscles to optimal mobility and function.
Factors That Cause Unhealthy Posture
Factors that cause posture problems, like back pain, are often caused by issues with the strength and flexibility ratio between the body’s muscle groups that hold the body upright.
Muscle Guarding
After sustaining an injury, muscles can spasm to protect the injured and the surrounding area.
Muscle spasms can help keep injuries stable and protect them from worsening, but they can also limit movements and cause pain symptoms.
Prolonged muscle spasms can lead to weakened/vulnerable muscles creating an imbalance between the muscles guarding against the injury and those still working normally.
This can cause the body posture to shift to compensate.
Muscle Tension
Muscle weakness or tension can develop when holding a prolonged position day after day or when doing daily tasks/chores in a way that places added tension on the body.
When certain muscle groups are weak or tense, posture will be affected.
Aches and pains begin to develop from the awkward positioning and the other muscles that must work overtime.
Unhealthy Habits
Compensation is when the body can still achieve its movement goal but with compromised and unhealthy alignment.
As the body compensates and accommodates muscle spasms, weakness, tension, and/or imbalance begin to present.
When this happens, the body may be forced to use alternate and less efficient patterns of muscle contraction and flexion.
Technology
Using technology or working with several combined devices can slowly shift the body from correct alignment.
Incessant texting can cause text neck to develop, a condition in which the neck is held in too much flexion, or forward bending, for a prolonged time.
Discomfort, trigger points, and pain symptoms will start to develop, which leads to further posture problems.
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals who experience stress regularly and easily are factors that cause posture problems.
Stress can contribute to shallow breathing or overly-contracted muscles, causing the body to shift out of alignment.
Adjusting posture can help counter the stress effects.
Shoes
Footwear affects posture.
Heels extend the body’s weight forward, which can cause hip and spinal misalignment.
Individuals can wear down the outside or inside of their shoes faster because of things like:
Imbalanced kinetic forces will be translated up the ankle, knee, hip, and lower back.
This can lead to pain and discomfort in any of these joints.
Genetics
Sometimes factors that cause unhealthy posture are hereditary.
For example, Scheuermann’s disease – a condition in which adolescent boys develop pronounced kyphosis in their thoracic spines.
It is recommended to work with the individual’s primary/specialist healthcare provider in conjunction with a chiropractic specialist team for treatment and management.
Chiropractic treatment can help individuals achieve and maintain proper posture through various massage therapies to release tightness and relax the muscles, decompression to realign the spine, adjustments to realign the body, and postural training through exercises and stretches to develop healthy postural habits.
Quick Patient Intake
References
In, Tae-Sung et al., “Spinal and Pelvic Alignment of Sitting Posture Associated with Smartphone Use in Adolescents with Low Back Pain.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health vol. 18,16 8369. 7 Aug. 2021, doi:10.3390/ijerph18168369
Korakakis, Vasileios, et al. “Physiotherapist perceptions of optimal sitting and standing posture.” Musculoskeletal Science & Practice vol. 39 (2019): 24-31. doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2018.11.004
Mansfield JT, Bennett M. Scheuermann Disease. [Updated 2022 Aug 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan-. Available from: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499966/
Mingels, Sarah, et al. “Is There Support for the Paradigm ‘Spinal Posture as a Trigger for Episodic Headache’? A Comprehensive Review.” Current pain and headache reports vol. 23,3 17. 4 Mar. 2019, doi:10.1007/s11916-019-0756-2
Mork, Paul Jarle, and Rolf H Westgaard. “Back posture and low back muscle activity in female computer workers: a field study.” Clinical biomechanics (Bristol, Avon) vol. 24,2 (2009): 169-75. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2008.11.001
Pope, Malcolm H et al. “Spine ergonomics.” Annual review of Biomedical Engineering vol. 4 (2002): 49-68. doi:10.1146/annurev.bioeng.4.092101.122107
Shaghayegh Fard, B et al. “Evaluation of forward head posture in sitting and standing positions.” The 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 vol. 25,11 (2016): 3577-3582. doi:10.1007/s00586-015-4254-x
Tinitali, Sarah, et al. “Sitting Posture During Occupational Driving Causes Low Back Pain; Evidence-Based Position or Dogma? A Systematic Review.” Human Factors vol. 63,1 (2021): 111-123. doi:10.1177/0018720819871730
Wernli, Kevin, et al. “Movement, posture and low back pain. How do they relate? A replicated single-case design in 12 people with persistent, disabling low back pain.” European Journal of Pain (London, England) vol. 24,9 (2020): 1831-1849. doi:10.1002/ejp.1631
In many people with facet joint syndrome, how does spinal decompression compare to traditional spinal surgery alleviate low back pain?
Introduction
Many people around the globe experience lower back pain for various reasons, such as lifting or carrying heavy objects, sedentary jobs, or traumatic events that can cause spinal injuries. The spine has a crucial role in providing mobility and flexibility without discomfort. The facet joints and spinal discs work together to generate healthy movement and stability within each segment. However, when the muscles, ligaments, and tissues surrounding the spinal disc are overstretched or compressed due to normal or traumatic factors, it can aggravate the nerve roots and cause discomfort. As we age or carry excess weight, our spinal discs can experience wear and tear, leading to facet joint syndrome. This syndrome is often associated with lower back pain caused by injured facet joints. This article will explore how facet joint syndrome is linked to lower back pain and how non-surgical treatments can help alleviate it. We work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ valuable information to treat individuals suffering from facet joint syndrome affecting spine mobility and causes low back pain. We also inform them about non-surgical treatments to regain spinal mobility and reduce pain-like symptoms that correlate with this spinal condition. We encourage patients to ask essential questions and seek education from our associated medical providers about their situation. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
Facet Joint Syndrome
Are you experiencing pain that radiates down to your legs, especially when standing? Do you constantly hunch over, affecting your posture during everyday activities? Have you noticed numbness or loss of sensation in your feet or buttocks? As we age or experience traumatic injuries, the facet joints on either side of our spine can become damaged, resulting in a condition called facet joint syndrome. Research indicates that environmental conditions can cause joint degeneration, leading to symptoms similar to other spinal conditions. Cartilage erosion and inflammation on the spine are common signs of facet joint syndrome, often associated with musculoskeletal disorders like low back pain.
Low Back Pain Associated With Facet Syndrome
Research studiesmusculoskeletal disorders like low back pain are associated with facet syndrome. When the facet joints start to degenerate from repetitive overuse motions caused by everyday activities, it can cause micro instabilities to the facet joints while compressing the surrounding nerve roots. When this happens, many individuals will experience low back pain and sciatic nerve pain conditions that cause them to be unstable while walking. Additional research studies stated that low back pain associated with facet syndrome can cause symptoms of restricted movement, reduce the quality of life and greatly impact the entire lumbar vertebral structure. Since low back pain is a common problem many individuals have, the combination with facet syndrome can trigger reactive muscle spasms, a protective mechanism in the spine to cause the individual to have difficulty moving comfortably and experience severe sudden pain. To that point, low back pain associated with facet syndrome causes the person to be dealing with constant ongoing pain, making a normal lifestyle almost difficult.
Discover The Benefits Of Chiropractic Care-Video
Low back pain associated with facet joint syndrome should not make life difficult. Numerous treatments pertain to relieving the pain-like symptoms and help slow the process of facet syndrome from causing more issues to the spine. Non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can help reduce the effects of facet syndrome as they can provide benefits to restore spinal mobility. The video above explores the benefits of chiropractic care, as chiropractors will discuss the recommended course of personalized treatment with you. Non-surgical treatments are safe, gentle on the spine, and cost-effective as they help regain your body’s mobility from facet syndrome. At the same time, non-surgical treatments like chiropractic care can be combined with other non-surgical therapies that can help restart the body’s natural healing process to allow the compressed spinal disc and joint to be rehydrated.
Spinal Decompression Alleviating Facet Syndrome
According to research studies, non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression can help reduce the effects of facet syndrome as it can help improve the spine;’s mobility through gentle traction and can help stretch out the affected muscles associated with low back pain by taking pressure off the aggravating nerve root. In “The Ultimate Spinal Decompression,” Dr. Eric Kaplan, D.C., FIAMA, and Dr. Perry Bard, D.C., mentioned that when individuals are going in for spinal decompression, they might experience a “popping sensation” as the jammed facet joints are being open for treatment. This is normal for early facet arthropathy and can occur within the first few treatment sessions. At the same time, spinal decompression can gently stretch the adjacent compressed nerve root and find instant relief. After the treatment, many individuals can combine other treatments like physical therapy to reduce the painful symptoms from returning. Non-surgical treatments like spinal decompression and chiropractic care can help revitalize the spine affected by facet joint syndrome and help restore a person’s quality of life.
In many individuals with degenerative disc disease, how does spinal decompression compare to spinal surgery improve spine flexibility?
Introduction
The spine is essential to the body’s musculoskeletal system, enabling individuals to perform daily movements while maintaining proper posture. The spinal cord is safeguarded by surrounding ligaments, soft tissues, muscles, and nerve roots. The spinal discs between the spinal column act as shock absorbers to reduce stress from axial overload and promote body mobility and flexibility. The spinal discs can naturally degenerate as a person ages, leading to degenerative disc disease. This condition can result in several spinal issues that can impact the spine’s flexibility. This article explores how degenerative disc disease affects the spine and the treatments available to restore its flexibility. We work with certified medical providers who use our patients’ valuable information to treat individuals suffering from degenerative disc disease affecting their spine’s flexibility. We also inform them about non-surgical treatments to regain spinal mobility and reduce pain-like symptoms. We encourage patients to ask essential questions and seek education from our associated medical providers about their condition. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., provides this information as an educational service. Disclaimer
How Does Degenerative Disc Disease Affect The Spine?
Do you experience neck or lower back pain after a long workday? After physical activity, do you find temporary relief by twisting or turning your torso? Are you experiencing radiating pain in your upper or lower extremities that worsens when standing? These symptoms are common as the body ages over time. Muscles, organs, ligaments, and joints can all be affected, including the spine and intervertebral discs. Research studies reveal that disc degeneration frequently occurs in the spine, leading to changes that can cause misalignment and spinal issues. Degenerative disc disease can disrupt the structure of spinal discs, resulting in pain-like symptoms and accelerating degenerative changes to the spine. Regardless of age, various habits and lifestyle choices can contribute to degeneration. As additional research studies have provided, this condition is characterized by a tension-resisting annulus fibrosus and compression-resisting nucleus pulposus, causing pain and discomfort.
The Symptoms Correlating With Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative disc disease is when the spinal disc in the spine experiences wear and tear due to natural aging. The initial indication of this disease is disc cracking caused by repetitive motion trauma. The symptoms associated with this disease are similar but may vary based on the affected spine location. Research shows that degenerative disc disease can cause micro tears in the spinal disc, leading to decreased fluids and water intake, disc space loss, disc bulging, and irritation of the adjacent nerves. This can affect surrounding muscle tissues and disc facet joints, narrowing the spinal canal. Additional studies reveal that people with degenerative disc disease may experience various symptoms that can hinder their ability to function properly. Some common symptoms include:
Pain in the arms, legs, and feet
Sensory abnormalities (loss of sensation in the hands, feet, fingers, and back)
Muscle tenderness and weakness
Instability
Inflammation
Visceral-somatic & somatic-visceral condition
If someone experiences pain-like symptoms in conjunction with degenerative disc disease can negatively impact their quality of life and potentially lead to long-term disability. Fortunately, treatments can slow the degenerative process and alleviate the pain-like symptoms.
Secrets Of Optimal Wellness- Video
When individuals experience pain related to degenerative disc disease, they often seek ways to alleviate it. Some may consider spinal surgery to remove the affected disc and ease the pain caused by the irritated nerve. However, this option is typically only pursued if other treatments have failed and can be expensive. Fortunately, non-surgical treatments are cost-effective and safe, gently addressing the affected area for relief. Non-surgical treatments can be customized to the individual’s specific pain and condition, including spinal decompression, MET therapy, traction therapy, and chiropractic care. These methods work to realign the body and promote natural healing by rehydrating the spine, ultimately restoring flexibility.
Treatments To Improve Spinal Flexibility
Individuals with degenerative disc disease can benefit from non-surgical treatments tailored to their needs. These treatments involve an assessment by a pain specialist, such as a physical therapist, massage therapist, or chiropractor, who will identify the source of the pain and use various techniques to reduce pain, improve flexibility in the spine, and loosen stiff muscles that have been affected by the disease. Additionally, non-surgical treatments can help restore sensory and mobility function to the spine and address factors that may exacerbate the degenerative process.
Spinal Decompression Protocol For Degenerative Disc Disease
Research studies suggest that spinal decompression can effectively reduce the degenerative process of spinal discs through gentle traction. During a spinal decompression treatment, the individual is strapped into a traction machine. The machine gradually stretches the spine to create negative pressure on the spinal disc, which helps to rehydrate it and increase nutrient intake, thereby jumpstarting the healing process. According to Dr. Eric Kaplan, D.C., FIAMA, and Dr. Perry Bard, D.C., in their book “The Ultimate Spinal Decompression,” individuals with degenerative disc disease may require higher pressure during spinal decompression treatment due to its symptomatic problems. Spinal decompression can help restore disc height and be a viable solution for those looking to improve their health.
Individuals spend around one-third of their life sleeping or resting. Every person has their own preferred sleeping position. However, not all sleep positions are comfortable and supportive to the body, especially the spine. Individuals that sleep on their side or stomach that experience back pain might want to consider switching to sleeping on their back. Changing preferred sleeping positions can seem impossible, however, learning to sleep on your back is possible with a little training and adjustment period.
Learning To Sleep On Your Back
After side sleeping, back sleeping is the second most common position. Individuals that are stomach or side sleepers that suffer from:
Learning to sleep on your back is recommended because its health benefits can potentially solve all these problems and more.
Adapting this sleeping position can help maintain proper spinal alignment.
Relieves waking up with tension headaches.
Relieve sinus problems.
Individuals that are not natural back sleepers understand how difficult it is to force oneself to adapt to a new sleeping position. There are ways to condition the mind and body to fall and stay asleep on your back, resulting in healthy rest. These include:
A Pillow Under The Knees
It may help to place a supportive pillow under the knees.
The knees should be slightly bent and feel comfortable.
Check to make sure that the neck and spine feel comfortable and are in alignment.
Make adjustments as needed.
A Pillow Under The Low Back
In the beginning, switching to back sleeping can increase discomfort in the low back.
Placing a pillow under the lower back can help.
Using too large or thick a pillow could create added discomfort.
Try a few different pillows to find what works best and feels right.
Pillow Surround
Individuals that are active sleepers and tend to roll onto their side or stomach soon after falling asleep, can place pillows around the midsection and hips.
A small barrier of pillows around the body can assist in learning to sleep on your back.
The pillows help prevent the body from rolling.
It’s recommended to place pillows closely against either side of the body.
Using the pillows as an enclosure will force the body to remain in a neutral position throughout the night.
Sleeping On The Right Pillow
Individuals will want to make sure they are using the right sleeping pillow.
In addition to supporting the spine’s alignment, a quality pillow will also support the neck.
The recommended pillow for back sleeping should cradle the head and ensure it stays elevated.
A pillow that is too flat or too thick can cause the head to become unlevel with the body leading to:
Neck and upper body pain
Restricted airflow, which may cause you to snore or suffer from sleep apnea.
Digestive issues like acid reflux and heartburn.
Consider a pillow that’s made out of some type of memory foam to assist with learning to sleep on your back.
The thickness and hugging sensation can help to stay on the back and prevent inadvertently flipping over.
Sleeping On The Right Mattress
A positive back sleeping experience begins with the right mattress. There are so many mattress types to choose from. It is recommended to consider the materials, the firmness level, and the size. For comfortably sleeping on your back, the firmness level is essential.
Consider the positioning of your spine.
The objective is to keep the spine as straight as possible, which is achieved with the proper firmness.
A mattress that is too firm will create unwanted pressure and tension on the shoulders and the pelvic region.
A mattress that is too soft will cause the hips to sink, throwing spinal alignment off and causing back pain symptoms.
A medium-firm mattress is recommended.
Memory foam is a great option for learning to sleep on your back.
Memory foam cradles the natural curve of the body, and hugs the body during sleep, which helps avoid accidentally rolling onto your side or stomach.
Memory foam mattresses with integrated gel can provide cooling and ventilation to keep the body refreshed throughout the night.
A medium-firm memory foam mattress will make sure the body stays straight, with the proper cushioning around the pelvis and hips.
Training To Sleep On Your Back
References
Anderson, Ngaire H et al. “Association of Supine Going-to-Sleep Position in Late Pregnancy With Reduced Birth Weight: A Secondary Analysis of an Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.” JAMA network open vol. 2,10 e1912614. 2 Oct. 2019, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.12614
Desouzart, Gustavo, et al. “Effects of sleeping position on back pain in physically active seniors: A controlled pilot study.” Work (Reading, Mass.) vol. 53,2 (2015): 235-40. doi:10.3233/WOR-152243
Khan, Bashir Ahmad, et al. “Effect of bed head elevation during sleep in symptomatic patients of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux.” Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology vol. 27,6 (2012): 1078-82. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2011.06968.x
Portale, G et al. “When are reflux episodes symptomatic?.” Diseases of the esophagus: official journal of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus vol. 20,1 (2007): 47-52. doi:10.1111/j.1442-2050.2007.00650.x
Skarpsno, Eivind Schjelderup, et al. “Sleep positions and nocturnal body movements based on free-living accelerometer recordings: association with demographics, lifestyle, and insomnia symptoms.” Nature and Science of Sleep vol. 9 267-275. 1 Nov. 2017, doi:10.2147/NSS.S145777
Surdea-Blaga, Teodora, et al. “Food and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.” Current medicinal chemistry vol. 26,19 (2019): 3497-3511. doi:10.2174/0929867324666170515123807
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