For individuals experiencing musculoskeletal issues and pain symptoms, can learning about biomechanics and how it applies to movement, physical training, and performance, help in injury treatment and prevention?
Biomechanics
Biomechanics studies all life forms and their mechanical workings. Many think of biomechanics in sports and athletic performance, but biomechanics helps create and improve technologies, equipment, and injury rehabilitation techniques. (Tung-Wu Lu, Chu-Fen Chang 2012) Scientists, sports medicine doctors, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and conditioning specialists utilize biomechanics to help develop training protocols and techniques to improve therapy outcomes.
Body Movement
Biomechanics studies the movement of the body, including how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together, especially when movement is not optimal or correct. It is part of the larger field of kinesiology, specifically focusing on motion mechanics and analysis of how all the individual parts of the body work together to make up athletic and normal movements. (José M Vilar et al., 2013) Biomechanics includes:
Structure of bones and muscles.
Movement ability.
Mechanics of blood circulation, renal function, and other functions.
The study of forces and the effects of these forces on the tissues, fluid, or materials used for diagnosis, treatment, or research. (Jose I. Priego-Quesada 2021)
Sports
Sports biomechanics studies motion in exercising, training, and sports, which incorporates physics and the laws of mechanics. For example, the biomechanics of a specific exercise looks at:
Body position.
Movement of the feet, hips, knees, back, shoulders, and arms.
Knowing the correct movement patterns helps make the most of the exercise while preventing injuries, correcting form mistakes, informing training protocols, and increasing positive results. Understanding how the body moves and why it moves the way it does helps medical professionals prevent and treat injuries, alleviate pain symptoms, and improve performance.
Equipment
Biomechanics is used in the development of physical and sports equipment to improve performance. For example, a shoe can be designed for optimal performance for a skateboarder, long-distance runner, or soccer player. Playing surfaces are also studied for this purpose, such as how the surface stiffness of artificial turf affects athletic performance. (Jose I. Priego-Quesada 2021)
Individuals
Biomechanics can analyze an individual’s movements for more effective movement during training and games.
For example, an individual’s running gait or swing can be filmed with recommendations on what to change to improve.
Injuries
The science studies the causes, treatment, and prevention of neuromusculoskeletal injuries.
The research can analyze the forces that cause injuries and provide information for medical professionals on how to reduce the risk of injury.
Training
Biomechanics studies sports techniques and training systems to develop ways to improve efficiency.
This can include research on positioning, release, follow-through, etc.
It can analyze and help design new training techniques based on the mechanical demands of the sport, aimed at resulting in better performance.
For example, muscle activation is measured in cycling using electromyography and kinematics, which helps researchers analyze factors like posture, components, or exercise intensity that affect activation. (Jose I. Priego-Quesada 2021)
Motions
In biomechanics, the body’s motions are referred to from anatomical positioning:
Standing upright, with the gaze straight ahead
Arms at the sides
Palms facing forward
Feet spaced slightly apart, toes forward.
The three anatomical planes include:
Sagittal – median – Dividing the body into right and left halves is the sagittal/median plane. Flexion and extension occur in the sagittal plane.
Frontal – The frontal plane divides the body into front and back sides but also includes abduction, or moving a limb away from the center, and adduction, or moving a limb towards the center in the frontal plane.
Transverse – horizontal. – The upper and lower parts of the body are divided by the transverse/horizontal plane. Rotating movements occur here. (American Council on Exercise 2017)
Moving the body in all three planes occurs with daily activity. This is why performing exercises in each plane of motion to build strength, function, and stability is recommended.
Tools
Various tools are used to study biomechanics. Studies are usually performed using a device known as electromyography or EMG sensors. Sensors are placed on the skin and measure the amount and degree of muscle fiber activation in certain muscles during test exercises. EMGs can help:
Researchers understand which exercises are more effective than others.
Therapists know whether patients’ muscles are properly operating and functioning.
Dynamometers are another tool that helps measure muscle strength.
They measure the force output generated during muscle contractions to see if the muscles are sufficiently strong.
They are used to measure grip strength, which can be an indicator of overall strength, health, and longevity. (Li Huang et al., 2022)
Beyond Adjustments: Chiropractic and Integrative Healthcare
References
Lu, T. W., & Chang, C. F. (2012). Biomechanics of human movement and its clinical applications. The Kaohsiung journal of medical sciences, 28(2 Suppl), S13–S25. doi.org/10.1016/j.kjms.2011.08.004
Vilar, J. M., Miró, F., Rivero, M. A., & Spinella, G. (2013). Biomechanics. BioMed research international, 2013, 271543. doi.org/10.1155/2013/271543
Priego-Quesada J. I. (2021). Exercise Biomechanics and Physiology. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 11(2), 159. doi.org/10.3390/life11020159
Huang, L., Liu, Y., Lin, T., Hou, L., Song, Q., Ge, N., & Yue, J. (2022). Reliability and validity of two hand dynamometers when used by community-dwelling adults aged over 50 years. BMC geriatrics, 22(1), 580. doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03270-6
Individuals dealing with various conditions and diseases and ongoing research to find treatments, where do human regenerative cells come from?
Regenerative Cells
Regenerative cells are stem cells that are specialized to potentially develop into many different types of cells. They are unlike any other cell because:
Being unspecialized they have no specific function in the body.
They can become specialized cells like – brain, muscle, and blood cells.
They can divide and renew continually for a long period.
Blood stem cells are currently the only type that is regularly used in treatment.
For leukemia or lymphoma, only adult cells are used in a procedure known as a bone marrow transplant. (Cleveland Clinic. 2023)
For regenerative cell research, the cells can come from different sources, including adult donors, genetically altered human cells, or embryos.
Bone Marrow Transplants
Bone marrow cells produce all of the body’s blood cells, including red and white blood, and platelets.
Hematopoietic stem cells are those found in bone marrow that is the parent for the different types of cells.
Hematopoietic cells are transplanted in individuals with cancer to replenish bone marrow.
The procedure is often used during high-dose chemotherapy that destroys the existing cells in the bone marrow.
Donated stem cells are injected into a vein and settle in the bone marrow where they begin to produce new healthy blood cells. (Cleveland Clinic. 2023)
Peripheral Blood Transplants
For some time the only source to extract hematopoietic cells was from bone marrow.
Researchers found that many of these cells were freely circulating in the blood.
Scientists learned how to extract the cells from the blood and transplant them directly.
This type of transplant is a peripheral blood stem cell transplant/PBSCT and has become the more common procedure, however, both methods are still used. (Cleveland Clinic. 2023)
PBSCT is less invasive and does not require the removal of marrow from the hip bone.
Somatic Cells
Adult stem cells are called somatic and are acquired from a donor.
Embryonic stem cells were first grown in a laboratory in 1998 for reproductive research, which created controversy because they were extracted from human embryos that were destroyed or harvested for science. Today their primary use is for research into treatments and potential cures for:
Embryonic cells are pluripotent, which means they can grow into the three types of germ cell layers – ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm – that make up the human body and can develop into each of the more than 200 types of cells. (National Institutes of Health. 2016)
Induced Pluripotent Cells
Induced pluripotent stem cells/iPSCs are somatic cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to behave like embryonic cells.
Simara, P., Motl, J. A., & Kaufman, D. S. (2013). Pluripotent stem cells and gene therapy. Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine, 161(4), 284–292. doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2013.01.001
Finkbeiner, S. R., & Spence, J. R. (2013). A gutsy task: generating intestinal tissue from human pluripotent stem cells. Digestive diseases and sciences, 58(5), 1176–1184. doi.org/10.1007/s10620-013-2620-2
Al-Shamekh, S., & Goldberg, J. L. (2014). Retinal repair with induced pluripotent stem cells. Translational research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine, 163(4), 377–386. doi.org/10.1016/j.trsl.2013.11.002
Nowadays, individuals trying to avoid surgery have more therapy options. Can regenerative medicine help treat neuromusculoskeletal injuries?
Regenerative Medicine
Regenerative medicine utilizes the body’s raw cells and is used in cancer treatment and to reduce the risk of infections. (American Cancer Society. 2020) Researchers are looking for other ways to use these cells in medical therapies.
What are These Cells
Stem cells are unspecialized cells that can develop into any cell and in certain cases renew themselves an unlimited number of times. (National Institutes of Health. 2016)
Regenerative cell therapy uses these cells as a treatment for a disease or condition.
Regenerative cells are given to individuals to replace cells that have been destroyed or have died.
In the case of cancer, they may be used to help the body regain the ability to produce regenerative cells after treatment. (American Cancer Society. 2020)
For individuals with multiple myeloma and certain types of leukemia, regenerative cell therapy is used to eliminate cancer cells.
The therapy is called graft-versus-tumor effect/GvT, where a donor’s white blood cells/WBCs are used to eliminate the cancerous tumor. (American Cancer Society. 2020)
What They Can Treat
This is a new treatment that is still going through research. The Food and Drug Administration has only approved it for certain cancers and conditions that affect the blood and immune system. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2019) Regenerative cell therapy is FDA-approved to treat: (National Cancer Institute. 2015)
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Multiple myeloma
Neuroblastoma
It is also used to decrease the risk of infection after regenerative cell transplantation in individuals with blood cancers. (U.S. Food & Drug Administration. 2023)
Researchers are studying how these cells can treat other conditions. Clinical trials are analyzing how to use the therapy for neurodegenerative diseases like:
During regenerative cell therapy, the cells are given through an intravenous line. The three places where blood-forming cells can be obtained are bone marrow, the umbilical cord, and blood. Transplants can include: (American Cancer Society. 2020)
Autologous
The cells are taken from the individual who will be receiving the therapy.
Allogeneic
The cells are donated by another individual.
Syngeneic
The cells come from an identical twin, if there is one.
Safety
The therapy has shown to provide benefits but there are risks.
One risk is known as graft-versus-host disease – GVHD.
It occurs in one-third to half of allogeneic recipients.
This is where the body does not recognize the donor’s white blood cells and attacks them causing problems and symptoms throughout the body.
To treat GVHD medications are given to suppress the immune system to stop attacking the donor cells. (American Cancer Society. 2020)
The future of regenerative cell therapy is promising. Research is ongoing to find out how these cells can treat conditions and find new ways to treat and cure diseases.
Regenerative medicine has been researched for over twenty years for conditions like macular degeneration, glaucoma, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. (National Institutes of Health. 2022) This therapy is a new medical treatment that could be used in future therapies as part of a multidisciplinary approach to neuromusculoskeletal injuries and conditions.
Garlic tea is an herbal tonic made from garlic, lemon, and honey. What medicinal uses and benefits can garlic provide that is supported by scientific research?
Garlic Tea
Garlic tea:
Garlic – Allium sativum – is a perennial plant from Central Asia.
The plant produces a bulb that is used in cooking and in health remedies all over the world.
Garlic powder, oil, and supplements are available.
Supplements can be made from garlic oil or from fresh, dried, or aged garlic.
The tea is commonly made with garlic, lemon, and honey, but can be made with a variety of different ingredients.
It is used for cold symptoms like congestion and cough.
Health Benefits
Some, but not all benefits are supported by scientific evidence. It is important to keep in mind that these studies are analyzing garlic, and not necessarily garlic tea. The dose of garlic in tea may not be the same as a more concentrated dose that is used in the studies. Also, cooking or boiling garlic can change its therapeutic effects.
The scientific evidence about garlic’s benefits. Garlic is a healthy source of organosulfur compounds, including alliinase, which is released when it is crushed or chopped. (Leyla Bayan, Peir Hossain Koulivand, Ali Gorji. 2014)
Organosulfur compounds are believed to provide health benefits.
An overview of garlic studies found that there are promising health benefits, however, the researchers caution that larger studies are needed to confirm the results and verify the right dosage to get the results. (Johura Ansary, et al., 2020)
The current studies show the following possible benefits:
Some studies have also shown that garlic could be able to stimulate the immune system and decrease tumor growth in certain cancers, like colorectal cancer.
However, research investigating the cancer-preventing benefits has shown mixed results. (Xi Zhou, et al., 2020)
Common side effects of garlic consumption include bad breath, upset stomach, and body odor.
Garlic can also cause bloating, gas, and heartburn for some.
There are allergies to garlic and individuals with an allergy can experience more severe symptoms.
The NIH also advises that taking garlic may increase your risk of bleeding.
Individuals taking a blood thinner like warfarin or about to undergo surgery should discuss taking supplements or drinking garlic tea with their healthcare provider.
Garlic has been found to interfere with the effectiveness of some drugs that are used to treat HIV infection.
Lemon can cause tooth erosion so it is recommended to rinse teeth after drinking.
Honey has sugar content so it is recommended to use it in small quantities.
Healthy Diet and Chiropractic
References
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Garlic.
Bayan, L., Koulivand, P. H., & Gorji, A. (2014). Garlic: A review of potential therapeutic effects. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine, 4(1), 1–14.
Ansary, J., Forbes-Hernández, T. Y., Gil, E., Cianciosi, D., Zhang, J., Elexpuru-Zabaleta, M., Simal-Gandara, J., Giampieri, F., & Battino, M. (2020). Potential Health Benefit of Garlic Based on Human Intervention Studies: A Brief Overview. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland), 9(7), 619. doi.org/10.3390/antiox9070619
Zhang, S., Liu, M., Wang, Y., Zhang, Q., Liu, L., Meng, G., Yao, Z., Wu, H., Xia, Y., Bao, X., Gu, Y., Wang, H., Shi, H., Sun, S., Wang, X., Zhou, M., Jia, Q., Song, K., & Niu, K. (2020). Raw garlic consumption is inversely associated with prehypertension in a large-scale adult population. Journal of human hypertension, 34(1), 59–67. doi.org/10.1038/s41371-019-0257-0
Zhou, X., Qian, H., Zhang, D., & Zeng, L. (2020). Garlic intake and the risk of colorectal cancer: A meta-analysis. Medicine, 99(1), e18575. doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000018575
Avci, A., Atli, T., Ergüder, I. B., Varli, M., Devrim, E., Aras, S., & Durak, I. (2008). Effects of garlic consumption on plasma and erythrocyte antioxidant parameters in elderly subjects. Gerontology, 54(3), 173–176. doi.org/10.1159/000130426
Burian, J. P., Sacramento, L. V. S., & Carlos, I. Z. (2017). Fungal infection control by garlic extracts (Allium sativum L.) and modulation of peritoneal macrophage activity in a murine model of sporotrichosis. Brazilian journal of biology = Revista brasleira de biologia, 77(4), 848–855. doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.03716
Kato, Y., Domoto, T., Hiramitsu, M., Katagiri, T., Sato, K., Miyake, Y., Aoi, S., Ishihara, K., Ikeda, H., Umei, N., Takigawa, A., & Harada, T. (2014). Effect on blood pressure of daily lemon ingestion and walking. Journal of nutrition and metabolism, 2014, 912684. doi.org/10.1155/2014/912684
Samarghandian, S., Farkhondeh, T., & Samini, F. (2017). Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research. Pharmacognosy Research, 9(2), 121–127. doi.org/10.4103/0974-8490.204647
Maintaining the body’s musculoskeletal system and keeping it strong can be done through chiropractic and by managing general overall health. This system includes the:
Bones
Muscles
Tendons
Ligaments
Soft tissues
These all work together to support the body’s weight and allow for movement.Injuries, disease, and aging can cause stiffness, pain, and other issues with mobility, function that can lead to various conditions and/or disease.
The musculoskeletal system
The skeleton provides the framework for the muscles and other soft tissues. Working together, they support the body’s weight, help to maintain proper posture and the ability for movement. Various disorders and conditions can lead to problems with the musculoskeletal system. This includes:
Focusing on overall health and maintaining it will keep the system in top form. This is done by:
Eating a healthy balanced diet
Maintaining a healthy weight
Regular physical activity/exercise
Chiropractic support will take the body to optimal health levels.
How does the system work?
The nervous system is the body’s central command center. It controls voluntary muscle movements. Voluntary muscles are controlled intentionally. Large muscle groups are utilized to do activities like lifting a large object. Smaller groups are used for movements, like pressing a button. Movement/motion occurs when:
The nervous system which includes the brain and nerves, transmits a signal to activate the skeletal/voluntary muscles.
The muscle fibers contract/tense in response to the signal.
When the muscle activates, it pulls on the tendon.
Tendons attach muscles to bones.
The tendon pulls the bone, generating movement.
For the muscle to relax, the nervous system sends another signal.
This signal triggers the muscle/s to relax/deactivate.
The relaxed muscle releases tension
The bone is moved to a resting position.
System Parts
The musculoskeletal system functions to help stand, sit, walk, run and move in general. The adult body has 206 bones and more than 600 muscles. These are connected by ligaments, tendons, and soft tissues. The parts of the system are:
Bones
Bones support the body, protect organs and tissues, store calcium, fat and produce blood cells.
A bone’s outside shell encapsulates a spongy center.
Bones provide structure and form to the body.
They work with the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues to help with movement.
Cartilage
This is a type of connective tissue.
Cartilage provides cushion to the bones inside the joints, along the spine, and ribcage.
It is firm and rubbery.
It protects bones from rubbing against each other.
It is also found in the nose, ears, pelvis, and lungs.
Joints
Bones come together and form joints.
Some have a large range of motion, for example, the ball-and-socket shoulder joint.
Others, like the knee, allow bones to move back and forth but do not rotate.
Muscles
Every muscle is made of thousands of fibers.
The muscles allow the body to move, sit upright, and remain still.
Some muscles help with running, dancing, and lifting.
Others are for writing, fastening something, talking, and swallowing.
Ligaments
Ligaments are made of tough collagen fibers
They connect the bones and provide stability to the joints.
Tendons
Tendons connect the muscles to the bones.
They are made of fibrous tissue and collagen
They are tough but not as stretchable.
Conditions and disorders
Various conditions can cause problems with the musculoskeletal system. They can affect the way an individual moves. The most common causes of inflammation, pain, and mobility issues are:
Aging
With the natural aging process, bones lose density.
Less-dense bones can lead to osteoporosis and bone fractures/broken bones.
As the body ages, muscles lose their mass, and cartilage starts to wear down.
This can lead to pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion.
After an injury, an individual might not heal as quickly.
Arthritis
Pain, inflammation, and joint stiffness are the result of arthritis.
Older individuals are more likely to develop osteoarthritis. This is from the cartilage inside the joints breaking down. However, the condition can affect individuals of all ages.
Other types of arthritis also cause pain and inflammation. This includes:
Rheumatoid arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis
Gout
Back problems
Back pain and muscle spasms can result from muscle strains or injuries, for example, a herniated disc.
Some conditions like spinal stenosis and scoliosis can cause structural problems in the back.
This can lead to pain and limited mobility.
Cancer
Different types of cancer affect the musculoskeletal system, for example, bone cancer.
Congenital abnormalities can affect the body’s structure, function, and appearance. For example, clubfoot is a common musculoskeletal condition that babies can be born with. It causes stiffness and reduces the range of motion.
Disease
A wide range of diseases can affect bones, muscles, and connective tissues functionality.
For example, osteonecrosiscauses the bones to deteriorate and the cells to die.
Other disorders, like fibrous dysplasia and brittle bone disease, cause the bones to fracture/break easily.
All types of injuries can affect bones, muscles, cartilage, and connective tissues.
Injuries can occur from repetitive overuse. Examples include:
Carpal tunnel syndrome, Bursitis, and Tendinitis
Sprains
Muscle tears
Broken bones
Injuries to the tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues can lead to chronic conditions.
Maintaining musculoskeletal health
Recommended ways of maintaining a healthy musculoskeletal system are to keep the bones and muscles healthy by getting:
Regular physical activity and exercise
This includes weight-bearing exercises combined with cardiovascular activities. Strengthening the muscles will support the joints and protect/prevent damage.
Proper sleep
This is so the bones and muscles can recover and rebuild.
Maintain a healthy weight
Added weight places pressure on the bones and joints.
This causes various health problems.
If there is added weight, it is recommended to consult a health coach and nutritionist about a personalized weight-loss plan.
They can help make healthy food choices that will make for strong bones and include anti-inflammation foods.
Quit tobacco use
Smoking decreases blood flow in the body.
The bones, muscles, and soft tissues need proper blood circulation to maintain health.
Regular chiropractic adjustments
Adjustments will help maintain the body’s balance and alignment.
This, along with recommended stretches and exercises, will take the body to optimal health.
Healthy Body Composition
Bodyweight Squat
This is one of the best strength exercises for building general functional low body strength. The muscle groups that get worked include the:
Quadriceps
Hamstrings
Glutes
Deep abdominals
Hip abductors
Hip rotators
Squats work almost every muscle in the legs. This also builds core strength to help with everyday movements like pushing, pulling, and lifting. There is no need to load added weight on the back to benefit from this exercise. Using the body’s weight is a perfect workout. This can be done with several variations once strength is built up. The objective is to focus on strict form for maximum effectiveness.
The feet should be shoulder-width apart.
Bend at the hips
Don’t let the knees go past the toes.
Lower the body until the thighs are parallel to the floor
References
American Chiropractic Association. Back Pain Facts and Statistics. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Arthritis-Related Statistics. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders & Ergonomics. Accessed 1/5/2021.
Merck Manuals. Effects of Aging on the Musculoskeletal System. Accessed 1/5/2021.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Healthy Muscles Matter. Accessed 1/5/2021.
The lumbar spine is the lower back that starts below the last thoracic vertebra T12 and ends at the top of the sacral spine or sacrum S1. Each lumbar spinal level is numbered from top to bottom, L1 to L5, or L6. The low back bodies are larger, and thicker structures of dense bone. From the front or anterior, the vertebral body has a rounded shape.
The posterior bony structure is a different lamina, which is a thin bony plate that shields and protects access to the spinal canal. There are vertebral arches that create the hollow spinal canal for lumbar nerve structures and the cauda equina.
Lumbar Structure Strong Joint Complex
One intervertebral disc together with the facet joints forms a strong joint complex that allows the spine to bend and twist. One pair of facet joints from the top or superior vertebral body connects the lower or inferior set of facet joints. The facet joints are synovial joints, which means they are lined with cartilage and the capsule holds synovial fluid that enables joints to glide during movement. Think of it as hydraulics with smooth fluid motion.
Facet joint syndrome can develop from aging and degenerative spinal changes causing low back pain. The lumbar discs are secured in place by the fibrous endplates of the superior and inferior vertebral bodies.
The jelly/gel center of each disc called the nucleus pulposus is surrounded by the annulus fibrosis, which is a tough layer of fibrocartilage that you can think of as a radial tire.
Discs are integral to the joint complex and function to:
Hold the superior and inferior vertebrae together
Take the weight
Absorb and distribute shock and forces when moving about
Create an open nerve passageway called foramen or neuroforamen
The neuroforaminal spaces on either side of the disc allow nerve roots to exit the spinal canal and leave the column.
Lumbar disc herniation is a common cause of low back pain that can spread out into one or both legs. This is called lumbar radiculopathy. This condition can develop when the nerves are compressed.
Low Back Support
Lumbar Ligaments
Tendons
Muscles
Systems of strong fibrous bands of ligaments hold the vertebrae and discs together and stabilize the spine by helping to prevent over/excessive movements.
The 3 major spinal ligaments are the:
Anterior longitudinal ligament
Posterior longitudinal ligament
Ligamentum flavum.
Spinal tendons attach muscles to the vertebrae and together work to limit excessive movement.
Lumbar Spine Nerves
The spinal cord comes to an end between the first and second lumbar vertebrae(L1-L2). Below this is the remaining nerves that form the cauda equina which is a bundle of nerves that looks like a horse�s tail. These nerves send messages between the brain and the lower body structures, including the:
Large intestine
Bladder
Abdominal muscles
Perineum
Legs
Feet
Protect Your Back
Around 80% of adults will see a doctor for low back pain at some point. Therefore take care of your lumbar spine to help avoid painful, unnecessary wear-and-tear. You can minimize the risk of a low back injury/pain by:
Losing weight. Even a loss of 5 pounds can help reduce back pain.
Strengthening the core/abdominal muscles. The abdominal and low back muscles work together to form a supportive band around the waist and low back. Stronger muscles help stabilize the low back and reduce the risk of injury.
Stopping smoking. Nicotine reduces blood flow to the spine’s structures. This includes the lumbar discs and accelerates age-related degeneration.
Proper posture and proper body mechanics. When lifting objects keep your spine erect and use your legs. Ask for help with heavy objects. The lumbar spine is can bend and twist simultaneously, try to avoid doing this, as it is a perfect setup for a strain or sprain.
Get Rid of Low Back Pain with Custom Foot Orthotics
Bone growth stimulation (BGS) is a therapy your surgeon may prescribe following a spinal fusion procedure. A bone growth stimulator is an auxiliary device worn following cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) spine surgery. BGS may be used to assist spinal bone fuse after a fusion procedure or as a treatment for failed fusion. Naturally, you’ve questions about this technology.
Spinal column with implant, screw placement and fusion
The info provided in this patient guide can assist you to learn:
Bone heals
Risk factors for a poor or failed fusion
Role of bone growth stimulation in spine fusion aftercare
Questions to ask your back surgeon
“Bone growth stimulation to be used in both the cervical and lumbar spine has demonstrated to substantially help fusion results. Having been a study centre for this particular technology, I’ve used bone growth stimulation in most my post-operative cervical and lumbar patient instances. The patient assessment standards I use contains:
Multi-level fusions; more than one degree of the back is fused
Co-morbidities (risk factors) that could hinder bone healing and growing”
�Gerard J. Girasole, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center
About Spinal Fusion
Spinal fusion is done to stop motion of neurologic deficit and the spine. During the procedure two or more vertebral bodies are joined together using instrumentation and bone graft. Spinal instrumentation includes poles, screws, plates, and interbody devices (implants). Bone graft may comprise your own bone (autograft), donor bone (allograft), or alternative forms of graft.
Bone graft helps stimulate new bone to grow through three stages:
Inflammatory period: cells start to form new tissue
Repair period: small blood vessel ingrowth begins
Remodeling phase: bone structure becomes powerful
Spinal instrumentation creates an internal cast, allowing the inflammatory procedure to stimulate bone healing. With time, new bone grows into and about the implanted instrumentation healing into a construct that is sound.
Some patients are at risk for spinal fusion to fail. A failed fusion is called pseudarthrosis or nonunion. Pseudarthrosis and nonunion are medical terms your surgeon may utilize to identify a fusion dilemma.
Common Spinal Issues Treated Surgically With Fusion Include:
Degenerative disk disease
Fracture
Herniated disc
Spinal stenosis
Lumbar
Adult degenerative scoliosis
Spondylolisthesis
How Does A Bone Growth Stimulator Help Spinal Fusion?
A BGS sends electric signals to the fusion site. The electrical signals activate the body’s natural bone healing process, which may be impaired in at-risk patients.
Bone Growth Stimulation Has Been Put To Use For Decades To Help Bone Heal
Over 50 years ago scientists found that low-level electrical fields arouse the entire body’s bone-healing process. Other improvements included finding several types of energy that stimulate bone development, electromagnetic coil technology and only better devices � supported by clinical and scientific research�have enhanced bone healing in patients who undergo spinal fusion.
Different Types Of Bone Growth Stimulators
All bone growth stimulators are different. Certain types are designed to be surgically implanted (internal BGS) and other stimulators are worn outside the body (external BGS). Other differences include how stimulation is transmitted to the back and the kind of magnetic field or electric current created by the apparatus.
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