Posts Tagged ‘ low-back ’

June 23.11-Lower Back Problems Effect How

Lower Back Problems Effect the Way You Think

Published in the February 1st 1999 issue of “Spine” research journal, was a study that showed a link between chronic low back pain and slower reaction times, reduced short term memory, and certain motor tasks. The study measured subjects with chronic lower back pain using a computer to test their short term memory and reaction time to certain items that appeared on the screen.

The conclusion was that chronic Lower Back Pain hampers short term memory and decreases the patients speed of process of certain information.

In a related note the “Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics” July August 1999 issue published a pilot study comparing chiropractic care to acupuncture and medication for patients with chronic low back problems. The results were that no change took place with the acupuncture and medication group while significant changes occurred in the chiropractic group. Considering the information above about memory and reaction times we can see the profound positive effect chiropractic can have on these patients.

Study Shows Low Back Surgery No Better Than Rehabilitation

Research published in the May 28, 2005 British Medical Journal suggests that surgery to relieve chronic lower back pain is no better than intensive rehabilitation and nearly twice as expensive. The study did not look at the benefits of chiropractic care, but did compare patients who underwent surgery for lower back pain and those who had rehabilitation led by physiotherapists.

Dr. Jeremy Fairbank, an orthopedic surgeon and lead researcher at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Center in Oxford, England, along with his co-researchers studied 349 chronic back pain sufferers, defined as pain lasting more than 12 months. Of the 349 patients, 176 had spinal fusion surgery while the remainder underwent intensive rehabilitation involving exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Dr. Fairbank stated, “This is strong evidence that intensive rehabilitation is a good thing to do for people with chronic back pain who are thinking about having operations.” The researchers concluded that there was no evidence that surgery was any better than the rehabilitation they compared the surgery to. However, there was a big difference in price with the surgical expense being nearly twice as expensive according to the study.

Helen Campbell of the University of Oxford summed up the results by commenting, “In the short term, compared with intensive rehabilitation, surgical stabilization of the spine as first line treatment for chronic low back pain patients who have already failed standard non-operative care seems not to be cost effective.”

 
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May 12.11-The Confusing World of Low Back Pain Research

Correcting faulty posture
Posture is essentially the position of the body in space, the relationship of the body parts—head, trunk, and limbs—to each other. Changes in posture occur when any part of the body is moved.
Posture also communicates nonverbal body language, reflecting self-esteem and mental attitude.
Optimal or ideal posture is the state of muscular and skeletal balance that protects the supporting structures of the body against injury or progressive deformity, whether at work or rest. It involves the positioning of the joints to provide minimum stress on the body.

Conversely, faulty posture increases stress on the joints. Increased stress can be compensated for by strong muscles, but if they are weak or the joints lack mobility or are too mobile, joint wear and modification can occur. Damage and changes to the surrounding tissues can also occur.

Posture involves the chain-link concept of body mechanics in which problems anywhere along the body chain can lead to problems above or below that point.

Examples:
· Low back or knee pain can arise from pelvic joint disorders.
· Headaches, eyestrain, and neck and upper back pain can be caused by the head being too far forward or rearward.
The effects of posture can be far reaching, involving respiratory, digestive, and circulatory systems as well as the musculoskeletal system. But how is poor or faulty posture developed?

Causes of poor posture

The causes of faulty posture can be divided into two categories: positional and structural.
Structural causes are basically permanent anatomical deformities that may not amenable to correction by conservative treatments. However, some leg length inequalities and some ankle and foot issues can be corrected conservatively.
Positional causes of poor posture include :

· poor postural habit—for whatever reason, the individual does not maintain a correct posture
· psychological factors, especially self-esteem
· normal developmental and degenerative processes
· pain leading to muscle guarding and avoidance postures
· muscle imbalance, spasm, or contracture
· joint hypermobility or hypomobility
· respiratory conditions
· general weakness
· excess weight
· loss of proprioception—the ability to perceive the position of your body
· over reliance on passive support from a non-ergonomic chair
 
Correcting postural faults

Postural faults must be accurately analyzed before they can be effectively corrected.
Examination should include the following:

· observation of the patient as they sit and move about
· spinal alignment-
· if appropriate: measurement or estimation of the deviation from ideally erect postures using 4 views of X-ray, inclinometry, and posture guides —done in three or all four views
· leg length measurements
· flexibility tests and joint mobility tests
· muscle length and strength tests
· “Mirror-image” Adjustments, Specific traction to remold the spinal alignment and exercises to strengthen the spine are key elements in overall correction.

· ***  WHO DO YOU KNOW THAT CAN BENEFIT FROM  CORRECTIVE CHIROPRACTIC CARE??

TO Download this Article: The Confusing World of Low Back Pain Research