Healthy News November 2021 Relieving Chiropractic Care for Hyperkyphosis Curves & Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

The spine has its own normal curvature or kyphosis. Chiropractic Solutions knows the spine’s curves quite well! Most San Jose chiropractic clients do not give a second though to the curvature of the spine, its normalcy or its function, until there is an issue caused by a curve that gets “too” curvy. Take for example the thoracic spine, the upper back part of the spine. Its normal kyphosis ranges from 20° to 40 in young spines. For 20 to 40% of over-60-year-olds, this kyphosis is seen to grow beyond 40°. This is termed “age-related kyphosis” or “hyperkyphosis” which affects both men and women but is more frequently described to affect women who have more functional disorders like decreased back extensor muscle strength and use of erector spinal muscles plus other poor health issues. (1,2) Spinal manipulation and mobilization of the thoracic spine are common ways chiropractors treat musculoskeletal issues in older adults with conditions like hyperkyphosis. Older spines effectively experienced the SMM forces similar to younger spines in research studies. (3) Luckily, manual therapy has been researched and described as effective to decrease and avert musculoskeletal problems due to thoracic hyperkyphosis. A recent study described how such therapy improved the thoracic kyphosis angle, thoracic extension range of motion, and thoracic extension strength. (4) And a bonus: Thoracic mobilization is shown to boost diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory function to control and prevent respiratory dysfunction in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. (5) Your San Jose chiropractor delivers gentle, effective, distractive thoracic spine manipulation that is both hyperkyphosis-relieving and comfortable. Once you feel it, you’ll want more!

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Joseph D’Angiolillo on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains gentle distraction care of upper spine pain with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common diagnosis for older San Jose adults. It’s related to higher utilization of healthcare services. And surgery is not always the solution according to a study that reported how 1 in 3 lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced a poor clinical outcome after surgery. Moreover, 36.1% of 529 patients had a poor leg pain outcome while 27.6% had a poor overall outcome. Encouragingly, patients who exercised regularly and those who got pre-operative chiropractic or physiotherapy care were less likely to report a poor overall outcome. (6) A recent study reported that getting such non-operative care starting within the first 30 days of diagnosis decreased the use of riskier and more costly health care services in the following year. Fewer than 2% of Medicare beneficiaries started such care in a timely fashion. (7) Lastly, manual manipulation for 8 weeks was shown to be effective for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis by reducing their pain and bettering their function. (8) Chiropractic Solutions is ready to get started treating your spinal stenosis today, non-operatively and safely.

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Make your next San Jose chiropractic appointment today. Spine conditions like thoracic spine hyperkyphosis and lumbar spinal stenosis respond well to chiropractic treatment!