San Jose Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging
Back pain and hip pain and spine issues all come together at once for many chiropractic patients, prompting a visit to Chiropractic Solutions. We’re ready to help! Getting older presents some unique challenges for those who experience back, hip and spine pain but also some unique positive effects today thanks to novel ways to maintaining stability and coping with and reducing pain. Your San Jose chiropractor keeps abreast of these new approaches and is ready to help you!
SIMPLE TESTS FOR OLDER ADULTS AND THEIR SPINES
Older folks understand that with age comes ‘wisdom’…and its own set of distinctive peculiarities. Different aches and pains rear their heads one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, requiring attention. For those San Jose back pain sufferers who are a little older, hip range of motion and strength may foretell how 12 months down the road a chronic low back pain patient may be performing. Researchers tested this out! Decreased hip strength and range of motion forecast a deterioration in function a year later. Hip osteoarthritis did not affect these outcomes. (1) Your chiropractor will perform a thorough examination and knows some easy-to-do tests of hip strength and range of motion – gait speed, 6-minute walk test, subjective questionnaires, even imaging as necessary - to rule out osteoarthritis.
3D IMAGING BENEFITS
Imaging has come a long way! Today, 3D MRI images of the spine are now clinically possible. Their advantage is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more precise. Pretty cool! Another advantage, especially for back pain sufferers who have had previous back surgery with metal implants, etc., and now have pain again is that 3D imaging makes available seeing around the metal. (2) Such views can help doctors see problems at adjacent spine levels.
A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME
Pain issues in one area of the spine can certainly impact other areas and even prompt more pain. A postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may have is called Pisa Syndrome which is caused by lateral flexion of the spine greater than 10 degrees which predisposes such folks to falls, a lower quality of life, and greater risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential for such patients, important enough that they should do these forever to decrease fall risk. (3) Chiropractic Solutions is all about stability!
CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Gary Stefanick on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes his use of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction to ease back pain after back surgery. Back pain specialists like your San Jose chiropractor are equipped to examine, diagnose, and manage post-surgical continued pain.
Make your San Jose chiropractic appointment now. San Jose chiropractic patients find camaraderie with each other when back pain, hip pain, and spine stability are involved as well as help from their chiropractic care. See you soon!
