Get Rid Of Your Pain… and Keep It Away!

Typically what patients are looking for when they visit my office is pain relief, whether that be related to their lower back, neck, headaches or their extremities (arms and legs). For patient to have a good outcome from care it must be understood that each condition is different and proper diagnosis is essential to developing a proper and specific treatment plan.

As I mentioned in my prior article, pain control can be accomplished in a variety of different forms. A good conservative care regimen may incorporate physical therapy modalities, spinal decompression therapy (IDD therapy), cold laser treatments, and spinal manipulation. Spinal manipulation can be a little scary for a patient who is new to chiropractic care, but be assured that it has been proven to be very safe for the majority of the population. Proper screening is necessary for patients with a history of cancer and certain cardiovascular concerns but serious consequences very rarely occur.

As your pain starts to decrease you should be transitioned into more active care, which includes therapeutic exercises, stretching, and neuromuscular re-education. This phase of care centers around the concept of strengthening the patients core musculature and improving the patient is ability to sense his or her environment better by incorporating balance activities that allow for the patient to be better prepared for the daily challenges life throws at us.

Life is dynamic, not single plane, and thus rehabilitation should mimic these dynamic activities. Many of the exercises we have learned at the gym work only a few muscles at a time. Most daily activities require the recruitment of several different groups of muscles to properly perform a specific task.

If we are not training (rehabbing) in a manner that prepares us for real life situations, or a particular sporting activity, then we are potentially creating a muscle imbalance. This imbalance could then contribute to a biomechanical fault and eventually may even cause another problem in the form of a pain syndrome or musculoskeletal dysfunction.

Balance training/rehabilitation stimulates the pressure receptors in the feet and joints that, in turn, send information to the brain. The brain reacts to this information by sending back instructions to the postural muscles to adjust forces to help the body maintain its balance. Training using coordinated balance and strengthening techniques prepares the patient to deal with lifes little mishaps. For instance, have you ever lifted a box and all of a sudden the contents of the box slide or shift? This type of event could, and many times does, cause an injury.

It is my goal to keep you out of my office. Techniques that incorporate the concepts I have outlined in this article are designed to prevent future injuries. Remember, after finishing your course of rehab it is important to get active and stay active, whether this is Pilates, Yoga, or recreational sports. Staying fit and stress reduction are the essentials to keeping your pain at bay.