Two Manual Therapies That May Benefit Patients with Knee Pain

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

When trigger points affect the function of the gluteus medius muscle, it can lead to altered gait, reduced hip stability, misalignment of the patella, and increased force on the knee, all of which can contribute to patellofemoral pain syndrome. A recent study found that for patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome associated with gluteus medius trigger…

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Scapula Stabilization Exercises Benefit Chronic Neck Pain Patients

scapular stabilization

A systematic review that included five clinical trials found that including scapular stabilization exercises in a treatment plan for chronic neck pain resulted in better outcomes with respect to pain. The finding demonstrates how issues in one area of the body can lead to problems elsewhere, thus the importance of the chiropractic practice of examining…

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Neck Pain Is a Worldwide Problem

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

In 2020, more than 203 million people worldwide experienced at least one episode of neck pain. Due to a variety of factors, including the aging of the world population, experts estimate that cases of neck pain will increase by 32.5% by 2050, affecting nearly 270 million people. The Lancet Rheumatology, March 2024 Symptoms Linked to…

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Neck Pain Affects Walking Ability

migraine neck

Examinations of 14 older adults with chronic neck pain and 36 seniors without neck pain revealed that when walking with head movement, chronic neck pain is associated with a slower, more laborious, and asymmetrical gait. The authors of the study speculate this alteration in walking ability may be the result of structural instability and proprioception…

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Excess Weight Increases Low Back Pain Risk in Youth Population

obesity in youth

A meta-analysis that included 34 studies concluded that obesity is a risk factor for low back pain in children and adolescents. In particular, the research team found that obese kids and teens have a 27% elevated risk for low back pain. International Journal of Obesity (London), January 2024 Short Sleepers at Risk for Type 2…

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See a Chiropractor First for Spine Pain

Back Pain Relief

A systematic review that included 44 studies concluded that patients who initially consult with a doctor of chiropractic for spinal conditions are less likely to subsequently receive an opioid prescription or injection, undergo surgery, be hospitalized, visit the emergency room, or be referred to a specialist—all of which results in reduced healthcare expenditures overall. Chiropractic…

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Monthly Pain Update – April 2024

LowerBack

Daily Living with a Herniated Lumbar Disk While disk herniations in the lumbar spine are fairly common and may resolve on their own or persist without symptoms, if a herniation places pressure on the spinal cord or nerves exiting the spine, the patient may experience radiating pain into one or both legs. While chiropractic care…

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Neural Mobilization for Neck and Back Pain

neural mobilization

A systematic review and metanalysis of data from 39 clinical trials found that neural mobilization is an effective treatment for improving pain and disability in patients with either neck pain or back pain. Doctors of chiropractic frequently use mobilization as part of a multimodal approach for managing musculoskeletal disorders, including neck and back pain. Clinical…

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Smoking and Back Pain

cigarette

Using data from the UK Biobank study, researchers report that smoking is a risk factor for low back pain. On the other hand, quitting smoking can reduce one’s risk for low back pain over time. Journal of Global Health, November 2023 Detergent Pod Poisoning Still a Threat for Kids Despite the adoption of voluntary industry…

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Posture, Disability, and Chronic Low Back Pain

senior citizen

Among a group of 435 chronic low back pain patients, researchers observed an association between abnormal sagittal (from the side) posture and greater low back pain-related disability. Doctors of chiropractic often address postural faults in the management of chronic low back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders. Spine Journal, November 2023 Global Burden of Smoking on…

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