Many People Are Misguided on Low Back Pain

arthritis spine

A recent survey found that 68% of adults falsely believe that rest is the best treatment for low back pain and incorrectly think remaining physically active while dealing with low back pain is unnecessary. Doctors of chiropractic routinely advise patients to stay active within pain tolerance and avoid prolonged bed rest when managing an episode…

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Fitness May Lower Low Back Risks in a Physically Demanding Job

fitness

Questionnaires completed by 204 warehouse workers revealed that one in four had low back pain. However, the researchers found greater handgrip strength—a measure used to assess physical fitness—is associated with a lower risk for pain in the low back. Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Research, February 2023 Access to Nature May Help Cut Stress According…

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Monthly Pain Update – April 2023

CTS

Pre-Surgical Treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Outside of an emergency situation, such as a wrist fracture, treatment guidelines for carpal tunnel syndrome generally recommend exhausting non-surgical options before consulting with a surgeon. But how well are guidelines followed? To find out, researchers surveyed 770 members of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand to…

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Alcohol May Speed Alzheimer’s Progression

alcohol

In a recent study, researchers observed that mice at elevated risk for Alzheimer’s disease experienced faster increases in brain atrophy and amyloid plaque build-up if they consumed the human equivalent of 1-2 alcoholic drinks a day for about ten years. The findings suggest that alcohol consumption may be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s, though…

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Is Working Nights Linked to Back Pain?

night shift

An analysis of data from 40 studies found that working nights is associated with an elevated risk for low back pain, especially among healthcare workers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, January 2023 Bad Sleep in Teen Years May Raise MS Risk Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the central nervous system…

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Neural Mobilization for Managing Low Back and Radicular Pain?

For patients with low back and radicular pain, a systematic review that included eight studies found that neural mobilization—a form of treatment provided by doctors of chiropractic—may be an effective intervention for improving pain, function, and disability. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy, February 2023 Frequent Use Antibiotics Associated with Greater Risk for IBD With…

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Back Pain Increases Frailty Risk in Older Women

elderly

Frailty is a condition characterized by weakness, slowness, physical inactivity, self-reported exhaustion, and unintentional weight loss that is associated with an increased risk for poor health outcomes. In a recent study, researchers observed that older women with low back pain were 2.83 times more likely to develop frailty over the following year, especially those with…

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The Sacroiliac Joints Are an Overlooked Pain Generator

lower back pain

In a recent literature review, researchers found disorders of the sacroiliac joints (which connect the sacrum and pelvis) may be a primary or contributing cause of 27% of back pain cases. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to assess the function of the sacroiliac joints when patients present with low back or pelvic pain and to…

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Monthly Pain Update – March 2023

Exercises to Prevent Sports-Related Back Pain According to a systematic review that included 201 studies, low back pain may affect between 10-67% of athletes at any given moment, with anywhere from 17-94% experiencing sports-related back pain each year. This broad range is due to the age, level of competition, and the specific sports included in…

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Manual Therapy Helps Patients with Hip Osteoarthritis

chiropractor

A systematic review that included ten studies concluded that long-axis distraction, mobilization, and thrust manipulation—treatments provided by doctors of chiropractic—are effective interventions for reducing pain and range of hip motion in patients with osteoarthritis of the hip. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy, December 2022 Adverse Childhood Experiences Can Have Lifelong Effect on Mental Health…

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