McHenry Back Pain, Spine Issues, and Hip Pain: Simple Tests & 3D Imaging

Back pain and hip pain and spine issues merge for many chiropractic patients, prompting a visit to OrthoIllinois Chiropractic. We’re here to help! Growing older has some unique challenges for those who experience back, hip and spine pain but also some unique positive effects today due to novel ways to keeping stability and coping with and reducing pain. Your McHenry 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 unique peculiarities. Different aches and pains rear their heads one morning or mid-afternoon or evening, demanding attention. For those McHenry 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 functioning. Researchers put this to the test! Reduced hip strength and range of motion predicted 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 exclude as a diagnosis osteoarthritis.

3D IMAGING BENEFITS

Imaging has come a long way! Today, 3D MRI images of the spine are now clinically possible. Their benefit is higher spatial resolution, reformation in any plane so the MRI process is faster, and interpretation is more precise. Pretty cool! Another benefit, especially for back pain sufferers who have undergone back surgery already with metal implants, etc., and now have pain again is that 3D imaging permits seeing around the metal. (2) Such views can assist doctors in seeing issues at adjacent spine levels.

A SPECIFIC SPINE ISSUE: PISA SYNDROME

Pain issues in one area of the spine can surely affect other areas and even prompt more pain. A postural disorder some older back pain sufferers may experience is called Pisa Syndrome which is characterized by lateral flexion of the spine greater than 10 degrees which predisposes such folks to falls, a lesser quality of life, and increased risk of mortality in neurological diseases. Postural stability exercises are essential for such patients, essential enough that they should do these forever to decrease fall risk. (3) OrthoIllinois Chiropractic is all about stability!

CONTACT OrthoIllinois Chiropractic

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 McHenry chiropractor are able to examine, diagnose, and manage post-surgical continued pain.

Schedule your McHenry chiropractic appointment now. McHenry chiropractic patients find kinship with each other when back pain, hip pain, and spine stability are involved as well as help from their chiropractic care. See you soon!