CRITICISM OF NOT CONSIDERING NON-SURGICAL, CONSERVATIVE CARE: Cervical Radiculopathy and Lumbar Spine Stenosis
Conservative treatment – like chiropractic spinal manipulation
and Cox® Technic - of a couple of the highly common spinal
pain conditions is often overlooked in medical studies regardless of the abundance
of studies showing benefit. (The “why?”
discussion is for another article.) Here are two examples. (1) One example is in treating
cervical radiculopathy patients, patients with neck-related arm pain, and
myelopathy. The original study examined the outcomes 12
months after cervical spine surgery for these conditions with no
comparison to conservative care for patients who speculate
what would happen if they decided not to have surgery.
(1) The research about Cox® Technic for patients with cervical
spine radiculopathy show advantages for such
patients. Cervical radiculopathy due to a large C5-6 resolved
with flexion distraction. (2) In a 39-patient study, cervical radiculopathy
treated with Cox® Technic gave relief in a mean of 13.2 visits.
(3) At 2-year follow-up for a cervical
disc herniation and arm pain after 10 weeks and 15 treatments, relief remained stable. (4) (2) The other example
is not recommending non-surgical treatment for lumbar
spine stenosis. In an analysis of published clinical practice
guidelines for lumbar spine stenosis care,
researchers reported that non-surgical treatments (28.6%) were less commonly given than injections (92.3%) and
surgery (66%). (5) The research on the benefit and value
of conservative care of lumbar spinal stenosis is growing, particularly
with Cox® Technic. A case report stated that Cox® flexion
distraction decreased frequency and intensity of radicular leg
pain and back pain associated with lumbar spinal stenosis. (6) Another
described that 12 visits for flexion distraction treatment
and ancillary therapies alleviated low back and leg pain symptoms
of stenosis. (7) In a 30-patient study of lumbar spine stenosis,
flexion distraction reduced pain and disability. (8) In a 57
lumbar spine stenosis patient study, Cox® improved pain by 76%. Disability
improved in 73%. (9) In a 30-patient study, Cox® was proved
to be an effective intervention for treating pain and
dysfunction in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. (10) The
time has come for non-surgical, conservative care of conditions like cervical radiculopathy and lumbar
spine stenosis. Hollstrom & Associates Inc offers such chiropractic care. Your Largo
chiropractor is skilled in its delivery. Come see!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Amanda Harris on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as she describes
her use of the Cox®
Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for lumbar spine stenosis.
Largo CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH:
Practice Sit-To-Stand for Balance
Hollstrom & Associates Inc talks with our Largo chiropractic
patients about practicing sit-to-stand motion to maintain
and improve mobility and health. Sit-to-stand test is determined
by how many times you can get up from a fully seated position
in 30 seconds. A lower number of stands signifies
a greater fall risk. By age, the number of
stands for risk varies. In women aged 60-64, less
than 12 is a higher risk; 65-69, less than 11; 70-79, less than 10; 80-84, less
than 9, 85-89, less than 8; 90-94, less than 4. Men 60-64, less than 14; 65-74,
less than 12; 75-79, less than 11; 80-94, less than 10; 85-89, less than 8;
90-94, less than 7. (11) Moving slowly as we age may reduce the quality of daily life.
Increasing motion speed may increase
mobility in older people. (12) The faster the speed of
the STS, the more the low back and knee moved which
should be considered when testing back pain and
knee pain patients. (13) Check your sit-to-stand ability.
How did you do? Hollstrom & Associates Inc can work with you to tackle
back pain and knee pain issues that may be slowing you down!
CONTACT Hollstrom & Associates Inc
Thank you for trusting Hollstrom & Associates Inc with your healthcare needs. We are
pleased to be a part of your healthcare mobility
and spinal care team and look forward to seeing you at Hollstrom & Associates Inc
for your next visit!