Back Pain
The low back is one of the single most common health problem in the industrialized world. Most visits to a chiropractor, family doctor, physiotherapist, or pharmacy are due to low back pain.
Why?
Your lumbar discs are located at the bottom of your spine, above the pelvis, and they transfer your entire upper body and torso weight onto your pelvic complex. Further, these lumbar discs are flexible. Therefore, when a patient bends to lift something at home, at work or at the gym, a tremendous amount of force is put into the low back and the discs change shape to absorb the load and allow each vertebra to move. Discs are the reason each vertebra can move the way links in a chain move. Whenever your lower back bends and lifts or twists, the discs are being squished and twisted. They are meant to do this, but sometimes, we overdo it and the discs cannot keep up.
What Can I Do About Low Back Pain?
First things first: proper diagnosis. Dr. Podaima will determine what is causing your back pain (i.e.: discs, nerves, facets, muscles, etc.), and whether or not x-rays or MRI are needed. After the diagnosis is completed, a decision is made as to the best course of treatment or perhaps if a referral to another specialist is required.
Once you've been properly diagnosed and conservative care is deemed the best thing for your low back, Dr. Podaima will initiate the appropriate treatment regimen.
Typically this is a multi-category treatment including:
- Chiropractic adjustments (Joint manipulation)
- Sports medicine therapies (e.g.:cryotherapy, heat, interferrential current, muscle percussion)
- Cox Flexion-Distraction Therapy
- PNF stretching
- Active Release Technique
- Exercise rehabilitation
- Ergonomic re-education
Dr. Podaima bases his treatment protocol on up to date clinical research. For example, recently, the British Medical Journal determined that the most cost effective treatment for low back pain was a combination of joint manipulation and exercise rehabilitation.
UK BEAM Trial Team. " United Kingdom back pain exercise and manipulation (UK BEAM) randomized trial: effectiveness of physical treatments for back pain in primary care." British Medical Journal 2004, 329: 1381.
Another example of clinical evidence supporting Dr. Podaima protocol is the prestigious orthopedic surgeon's Spine journal research. One of their recent articles prompted low back pain sufferers to get immediate care and education from health care providers such as Dr. Podaima to ensure immediate motion was re-introduced to the lower back. According to the research, this provided for the quickest and fullest recovery.
Hagen EM, Grasdal A, Eriksen HR. " Does early intervention with a light mobilization program reduce long-term sick leave for low back pain: A 3-year follow-up study." Spine 2003; 28(20): 2309-2316
How To Lift and Sit Smart
Another focus of care at Dr. Podaima clinic is educating the patient on how to sit and lift in back friendly ways. The goal of which is to ensure the least amount of flare ups to a patient's condition. Happy, independent patients are what we like to see.
What Are You Waiting For?
Chances are, if you are a human being, you have (or will have) back pain. Or you'll know someone who does have low back pain.
If this is the case, do not hesitate to call Dr. Podaima today and ask if you (or your friend/family member) are a candidate for care.
