GENTLE, COMFORTABLE TREATMENT OF HYPERKYPHOSIS AND THE THORACIC
SPINE
The spine has its own standard curvature
or kyphosis. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC knows the spine’s curves quite well! Most La Grande
chiropractic clients do not give a second though to
the curvature of the spine, its normalcy or its function,
until there is a problem caused by a curve that is overly
curvy. Take for example the thoracic spine, the upper
back part of the spine, whose normal kyphosis ranges from 20° to
40 in young spines. For 20% to 40%
of over-60-year-olds, this kyphosis is seen to grow beyond 40°. This “age-related kyphosis” (aka ‘hyperkyphosis’) affects both men
and women but is more frequently described to affect
women who experience more functional disorders like decreased
back extensor muscle strength and use of erector spinal
muscles plus other poor health issues. (1,2)
Spinal manipulation and mobilization of the thoracic spine are common approaches
chiropractors use to treat musculoskeletal issues in
older adults with conditions like hyperkyphosis. Older spines effectively
received the SMM forces similar to younger spines in research
studies. (3) Luckily, manual
therapy has been researched and described as effective to decrease
and prevent musculoskeletal problems because of
thoracic hyperkyphosis. A recent report described how
such therapy improved the thoracic
kyphosis angle, thoracic extension range of motion, and thoracic extension
strength. (4) And an extra: Thoracic mobilization is demonstrated
to increase diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory function to control
and avert respiratory dysfunction in patients with thoracic
hyperkyphosis. (5) Your La Grande chiropractor delivers gentle,
effective, distractive thoracic spine manipulation that both relieves
hyperkyphosis and is quite comfortable.
Once you feel it, you’ll want more!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Joseph D’Angiolillo on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson as he describes gentle distraction treatment
of thoracic pain with the
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
La Grande CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: Get Care for Spinal Stenosis Sooner Than Later!
Lumbar spinal stenosis is a not uncommon
diagnosis for older La Grande adults. It is related to higher utilization of healthcare services. And surgery isn’t always the answer according to a study that reported how 1 in 3 lumbar spinal stenosis patients experienced
a poor clinical outcome with surgery. Also, 36.1% of
529 patients had a poor leg pain outcome while 27.6% had a poor overall
outcome. Encouragingly, patients who exercised regularly and those who received pre-operative chiropractic
or physiotherapy care were less likely to describe a
poor overall outcome. (6) A recent study reported that getting
such non-operative care starting within the first 30 days of
diagnosis reduced the use of riskier and more costly health
care services in the following year. Less than 2% of Medicare
beneficiaries receive such care in a timely fashion. (7) Lastly,
manual manipulation for 8 weeks was shown to be effective for patients
with lumbar spinal stenosis by easing their pain and improving
their function. (8) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is ready to get started treating your spinal stenosis today, non-operatively and safely.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Make your next La Grande
chiropractic appointment today. Spinal conditions like thoracic
spine hyperkyphosis and lumbar spinal stenosis respond well to chiropractic
treatment!