The Illusive Pop of Spinal Manipulation
“To Pop or Not to Pop” is of course a
turn on an age-old Shakespearean quote for an age-old chiropractic
spinal manipulation question. Today’s answer is that it’s not a required
indicator of back pain relief from spinal
manipulation treatment (SMT), yet back pain and neck pain patients undergoing SMT want and need to know more. Present-day
guidelines for handling low back pain
highlight patient education and exercise as important
issues. Healthcare practitioners are
fairly good (72% overall) at sharing
information. By profession, though, chiropractors lead in
sharing patient education for 76% of patients with
physical therapists at 74% and general practitioners at just 44%. The
more emotional distress a patient
showed or pain presented below the knee,
information was shared with 78% of patients. (1) An important
topic for La Grande back pain and neck pain patients undergoing spinal
manipulation treatment (SMT) is this sometimes-audible pop. A systematic
review of published studies found that regardless of the spinal
area or follow-up time after the SMT, nothing was found that showed evidence
of improved pain outcomes or treatment success associated with an audible pop. (2) Good
thing since some patients experience it, and some don’t.
Patients whose practitioners told them
about the audible pop - as well as others who were
not spinal manipulation patients - reported
curious theories of what created that sound
and had overemphasized ideas of its importance. (3) Instead of
the question “To pop or not to pop?” the more appropriate question
for you and your La Grande chiropractor may well be “Is
there pain relief or not?” With our gentle chiropractic care, there is
pain relief for many La Grande back pain and neck pain sufferers. We
look forward to talking with you at your
next chiropractic visit at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC!
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Kurt Olding on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
the gentle spinal manipulation treatment of spinal stenosis with The
Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
[[CHIROPRACTIC]] TIP OF THE MONTH:
Vitamin D for Adrenal Gland Support
Vitamin D enjoys a favored reputation and is well- researched beyond its
earlier role of supporting phospho-calcium
metabolism and skeletal bone disorders. Today, research has
well-established vitamin D as a hormone and described vitamin D
as influential for various diseases from cancer,
inflammation, and autoimmunity (Hashimoto’s, Graves’, diabetes) to adrenal
gland health and disease (Cushing’s, Addison’s). (4) The adrenal gland has two
main parts: (A) The adrenal cortex produces cortisol which
regulates the sleep/wake cycle, body’s utilization of
fats/proteins/carbs, inflammation, blood pressure as well as
raises blood sugar and reduces bone formation.
(B) The adrenal medulla produces “stress hormones”
epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) in charge
of the fight or flight response. (5) Adrenal gland issues
keep people awake at night…literally! Although not yet
definitive, 800-2000IU a day was proposed in
a new study to support adrenal health. (6)
Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is ready to discuss vitamin D
and any adrenal gland issues you may be experiencing.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Make your next La Grande
chiropractic appointment with Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC soon! We
have a lot to talk about!