Spinal stability is the base for spine
movement. Spinal stability safeguards the structures of the
nervous system, the spinal cord, and spinal nerve
roots. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC assesses spinal stability in all our La Grande
back pain patients as part of our chiropractic service. Spinal stability relies on strong, stable
musculature to perform its job. New research is indicating that the
role of the diaphragm and breathing is to support spinal stability.
SPINAL STABILITY
All the assorted parts of the spine figure into spinal stability, even the smallest
spinal motion segment’s vertebra (the bony part of the spine). Bones, discs, and ligaments in the spine supply
all sorts of coupled motions of the spine and transfer
proprioceptive impulses to the central nervous system which aligns
muscle tone, movement, and reflexes. If any of the spinal structures are injured
or otherwise in peril – like a degenerated disc – spinal instability
is feasible. (1) That’s where your
La Grande chiropractor comes into play with
chiropractic spinal manipulation and an effective treatment plan
including exercise.
BREATHING TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Chiropractic care at Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC addresses spinal stability
with some common exercise recommendations
and looks at the use of newer exercise methods
like breathing that are showing some promise. Maximal
abdominal contraction maneuver compared with maximal expiration exercise resulted in better increased spinal stability. As
a breathing exercise to increase spinal joint stability, it had a
positive effect on increasing co-contraction
and spine stability as demonstrated by significantly greater
muscle thickness of the transverse abdominis and rectus abdominis. (2) Forced
breathing exercise therapy improved trunk stability and
activities of daily living in chronic low back pain sufferers. (3)
La Grande back pain patients will appreciate how something
they do every day – performed with just a little more thought
- may ease their back pain!
DIAPHRAGM TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Certainly, breathing and the diaphragm are intimately intertwined,
and both hold some hope in fixing spinal
stability issues. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC found some new studies on
how diaphragm training addresses spinal stability. In a study of the
rehabilitation of athletes with nonspecific low back pain, adding
diaphragm training (breathing) to electrical stimulation therapy was beneficial
in improving function, stability, pain, and balance. (4) Diaphragm
training significantly reduced the severity of pain and also altered
the thickness of active stabilizers - transversus abdominis, lumbar multifidus
muscle - in the lumbar spine. (5) Strong, thick spinal stabilizers are good
in tackling La Grande back pain.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Lee Hazen and Cheri Hazen RN, ICHC, FNLP, LE, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson as they describe their combined treatment approach
of breathing training and the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management helped
a patient realize back pain relief.
Set up your La Grande
chiropractic appointment now.
Breathing and diaphragm training go a long way in helping
keep the spine stable, reducing La Grande back
pain, and keeping the foundation of spinal movement intact.