Sitting for a long time. Working on a
computer for for too long. Bending over a project
for too long. Many positional
issues may trigger back pain or neck pain. Spine
researchers talk about flexion relaxation ratios (FRR) and flexion
relaxation phenomena (FRP) that arise with such irritations of the neck and low back. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is ready to help reduce La Grande
neck pain and back pain with our chiropractic services as well as help troubleshoot ways to prevent
irritation when doing motions
you have to do often or motions
you want to do occasionally but know they are going
to hurt your back or neck.
LUMBAR SPINE and LOW BACK PAIN: Sitting
The curiosity of spinal pain researchers produces
some research-provoking questions like does
sitting for an hour bring about pain in patients who have had
back pain before (but don’t have
back pain presently) versus those without. They didn’t
see a difference in the flexion relaxation ratio (FRR) they measured
but think that may be because an hour wasn’t long enough to trigger pain in the history-of-back-pain patients. (1) Hum? A reduction
of the paraspinal muscle activity at maximum flexion demonstrates
the related flexion relaxation phenomenon (FRP). A review of
48 published studies on this topic documented that nonspecific
low back pain patients’ FRP was modified. Compared to
asymptomatic patients, this variation was significant. (2) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
looks at these types of issues when
examining our La Grande back pain patients and neck pain patients.
CERVICAL SPINE and NECK PAIN
FRP and FRR can be quantified in
neck pain patients, too. In comparison to the lumbar spine’s FRP
and FFR, cervical spine
muscle reaction differences were noted in patients with pain versus volunteers
who don’t have pain. The
cervical flexion relaxation phenomenon was noted in neck extensor
muscles when in flexion. Persistent muscle contraction due to reduced
flexion relaxation puts vertebral structures at risk due to excessive loading. 84% of healthy subjects had FRP while
only 36% of in-pain patients did. FRR was lower in neck pain patients,
too. (3) Further, when contrasting computer workers with neck pain
to those without neck pain to those who don’t do computer work,
researchers concluded that computer use could increase
the use of the semispinalis capitis during neck extension, making it a potential
predictor of symptomatic neck musculoskeletal disorders as its initiation
was seen in both types of computer users’ necks. (4) Such a finding
is helpful to healthcare providers like your chiropractor to see
what this muscle does on extension and advise
our patients on how to strengthen the cervical extensor muscles.
RELIEF FOR NECK AND BACK PAIN
Cox® Technic is gentle, relieving La Grande
chiropractic treatment for back and neck pain. Listen to the PODCAST
with Dr. Sean Delahunt on the
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
explains the effectiveness and gentleness
of the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain
Management for his patient with neck pain.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Schedule your next La Grande
chiropractic appointment with Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC. For relief of spine pain due to
positional activities, our treatment plan eases the
pain and offers tips on how to lessen the
risk of pain while doing what you want and have to
do.