Healthy News November 2021 Relieving Chiropractic Care for Hyperkyphosis Curves & Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
The spine has its own usual curvature or kyphosis. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC knows the spine’s curves quite well! Most La Grande chiropractic clients don’t think about the curvature of the spine, its normalcy or its function, until there is a problem caused by a curve that is overly curvy. Think about the thoracic spine, the upper back part of the spine. Its normal kyphosis ranges from 20 to 40 degrees in young people. For 20 to 40percent of over-60-year-old adults, this kyphosis is seen to grow beyond 40°. This is termed “age-related kyphosis” or “hyperkyphosis” which 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 conditions. (1,2) Spinal manipulation and mobilization of the thoracic spine are common ways chiropractors 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) Fortunately, manual therapy has been researched and described as effective to decrease and prevent musculoskeletal problems because of thoracic hyperkyphosis. A recent study noted that such therapy positively influenced the thoracic kyphosis angle, thoracic extension range of motion, and thoracic extension strength. (4) And a bonus: Thoracic mobilization is shown to boost diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory function to manage and avert respiratory dysfunction in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. (5) Your La Grande chiropractor delivers gentle, effective, distractive thoracic spine manipulation that is both hyperkyphosis-relieving and comfortable. Once you feel it, you will 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.
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 solution according to a study that reported how 1 in 3 lumbar spinal stenosis patients had a poor clinical outcome with surgery. Moreover, 36.1% of 529 patients had a poor leg pain outcome while 27.6% had a poor overall outcome. Promisingly, patients who exercised regularly and those who received pre-operative chiropractic or physiotherapy care were not as likely to report a poor overall outcome. (6) A new study stated 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. Fewer than 2% of Medicare beneficiaries got such care in a timely fashion. (7) Lastly, manual manipulation for 8 weeks was reported to be effective for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis by reducing their pain and improving their function. (8) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC is ready to get started treating your spinal stenosis today, non-operatively and safely.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Schedule your next La Grande chiropractic appointment today. Spine conditions like thoracic spine hyperkyphosis and lumbar spinal stenosis respond well to chiropractic treatment!