Scapular Dyskinesis
The shoulder is made up of four joints: the glenohumeral, scapulothoracic, acromioclavicular, and sternoclavicular, which work together to move the upper arm. Because major muscles and related structures are anchored in the scapula, the shoulder blade, or scapula, is an important role in correct shoulder movement. When diagnosing a patient with shoulder pain, however, a problem with the scapula is simple to overlook. The main reason the scapula is ignored is...
Chiropractic Is an Excellent First Choice for Low Back Pain
The current available research notes that 52% of all opioid prescriptions are for patients with low back pain, and over two million Americans suffer from opioid use disorder (OUD), with 47,000 dying from OUD in 2017. In light of the opioid epidemic, the high cost of diagnostic tests and invasive treatment, and the low level of patient satisfaction with such care, researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health...
Treating Low Back-Related Leg Pain
Low back-related leg pain (LBRLP) is a common condition that drives patients into primary care clinics, including chiropractic offices, but these cases are often complex, and determining the underlying cause can be clinically challenging. Let’s take a look at the current treatment strategies for LBRLP. To begin with, the patient’s doctor will need to determine if the leg pain is radicular or referred in nature as this will help indicate which...
The Lower Back and Fall Prevention
Serious falls can lead to a number of negative outcomes in older adults, from impaired mobility to loss of independence to early death. Thus, steps that can be taken to reduce the risk for falls will not only potentially result in a longer life, but also help support a higher quality of life in those remaining years. Research has shown that seniors with a history of falls tend to have impaired...
Cauda Equina Syndrome
The cauda equina (Latin for “horse’s tail”) is made up of many nerves that travel down and exit out the sides of the lumbar spine and sacrum (tail bone) and transfer information (motor and sensory) to and from our legs and brain. If the cauda equina becomes compressed, the resulting cauda equina syndrome (CES) is characterized by symptoms such as severe low back pain (LBP); numbness and weakness in the legs,...