10 Keys To Lower Spinal Stability

This article was written by Brian D. Jensen, D.C.

1. Inflammation- Inflammation can be the result of acute trauma or it can be the result of chronic dietary choices. The acute inflammation in some ways is much easier to treat and can result in dramatic symptomatic changes quickly. The chronic inflammatory condition can have more profound effects to overall heath and will require the patient to make some serious changes in their lifestyle, but the benefits are certainly worth the effort. Simple dietary changes to eliminate the inflammatory foods from the diet will make a dramatic difference, while failure to address this can lead to major frustration for the patient and doctor alike.

2. Muscle Spasm- Acute spasm is often associated with acute inflammation and responds relatively well in the early stages of care. Chronic spasm may be less painful and may require a more through palpatory examination. Associated findings that may affect how quickly a patient responds are:

3. Myofasical trigger points and..

4. Adhesion's- Both of these findings are long standing problems that, if left unaddressed, will inhibit the patients progress. The idea is that muscles hold bones, and tight muscles hold bones tightly- not to mention that the presence of a trigger point increases the likelihood of another injury at some point. Soft tissue management is very important to optimal patient outcomes. It is something that the patient can actively participate in away from the office with stretching protocols or the use of a muscle management device.

5. Degenerative Arthritis- Any degenerative joint disease (DJD) tells me that the patient already has a degree of limitation and always will. I believe that we can help these people, but we have to be realistic with the limitation of these tissues. You can't "unboil" a hard-boiled egg, and symptomatic relieff is only part of the story for someone with degeneration. X-ray findings of DJD are often discounted because they don't cause a lot of pain for the most part, so we really don't pay too much attention to them. But they are important because they tell a story. All of these asymptomatic findings are results of trauma or gradual degenerative changes because of postural stress, and they are very important because they help us anticipate what will happen in the future. These problems don't go away or improve with age, making it all the more important that we manage them properly.


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