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New York, NY
lower back pain
09/12/2018
Back Pain, what is it?
What Causes Back pain
Back pain can be divided into non-radicular pain and radiculopathy. Radiculopathy occurs when there is irritation in the nerve root, causing neurologic symptoms, such as numbness and tingling. Disk herniation and foraminal stenosis are the most common causes of radiculopathy. Non-radicular back pain is most commonly caused by injury to the spinal muscles or ligaments, degenerative spinal disease, or a herniated disk. Spondylosis, or spinal degeneration, occurs when the intervertebral disc undergoes degenerative changes, causing the disc to fail at cushioning the vertebrae. There is an association between intervertebral disc space narrowing and lumbar spine pain. The space between the vertebrae becomes narrow, resulting in compression and irritation of the nerves. There is a weak association between low back pain and facet osteoarthritis, which has been considered as a primary reason for compression of spine nerve roots as they exit the intervertebral foramen.
Back pain can also be due to referred pain from another source. Referred pain occurs when pain is felt at a location different from the source of the pain. An abdominal aortic aneurysm and urethral colic can both result in pain felt in the back.
Back pain is a common symptom that could manifest along the delicate tissues of the backbone, such as the muscles, nerves, bones, and joints. Internal structures such as glands, pancreas and the aorta, may cause referred pain in the back. When treating back pain, health care professionals often attempt to achieve a decrease in the level of the individual’s back pain so as to reestablish their ability to function in everyday activities, to help them manage symptoms and also to evaluate the effects of therapy choices. The objective is to manage back pain with rehabilitation for long-term pain relief.
Back Pain Non-Medical Treatment:
Back pain is generally treated with non-pharmacological therapy first, as it typically resolves without the use of medication. Superficial heat and massage, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation therapy may be recommended.
- Heat therapy is useful for back spasms or other conditions. A review concluded that heat therapy can reduce symptoms of acute and sub-acute low-back pain.
- Regular activity and gentle stretching exercises is encouraged in uncomplicated back pain and is associated with better long-term outcomes. Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles in the abdomen and around the spine may also be recommended. These exercises are associated with better patient satisfaction, although it has not been shown to provide functional improvement. However, one study found that exercise is effective for chronic back pain, but not for acute pain. If used, they should be performed under supervision of a licensed health professional.
- Massage therapy may give short-term pain relief, but not functional improvement, for those with acute lower back pain. It may also give short-term pain relief and functional improvement for those with long-term (chronic) and sub-acute lower back pain, but this benefit does not appear to be sustained after 6 months of treatment. There does not appear to be any serious adverse effects associated with massage.
- Acupuncture may provide some relief for back pain. However, further research with stronger evidence needs to be done.
- Spinal manipulation treatments. After a complete examination a personalized clinical treatment program is put together & implemented. Your treatment is monitored so your program can be updated so you receive the maximum benefit.
is a widely-used method of treating back pain, although there is no evidence of long-term benefits.
At Clinicube we offer these After a complete examination a personalized clinical treatment program is put together & implemented. Your treatment is monitored so your program can be updated so you receive the maximum benefit.
10/03/2016
Lower back pain: Dealing with it at home
If you’ve ever suffered with lower back pain, you’ll know it’s an extremely painful condition. Some suffer with this chronically because of conditions such as a slipped disc. Others injure themselves playing sport and suffer with temporary pain. Whatever type you’re suffering from right now, it’s not going to be pleasant. Of course, seeing a professional will help to ease your pain. That being said, it isn’t always possible to do this. Sometimes, you just need to know how to ease off your back pain at home. Here are some effective ways of dealing with your lower back pain yourself.
Always focus on good posture
Good posture is so important, at all stages of life. Whether you’re sitting or standing, making sure your posture is right is a must. Your head should be up and stacked neutrally over your spine. Your shoulders should be back and chest out. Always be mindful of your posture to keep your back pain-free.
Get moving ASAP
Having the body in an upright position can help with lower back pain. Some people think that they should be on bed rest, but this isn’t actually recommended for more than 3 days. You could end up with worse pain if you stay still for too long! It’s better to get out and get active as soon as you can. Even if you’re just walking, it’ll help to ease your pain. You’ll improve your health and strengthen your back. Just make sure you avoid any activity that caused this pain in the first place. You don’t want to do anything too strenuous. When you feel ready, you can incorporate things like yoga and abdominal exercises. If you have weak abdominals, your lower back could actually be taking the strain. Don’t forget, exercise actually increases the endorphins our bodies produce. This means we feel happier and we don’t feel as much pain.
Improve your quality of sleep
The quality of sleep we get can impact our lives in a big way. If your mattress isn’t right for you, you could be making your back worse, not to mention that getting a low quality of sleep will make you all the more receptive to your back pain. Making sure you have the right type of mattress, and taking the steps to enjoy a high quality of sleep will do you the world of good.
Hot and cold treatments for lower back pain
Hot and cold treatments can work wonders for an injured back. However, you must use them in the correct way to ease your pain. If you’ve injured your back and there’s swelling, using an ice pack for the first 48 hours is a good idea. After that, you can use heat on your back to settle things down. Generally though, using the one you find most comfortable should benefit you. Always make sure your skin is protected before using a hot or cold treatment.
Meditation and deep breathing
These two techniques are amazing relaxation techniques. As you are de-stressing and putting your mind at rest, you could help your back to no end. The more relaxed you are, the lower your perceived level of pain. It may take you a while to get used to quietening your mind and taking proper breaths, but stick with it. It’s great for your health in other areas, too.
02/10/2016
Pushups with Redcord Suspension for Back Pain
If you suffer from low back pain and are looking for safe, effective ways to manage your symptoms, suspension training is a therapy you may want to explore. Specifically, recent studies have shown that performing pushups while supported by a sling can reduce chronic low back pain in adults.
How does redcord suspension therapy work?
You’re probably familiar with the basic pushup motion, but as someone with low back pain, you likely find pushups difficult to perform. Yet, these exercises strengthen the abdominal and lumbar muscles, helping to stabilize your lumbar spine (the lower portion of your spine), which in turn reduces back pain. Using the sling to support your body makes it possible for you to perform the pushup moves correctly and without jarring your injured back. Over time, the muscles in your lower back will grow stronger and your pain should lessen.
How often do you need to perform redcord exercises?
In a study that examined the effectiveness of pushups in a sling for treating lower back pain, students performed the exercises 3 times per week for 6 weeks. They trained for 30 minutes per session, performing not only pushups, but also a variety of other sling-based exercises. Your physical therapist may recommend more or less training, depending on the severity of your back pain and your overall physical abilities.
How can you guarantee success?
For best results with suspension training, it is important to work with your physical therapist. He or she can ensure you are performing the exercises correctly so that you do not risk additional injury. Studies have shown that performing pushups in conjunction with other sling exercises is more effective in managing lower back pain than general physical therapy or other sling exercises alone. Your physical therapist will be able to design a customized exercise routine based on your needs, as well as integrate other treatment, like cold therapy and chiropractic care, into your routine.
If you’ve struggled to find relief from back pain, adding pushups with redcord sling support to your routine might provide the breakthrough you’re awaiting.
10/22/2015
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy
Is a very modern technology that can help provide pain relief and other benefits to patients. It is commonly referred to as a modern form of acupuncture but that is not actually accurate. Cold lasers, which are often called Low Level Lasers or soft lasers, have been approved for use since 2011 by the FDA. Depending on what issue they are trying to resolve, these lasers can target trigger points (similar to acupuncture, but no needles) or provide broad coverage for tissue or bone stimulation.
Many people like to give this type of therapy a try because it is non-invasive and doesn’t have any type of side effects that could cause harm. In fact, it helps by working with your body to stimulate healing and comfort from a wide range of different issues. We offer cold laser therapy here in our office and regularly give treatments to people from Midtown NYC, Midtown Manhattan and the greater NYC area.
How does it Work
Cold lasers produce a specific wavelength of light impulses that are directed at the skin above the problem area. The wavelength is typically between 600 and 980nm depending on the exact results being sought. The photons of light will be absorbed into the skin and other tissues to get the desired effects. For deep penetration, a stronger laser is needed. This is typically for things like bone or joint pain therapy. For sore muscles or soft tissue injuries, however, the machine does not need to be nearly as powerful. We are able to treat many different issues with the machine here in our office.
What Can be Treated
There are many problems that can be effectively treated with cold laser therapy. The treatment works by stimulating cellular regeneration and improving circulation in the area around the problem. Some of the most common ailments we treat in our New York offices are ligament sprains, soft tissue injuries, tendinitis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, general back pain and much more.
Based on the specifics of your condition we can evaluate whether or not cold laser therapy is the right course of action. While not for everyone, many of our patients have enjoyed a reduction or elimination of pain in the back, neck, knees, elbows and other areas of the body. We can often combine this type of therapy with chiropractic care or other treatments to help get you the best possible results.
Get in touch with Us
If you’d like to learn whether or not this is the right treatment option for you, please don’t hesitate to give us a call and talk to one of our team members. We can answer any questions you might have about cold laser therapy and see if it might be something you’re interested in moving forward with. If so, we can set you up with an appointment to meet with our medical team for a full evaluation. From there we will work with you to determine if this type of therapy is right for you.