Healthy News November 2021 Relieving Chiropractic Care for Hyperkyphosis Curves & Lumbar Spinal Stenosis

The spine has its own normal curvature or kyphosis. Moriarty Chiropractic knows the spine’s curves quite well! Most Nashua chiropractic clients do not think about the spinal curve, its normalcy or its function, until there is a problem caused by a curve that gets “too” curvy. Think about the thoracic spine, the upper back part of the spine, whose normal kyphosis ranges from 20° to 40 in young people. For 20 to 40% of over-60-year-olds, 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 often described to affect women who have more functional disorders like reduced back extensor muscle strength and ability to use erector spinal muscles plus other poor health issues. (1,2) Spinal manipulation and mobilization of the thoracic spine are common ways chiropractors treat musculoskeletal issues in older adults with issues like hyperkyphosis. Older spines successfully experienced the SMM forces similar to younger spines in research studies. (3) Fortunately, manual therapy has been researched and described as effective to reduce and prevent musculoskeletal problems due to thoracic hyperkyphosis. A recent report 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 control and prevent respiratory dysfunction in patients with thoracic hyperkyphosis. (5) Your Nashua chiropractor delivers gentle, effective, distractive thoracic spine manipulation that is both hyperkyphosis-relieving and comfortable. Once you feel it, you will ask for it again!

Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Joseph D’Angiolillo on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he explains gentle distraction treatment of upper spine pain with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common diagnosis for older Nashua adults. It is related to higher utilization of healthcare services. And surgery isn’t always the answer according to a study reporting that 1 in 3 lumbar spinal stenosis patients had a poor clinical outcome with surgery. Also, 36.1% of 529 patients had a poor leg pain outcome while 27.6% had a poor overall outcome. Encouragingly, patients who exercised regularly and those who received pre-operative chiropractic or physiotherapy care were less likely to report a poor overall outcome. (6) A recent study stated that receiving such non-operative care beginning within the first 30 days of diagnosis decreased 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 shown to be effective for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis by decreasing their pain and improving their function. (8) Moriarty Chiropractic is ready to get started treating your spinal stenosis today, non-operatively and safely.

CONTACT Moriarty Chiropractic

Make your next Nashua chiropractic appointment today. Spine conditions like thoracic spine hyperkyphosis and lumbar spinal stenosis respond well to chiropractic treatment!