Fear of back pain? Once you’ve had
it, you say “yes!” Your Oxford chiropractor gets this. Oxford back pain and neck pain
patients don’t want to feel that pain again.
Satterwhite Chiropractic helps spine pain sufferers get their
confidence back with encouragement and exercise.
FEAR AVOIDANCE DUE TO BACK PAIN
Back pain sufferers don't want to revisit
back pain if they have any options at all. That desire -
whether obvious or subtle, stated or just ruminated in the mind – sets
up the situation for a behavior known as
fear-avoidance. Patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome - post-surgically
caused or not – elicited high levels of
fear avoidance, anxiety, and depression. (1) Researchers explained
that the pain experience is not just physical because
emotions, behaviors and beliefs are mixed in, too. Fear
avoidant behavior like fearing the act of lifting an object
grows and impacts muscle behavior without realizing it. A new
study compared fear-avoidant beliefs and the lumbar spine paraspinal muscle
activity use while lifting in
both back pain and in pain-free volunteers. Fear of lifting an object
with a flexed spine as documented in a questionnaire was negatively
associated with erector spinae activity to protect the spine from
harm. The proper way to lift has been debated
through the years. Lifting with a straight back has been portrayed
as safer than lifting with a flexed back though research hasn't really
supported that while lifting with a lordotic posture has been found
to result in more erector spinae muscle activity resulting in
muscle fatigue and pain. (2) Satterwhite Chiropractic recognizes the significance
of managing fear avoidance and its link to better quality of
life.
HOW TO MANAGE FEAR AVOIDANCE
Researchers noted that back pain
sufferers today ‘get’ that they must keep active but some require
a bit more support and encouragement to move and exercise due to a lack of confidence in their backs’
ability to exercise without causing pain. The healthcare
provider not only can give the latest findings on
pain control but also teach the back pain patient to be
physical in the safest way possible. (3) If you are that patient, Satterwhite Chiropractic is
your trainer! We are a team and can help you move easier
and with less fear and provide gentle, relieving spinal
manipulation. Three months of chiropractic manipulation along
with exercise for older adults with chronic back pain boosted
their self-efficacy and fear-avoidant behaviors together with decreases in disability. A 30% or more reduction
in the Oswestry Disability Index indicated positive response to
care. (4) The more engaged a patient is with treatment, the greater the influence
on the feeling of self-efficacy and disability reduction. (5) Let’s
work together to control your Oxford back pain so it does
not control you.
CONTACT Satterwhite Chiropractic
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tom Menendez on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he
describes the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal
Pain Management for an older patient with back pain for whom fear avoidance is understandable.
Schedule your Oxford chiropractic
appointment today so that if you are asked
if you fear back pain, you can say “no”!
"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the
DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by
Dr. James M. Cox I."