Fear of back pain? Once you’ve experienced
it, you say “yes!” Your New Roads chiropractor totally
understands it. New Roads back pain and neck pain
patients don’t want to feel that pain again.
New Roads Chiropractic Center helps spine pain sufferers regain their confidence with encouragement and exercise.
FEAR AVOIDANCE DUE TO BACK PAIN
Back pain sufferers want to avoid
back pain if they have any options at all. That desire -
whether obvious or subtle, stated or just ruminated in the mind – establishes the ‘perfect storm’ for a behavior known as
fear-avoidance. Patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome - post-surgically
generated or not – provoked high levels of
fear avoidance, anxiety, and depression. (1) Researchers explained
that the pain experience is not just physical as
emotions, behaviors and beliefs are involved as well. Fear
avoidant behavior like fearing object lifting
grows and impacts muscle behavior without realizing it. A recent
study compared fear-avoidant beliefs and the use of lumbar paraspinal muscle activity 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
related with erector spinae activity to protect the spine from
harm. The proper way to lift has been discussed
through the years. Lifting with a straight back has been described
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 giving rise to
muscle fatigue and pain. (2) New Roads Chiropractic Center recognizes the significance
of handling fear avoidance and its link to better quality of
life.
HOW TO MANAGE FEAR AVOIDANCE
Researchers wrote that back pain
sufferers today ‘get’ that they must keep moving but some require
a bit more support and encouragement to move and exercise because
of a lack of confidence in their backs’
ability to exercise without causing pain. The healthcare
provider not only can share the latest findings on
pain control but also coach the back pain patient to be
physical in the safest way possible. (3) If you’re that patient, New Roads Chiropractic Center is
your trainer! We are a team and can help you move better
and with less fear and deliver gentle, relieving spinal
manipulation. 12 weeks of chiropractic manipulation and exercise for older adults with chronic back pain improved
their self-efficacy and fear-avoidant behaviors together with decreases in disability. A 30% or more drop
in the Oswestry Disability Index suggested 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 New Roads back pain so it doesn’t control you.
CONTACT New Roads Chiropractic Center
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.
Make your New Roads chiropractic
appointment today so that if you are questioned whether 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."