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Wilson Family Chiropractic Helps Back Pain Sufferers Fight Fear Avoidance and Move More

Fear of back pain? Once you’ve experienced it, you answer “yes!” Your Millville chiropractor totally understands it. Millville back pain and neck pain patients do not want to experience that pain again. Wilson Family Chiropractic helps spine pain sufferers regain their confidence 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 ‘perfect storm’ for a behavior known as fear-avoidance. Patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome - post-surgically induced or not – provoked high levels of fear avoidance, anxiety, and depression. (1) Researchers noted that the pain experience is not just physical as emotions, behaviors and beliefs are mixed in, too. 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 persons. Fear of lifting an object with a flexed spine as described in a questionnaire was negatively associated with erector spinae activity to protect the spine from injury. The proper way to lift has been argued for a long time. Lifting with a straight back has been described as safer than lifting with a flexed back though research hasn't necessarily 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) Wilson Family Chiropractic recognizes the importance 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 bodies’ ability to exercise without triggering pain. The healthcare provider not only can share the latest findings on pain control but also teach the back pain patient to be physical in the safest way possible. (3) If you’re that patient, Wilson Family Chiropractic is your trainer! We are a team and can help you move easier and with less fear and provide gentle, relieving spinal manipulation. 12 weeks of chiropractic manipulation and exercise for older adults with chronic back pain boosted their self-efficacy and fear-avoidant behaviors as well as decreases in disability. A 30% or more drop 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 us work together to manage your Millville back pain so it does not control you. 

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Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Tom Menendez on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates the relief with The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management for an older patient with back pain for whom fear avoidance is logical.

Make your Millville chiropractic appointment today so that if you are asked if you fear back pain, you can say “no”!

 Wilson Family Chiropractic understands why back pain sufferers fear movement and helps them get past it to move and exercise.
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"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."