La Grande Spine Stability Helped by Breathing and Diaphragm Training
Spinal stability is the foundation for spine movement. Spinal stability protects the nervous system structures, the spinal cord, and spinal nerve roots. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC assesses spinal stability in all our La Grande back pain patients as part of our chiropractic service. Spinal stability depends on strong, stable musculature to perform its job. New research is pointing to the role of the diaphragm and breathing in supporting spinal stability.
SPINAL STABILITY
All the various parts of the spine play a role in spinal stability, even the smallest spinal motion segment’s vertebra (the bony part of the spine). Ligaments, bones, and discs in the spine provide all types of coupled motions of the spine and transfer proprioceptive impulses to the central nervous system which aligns muscle tone, movement, and reflexes. If any of the spinal structures are hurt or otherwise in peril – like a degenerated disc – spinal instability is possible. (1) That is where your La Grande chiropractor comes into play with chiropractic spinal manipulation and an effective treatment plan including exercise.
BREATHING TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Chiropractic care at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC addresses spinal stability with some usual exercise recommendations and explores the use of newer exercise methods like breathing that are showing some promise. Maximal abdominal contraction maneuver compared with maximal expiration exercise resulted in better increased spinal stability. As a breathing exercise to enhance spinal joint stability, it had a beneficial effect on improving co-contraction and spine stability as demonstrated by significantly larger muscle thickness of the transverse abdominis and rectus abdominis. (2) Forced breathing exercise therapy enhanced trunk stability and activities of daily living in chronic low back pain patients. (3) La Grande back pain patients will value how something they do every day – done with just a bit more thought - may help them with their back pain!
DIAPHRAGM TRAINING IN SPINAL STABILITY
Certainly, breathing and the diaphragm are intimately connected, and both offer some hope in tackling spinal stability issues. Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC found some new studies on how diaphragm training addresses spinal stability. In a study of the rehabilitation of athletes with nonspecific low back pain, adding diaphragm training (breathing) to electrical stimulation therapy was beneficial in improving function, stability, pain, and balance. (4) Diaphragm training significantly reduced the severity of pain and also affected the thickness of active stabilizers - transversus abdominis, lumbar multifidus muscle - in the lumbar spine. (5) Strong, thick spinal stabilizers are helpful in tackling La Grande back pain.
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Lee Hazen and Cheri Hazen RN, ICHC, FNLP, LE, on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as they describe their combined treatment approach of breathing training and the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management helped a patient find back pain relief.
Make your La Grande chiropractic appointment today. Breathing and diaphragm training go a long way in helping keep the spine stable, reducing La Grande back pain, and keeping the foundation of spinal movement intact.
