La Grande Low Back Pain Helped by Exercise that Helps Lower Limb Proprioception and Balance
Low back pain (LBP) is a spinal condition that impacts millions of people globally, causing not only discomfort but also restricting daily activities and quality of life. Chiropractic is often an effective stopping point for many sufferers in their search for effective management, and recent research sheds light on a possibly crucial aspect of low back pain treatment and prevention - the role of lower limb proprioception and its relationship with voluntary postural control.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOWER LIMB PROPRIOCEPTION IN MANAGING LOW BACK PAIN
Recent findings published in the Journal of Motor Behavior explore this connection in depth. The study highlights beneficial insights into how proprioception - the body's capacity to sense its own position in space - may influence postural sway and stability, especially in individuals suffering from low back pain. (1)
For low back pain patients and their La Grande chiropractor at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC seeking effective strategies for back pain relief and management, grasping the role of lower limb proprioception can be a game-changer. Proprioception concerns the sensory information that allows our body to sense its position, making it essential for upholding balance, coordinating movements, and ensuring stability. Disruptions or impairments in proprioceptive feedback can contribute to more postural sway, which could potentially worsen low back pain.
The research stresses a substantial correlation between lower limb proprioception deficits and voluntary postural control difficulties in low back pain patients. This intimates that addressing proprioceptive impairments could be a key component of comprehensive low back pain management strategies. Through targeted interventions designed to improve proprioceptive awareness and function in the lower limbs, it may be possible to enhance postural control, reduce postural sway, and ultimately, alleviate pain and discomfort linked to LBP.
EXERCISES TO ENHANCE LOWER LIMB PROPRIOCEPTION
Implementing exercises (after a talk with your La Grande chiropractor!) designed to enhance proprioception in the lower limbs can be helpful for individuals who have low back pain. Here are a few exercises that might help in enhancing proprioceptive skills and stimulating better postural control:
- Single-Leg Balance: Standing on one foot, try to maintain balance for 30 seconds. You can increase the challenge by closing your eyes or standing on an unstable surface.
- Heel-to-Toe Walk: Slowly walk in a straight line, placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other foot. This helps improve balance and coordination.
- Squats on Unstable Surface: Performing squats on a cushioned mat or balance board can help by engaging stabilizing muscles.
Keep in mind that while exercises focusing on lower limb proprioception can offer benefits, they are a part of an effective La Grande chiropractic treatment plan to manage low back pain. Spinal alignment, muscle strength, flexibility, and overall physical health, also play important roles in the successful treatment and prevention of LBP while gentle, safe chiropractic spinal manipulation, particularly Cox® Technic spinal manipulation, and nutrition are incorporated. Remember the paper by Smith and Olding about the effectiveness of Cox® Technic spinal manipulation in improving mobility in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. (2)
CONTACT Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Nate McKee on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes the effectiveness of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management in treating low back pain patients with spinal stenosis.
Make your La Grande chiropractic appointment soon. We look forward to helping you.
