Call us to set up an appointment! 334-209-1616

Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. Helps Back Pain Sufferers Fight Fear Avoidance and Move More

Fear of back pain? Once you’ve had it, you answer “yes!” Your Auburn chiropractor gets this. Auburn back pain and neck pain patients don’t want to experience that pain again. Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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 – sets up the situation for a behavior called fear-avoidance. Patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome - post-surgically generated or not – elicited 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 involved as well. Fear avoidant behavior like fearing the act of lifting an object grows and affects 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 described in a questionnaire was negatively related with erector spinae activity to protect the spine from injury. 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 has not really supported that while lifting with a lordotic posture has been reported to result in more erector spinae muscle activity resulting in muscle fatigue and pain.  (2) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. knows the significance of managing fear avoidance and its link to better quality of life.

HOW TO MANAGE FEAR AVOIDANCE

Researchers documented that back pain sufferers today ‘get’ that they must keep moving but some require a little more support and encouragement to move and exercise due to a lack of confidence in their bodies’ 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, Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. is your trainer! We’re a team and can help you move easier 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 reductions in disability. A 30% or more reduction 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 us work together to manage your Auburn back pain so it doesn’t control you. 

CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.

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.

Schedule your Auburn chiropractic appointment now so that if you are asked if you fear back pain, you can say “no”!

 Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. understands why back pain sufferers fear movement and helps them get past it to move and exercise.
« View All Featured Exercises
"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."