Thrive for Life

Deconditioned and tight muscles are often observed in patients with chronic low back pain and must be addressed for the patient to achieve a satisfactory outcome. Research on physical activity to manage chronic low back pain typically involves land-based exercises—like brisk walks or cycling, for example—but what about aquatic exercises? Do water-based exercises have a [..]

Back pain refers to pain or discomfort in the dorsal (back) region of the body, which can arise from abnormalities in spinal vertebrae, back muscles, tendons, ligaments, or neural structures.  While back pain and other musculoskeletal injuries can usually be linked to an identifiable event, like lifting with improper form, there is often a history [..]

Low back pain and gardening seem to go hand in hand, especially getting the garden ready after a long sedentary winter! As many people who love gardening know, keeping up with the weeds through the summer can also take its toll on the low back. Let’s take a look at ways to minimize low back [..]

It’s estimated that 84% of individuals will experience at least one episode of low back pain during their lifetime, with 23% developing chronic low back pain. While dysfunction in the lumbar region is typically thought to be the cause of a patient’s low back pain, there’s a growing body of research suggesting that the underlying [..]

Lumbar diskectomy is a surgical procedure for removing herniated intervertebral disk material when non-surgical options fail to satisfactorily alleviate radiating leg pain, numbness, or weakness. However, there’s no guarantee such a procedure will provide relief. Up to 12% of patients require reoperation withing three months to address post-surgical complications and up to 20% may experience [..]

While disk herniations in the lumbar spine are fairly common and may resolve on their own or persist without symptoms, if a herniation places pressure on the spinal cord or nerves exiting the spine, the patient may experience radiating pain into one or both legs. While chiropractic care can help individuals with a herniated lumbar [..]

The intervertebral disk is made up of a tough outer annulus fibrosis while the central portion (called the nucleus pulposus) is soft, more liquid-like, giving it a shock-absorbing function. If the integrity of the annulus is compromised, the nucleus pulposus can leak through the torn fibers, which is known as disk herniation. If the direction [..]

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient associated with numerous bodily functions, but perhaps vitamin D’s most widely known benefits are those it provides to the musculoskeletal system, namely its roles in bone mineralization and muscle function, both of which are important for reducing the risk for serious fall-related fractures in the elderly. However, there’s another [..]

If you consider a vertebral segment as consisting of three legs like a tripod, the front of the vertebrae is the large vertebral body and the two legs in the back are the articular facets. The spinal cord passes between these three legs as it travels its course from the brainstem down to the tail [..]

The annulus of the intervertebral disk is comprised of tough, dense, and strong cartilaginous fibers that protect the nucleus within, which facilitates the movement of the spine. If the structure of the annulus is compromised, the nucleus can leak into or beyond the annulus, a condition that may be classified as a disk herniation, protrusion, [..]