A recent study at Johns Hopkins Medicine has shown that a person’s positive attitude may be just as effective as a painkiller if they can successfully put the pain out of their mind. The more optimistic outlook will also lead to better sleep.
Key Points:
80% of chronic pain sufferers experience sleep disturbance
People with altered sleep patterns are more sensitive to pain
There was a direct correlation between negative thinking about pain and poor sleep
Cognitive behavioural therapy can be just as effective as pain medication
You change the way you feel by changing the way you think
Biofeedback is an established learning method, whereby a person learns how to control a bodily function through measurement and feedback. In another cutting edge development Lifestyle Therapies physiotherapist John Havill has developed a world class device and system for posture correction using biofeedback.
I do wonder how many sceptics would privately or publicly call for double blind randomised controlled studies before experimenting with such “controversial” therapy, or should we say enjoyment. Sometimes common sense needs to prevail, kind of like this case study on using magnetic therapy for faster recovery with soft tissue injuries and mirror therapy. When a therapy is simple, inexpensive, no risk and demonstrates obvious benefits what motivates practitioners to ignore or even oppose it?
Catherine is a 39 yr old business consultant who injured her back when emptying the dishwasher in 2008. She has suffered 3 years of persistent right low back and right leg pain. The intensity of her pain was commonly 7/10 NRS and worsened by bending, sitting, home activities and gardening.
Catherine was able to flex to the knees only, when supporting her trunk weight with her hands. She had impulse pain but no neurological signs. Her range of lumbar extension was 50%. She was acutely tender to palpate over the low lumbar spine. Straight leg raise were bilaterally 80 degrees with no sensitisation.
Chiropractic manipulation and physiotherapy was of no lasting benefit. She was not considered a surgical candidate by her medical team.
Maria is a 47 year old, 178 cm tall, primary school teacher. She is fit and healthy, exercising regularly with walking and kayaking.
On Jan 10th 2012 Maria had an acute flare low back radiating bilaterally down the posterior of her legs as far as the heals. Maria was unable to sit and struggled to do the normal activities of daily living with pain levels at 7/10 NRS. Maria admitted to some ongoing low back pain issues over the 2 years, but this tended to be local and settled without needing any medical intervention.
Objective Examination
Maria had grossly restricted lumbar flexion, was acutely tender to palpate the low lumbar spine and had bilateral restriction of SLR to 60 degrees, which was positive to dorsiflexion sensitisation. Reflexes and muscle strength were normal.
My friend Tony is a great graphic designer. He was also a patient of our Wynnum/Manly chiropractor Dr Anne Crick before the family moved back to New Zealand.
Unbeknown to me, Tony took his one year old son Joshua to see Anne because he was a very agitated baby and as a photographer Tony was yearning to capture a smile. I’m glad he never asked for my opinion, because to be honest I would have been hesitant to recommend a one year old to a chiropractor. A very happy ending…Click on the image below and see what Tony created and emailed to me…
Workstation desk setup following ergonomic recommendations.
As part of our occupational rehabilitation services, we often go into businesses and provide advice and training for setting up workstations ergonomically.
The following checklist will help people adjust their workstation so they can be comfortable and look after their bodies in their daily duties. It may be a good idea to work through it with a friend and observe each other’s body position, as often it is difficult to determine your own body position. It may take several tries to get the best set up, so give yourself some time to perfect the position for you.
Today, James and Dianne caught up with champion Australian all-rounder Shane Watson who has had his fair share of recent injuries. Shane’s sports physiotherapist recommended he start to use Q magnets to help manage his injuries. He has used Q magnets previously for back pain when on long plane flights with great effect.
While many elite athletes have embraced Q magnets to recover faster after injury, we find one of the best applications is for chronic pain. Q magnets are not for everyone, but patients that have not responded to conventional treatment often respond well to Q magnet therapy as an adjunctive treatment, see our chronic pain case studies for more information.
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