Chronic back pain is defined as pain that persists for 12 weeks or longer, and more than 1.5 billion people suffer from some type of chronic pain. Between things like back pain, chronic inflammation, and personal injury, it’s no wonder why that figure is so high.
Chronic inflammation, for example, affects millions of Americans. Arthritis, one common type of chronic inflammation, affects 350 million people worldwide and 43 million people in the United States alone. 31 million Americans experience low-back pain at any given time while also spending more than $50 billion a year to relieve back pain. 4 in every 10 of those people will choose to see a chiropractor for adjustments and back pain relief before they even see a doctor. Chiropractors treat more than 27 million Americans annually, with a chiropractic adjustment being performed around 1 million times every business day in the US. 94% of individuals who underwent treatment with a chiropractor saw a 30% reduction in lower back pain after four weeks.
Engaging in just 10 minutes of physical activity every day can help you improve mobility and live longer, even if you are slowly recovering from injury either on your own or with physical therapy (PT) tools. In fact, many physical therapists recommend movement to get the natural motions going again after an injury. But even with treatment from a doctor or chiropractor, physical pain thresholds very from person to person. Often times, injuries are recurring which can also accrue heavy costs after a period of time. How do you determine what amount of movement is safe and what will break the bank if further injury or pain occurs?
Sure, chiropractic adjustment tools and rehab tools are helpful when it comes to the recovery process, but considering how far someone can go each step of the process is helpful. Range of motion testing, for example, is a technique many physical therapists use after muscle injuries to determine where a patient is at in the recovery process. Manual and automatic strength tests do much of the same, allowing a doctor or therapist to see where improvements can be made and how much resistance has been built back up from the point of sustaining an injury to the point of PT that the patient is at.
One other option as far as learning about a patient’s pain threshold and the best course of treatment for their individual needs is the use of an algometer. Digital pressure algometers give both doctors and patients the numbers needed for more confidence in the recovery process. People vary in terms of their needs when coming back from an injury or ailment. An algometer can help you to develop an enact a plan of care, not based upon general reports and word of mouth of any pain, but rather where they’re deficient at the injury site (with figures to back it up) to show that you are improving functional ability and reducing pain.
From chronic back pain to muscle injuries and fibromyalgia, an algometer acts as the perfect on-the-go solution for evaluating pain thresholds, trigger points and sensitive areas, and areas needing improvement. An algometer gives computer automated data with specialized software that allows for tracking over time as well. There’s no better way to monitor a patient’s progress than to view automated charts that are objective to a patient’s personal needs and physicality rather than using subjective pain treatment options.
