Proactive Pain Relief
Most people in the United States go to the dentist every six months.
The appointment usually consists of a teeth cleaning, gum depth measurements, an oral cancer screen and sometimes an x-ray to see if you have any cavities.
If all goes well, you leave with no cavities and some guidance on where to focus in the next six months to avoid a cavity. Sometimes, however, the dentist does find a cavity and schedules you for a filling so that you don’t end up with an emergency event… which usually leads to a root canal… which can be very painful and expensive.
We also have check-ups for our prostate, our heart, our eyes, our ears, our skin, and every other major system in our bodies.
There is one exception though and that is our musculoskeletal system, or the movement system… which seems a bit weird because I would rather be able to move around in my day than have pretty teeth.
It also seems weird when you compare the musculoskeletal system to your teeth because usually insurance covers musculoskeletal problems, but not usually teeth problems, or at least not as good of coverage.
It seems to me that if the statistics indicate that the second most common reason why someone uses the healthcare system is because of musculoskeletal pain, that we would have a better system in place for testing that system so that we could identify problems quickly and more efficiently than we are doing now.
The solution to this problem is to have a movement screen that is performed every 3-6 months.
Let me explain what a movement screen is…
We have talked many times in this blog about how the lower back pain is only a symptom of a bigger problem. Most commonly, the problem is that your hips, upper back and/or feet are either not stable enough or don’t have enough mobility.
This poor motion above and below the spine causes stress and damage over time ultimately leading to the symptom of lower back pain.
A movement screen must look at all of those areas and see how they move and how stable they are. Makes sense, right?
Well, there are a few different movement screens out there, so let me talk about what makes a good movement screen.
First of all, we must identify some truths or principles about the way we move:
- We move in three planes of motion (front to back, side to side, rotate left and right).
- We typically move when we are on our feet.
- If movement is what we are measuring, then movement must happen during the screen.
- The screen must look at the entire body, not just the symptomatic part of the body.
A movement screen should be performed for anyone who is in pain or not in pain.
Ideally, a movement screen is performed when someone is not in pain so that we can prevent the pain from ever starting… but if you are in pain, a movement screen is still the most important first step in identifying the permanent solution.
This screen allows a physical therapist to assess how the entire body moves in three planes of motion in under 10 minutes. It identifies where you are successful and where you need help to be more successful. It is the movement screen that all of our therapists at Superior Physical Therapy are certified in.
Other movement screens assess someone in the sitting position or lying on their backs.
I would argue that these are not as effective because our body moves differently when standing and fighting against gravity. Most of our movement problems occur when we are upright and moving around on our feet.
I realize some patients have lower back pain with sitting and then I would absolutely assess someone’s movement in the sitting position… but for the majority of people with lower back pain, standing, walking, bending, and reaching are the most common problems.
The problem with lower back pain treatments right from the start is that the focus is on your lower back. The person examines your lower back either with their hands, asking you to move it, or analyses your x-ray or MRI
So right from the start, the healthcare provider is ignoring the rest of the body.
It is ridiculous that we handle problems this way. It would be like if the dentist just drilled out your cavity and then saying, “have a nice day.” He would be irresponsible if he didn’t tell you in the future to floss more to prevent this from happening or to recommend that you brush your teeth more.
Imagine if dentists never recommended brushing or flossing… wouldn’t that be insane?
Imagine if the only time we went to the dentist was when we had pain and needed the drill…
Prevention is the most effective strategy.
So, it is my mission to encourage you if you haven’t had one to get a movement screen on a regular basis.
Whether you’re in pain or not. Whether you want to or not. Go and get it done. Schedule it right now.
In fact, here is our clinic number so that you can take action - 231.944.6541.
Simply say, “I want a movement screen.”
Read more about a Full Body Movement Assessment by clicking here: Full Body Movement Assessment | Superior Physical Therapy