Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash

Because each individual case of whiplash is different, it is not possible to generalize about the chiropractic whiplash treatment.

The appropriate chiropractic treatment is unique to each whiplash injury and is directed at the primary dysfunctions detected during the chiropractic exam.

However, chiropractors commonly employ different chiropractic treatments for whiplash, often including:

• Manipulation
• Muscle relaxation and/or stimulation
• Various exercises
• Ergonomic and lifestyle changes.

This article explains when, why and how chiropractors may employ these whiplash treatments for neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain and other related symptoms.

Chiropractic Manipulation for Whiplash

The primary whiplash treatment for joint dysfunction, spinal manipulation involves the chiropractor gently moving the involved joint into the direction in which it is restricted.

Also known as a chiropractic adjustment, spinal manipulation may involve the application of a short thrust in that direction. In many cases, instead of a thrust, a slow mobilizing movement is used by the chiropractor.

Muscle Relaxation or Stimulation as Whiplash Treatments

The chiropractor's primary whiplash treatment for related muscle dysfunction, muscle relaxation and/or stimulation consist of gentle stretches to the muscle that has excessive tension or repeated contractions of the muscle that is inhibited.

If the muscle is very tight, a more vigorous stretch may be applied by the chiropractor. Gentle finger pressure techniques may be applied to trigger points to relieve the pain associated with the tight muscles.

McKenzie Exercises and Stabilization/Sensorimotor Activities

Chiropractors may employ different types of exercises, including McKenzie exercises and/or stabilization and sensorimotor exercises, to help treat patients with whiplash injuries.

McKenzie exercises are specifically designed to reduce disc derangement related to a whiplash injury. They consist of simple movements that are initially done in the office but make for an easy transition to self-care at home. McKenzie exercises also help the patient take an active role in his or her own recovery.

Mobilization and sensorimotor exercise approaches are designed to correct faulty movement patterns in routine activities and everyday life. Such whiplash treatment trains the nervous system to better coordinate and control movement patterns, and improves the ability of the neck muscles to maintain stability of the neck.

These exercises are designed to help in a major trauma, such as a fall or whiplash during a motor vehicle accident, or in "micro trauma" from simple things such as being jostled in a crowd, playing sports or performing occupational or home jobs that require physical effort.

Chiropractic Advice on Ergonomic and Lifestyle Changes

These whiplash treatment suggestions stress improvements for performing everyday activities with minimal strain to the body. The chiropractic advice addresses factors in an individual’s work, home or recreational activities that perpetuate the dysfunctions that result from the whiplash accident.

Additionally, spine care professionals at the chiropractic clinic may teach the patient better "use of self" and, if necessary, stress reduction methods to help chiropractic problems.

Whiplash Treatment in Chiropractic 

h specific problem may include one or more of these approaches and may involve others as well.The whiplash treatment plan developed by the chiropractor for each specific problem may include one or more of these approaches and may involve others as well.The whiplash treatment plan developed by the chiropractor for each specific problem may include one or more of these approaches and may involve others as well.

In addition to his or her whiplash treatment plan, the doctor of chiropractic might give a referral to another health professional, such as a medical specialist, if it is deemed appropriate.

• Research and locate chiropractors in your area that can help alleviate your back and neck pain.
  
  

  Preventing Chronic Pain from Whiplash

  After sustaining whiplash injuries, it is fairly common for people to suffer from chronic neck pain. A chiropractor can detect certain factors in a patient’s history and chiropractic exam to better determine patients who may be more susceptible to chronic pain from a whiplash injury.

  This process will help the doctor of chiropractic identify when aggressive preventative measures should be taken for patients who may be at a greater risk of developing chronic neck pain from whiplash injuries.

  Chiropractic Treatment Approach to Whiplash Injuries

  The chiropractor’s general approach to managing the patient’s chiropractic care is critical to the success of preventing chronic pain from whiplash injuries.

  • In the early stages of management, it is very important for the chiropractor to rapidly reduce the patient’s neck pain, back pain and/or other symptoms.
  • Soon after, the chiropractor’s whiplash treatment must be shifted toward restoration of the patient’s function. This means helping the patient return to work, home and recreational activities as soon as possible after sustaining the whiplash injuries. This process may involve a gradual transition to these activities, even if the patient is not sure that he or she can engage in them fully.
  
  
  • Restoring confidence after a whiplash injury on the part of the patient in his or her ability to get back to normal activity levels is also important for rehabilitation.
  • Exercise, both for the purpose of correcting faulty movement patterns and instability, and for general fitness, is important in this effort to treat whiplash injuries. 
  Teaching the patient the nature of chronic pain (that "hurt does not necessarily mean harm") and placing focus on those activities the patient can do, rather than those he or she cannot, are major parts of chronic pain and disability prevention after whiplash injuries.
  Chiropractors integrate the strategies explained above to develop the most effective approach for recovering from a whiplash injury and preventing future episodes of back pain.
  Whiplash is an injury to the cervical region of the spine when a great force causes the neck to go beyond its normal range of motion. The spinal vertebrae, ligaments, and muscles may be injured by this force, causing neck pain, headaches, neck stiffness, and/or cognitive difficulties such as dizziness or trouble concentrating. These symptoms may appear immediately or after a few days.

  Call ABChiropractic Family & Wellness in St. Charles Missouri, 63303 at 636-916-0660 to schedule your no out of pocket cost for evaluation for your whiplash injuries.  

All About Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal Decompression Therapy involves stretching the spine, using a traction table or similar motorized device, with the goal of relieving back pain and/or leg pain.

This procedure is called nonsurgical decompression therapy (as opposed to surgical spinal decompression, such as laminectomy and microdiscectomy).

This article provides an overview of nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy and its role in treatment of lower back pain and neck pain.

Theory of Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression devices use the same basic principle of spinal traction that has been offered by chiropractors, osteopaths, and other appropriately trained health professionals for many years.

Both traction and decompression therapy are applied with the goals of relieving pain and promoting an optimal healing environment for bulging, degenerating, or herniated discs.

Spinal decompression is a type of traction therapy applied to the spine in an attempt to bring about several theoretical benefits including:

• Create a negative intradiscal pressure to promote retraction or repositioning of the herniated or bulging disc material.
• Create a lower pressure in the disc that will cause an influx of healing nutrients and other substances into the disc.1

Clinical Evidence

While the fundamental theory of spinal decompression is widely accepted as valid, there is a lack of evidence supporting decompression therapy as being efficacious. Additionally there are some potential risks.

Although some studies that do not include control groups conclude that decompression therapy is efficacious, the few that do generally conclude that mechanized spinal decompression is no better than sham decompression. [Schimmel JJ, et al. European Spine Journal 18(12):1843-50, 2009] Thus, there is insufficient evidence that spinal decompression therapy is as effective, or more effective, than less expensive manual methods in treating back pain or injured herniated discs.2

A review of medical literature to date indicates that most clinical trials examining the efficacy of spinal decompression therapy or traction were lacking in one or more areas, such as inadequate numbers of subjects to make a statistically valid conclusion, lack of blinding (the patient or provider is unaware of the treatment given), no comparison to a placebo group (called a sham controlled study), or lack of comparison to a treatment alternative.3 At the time of this article, few clinical studies of spinal decompression therapy have been published in peer reviewed medical journals.

How Spinal Decompression Therapy is Thought to Work

In nonsurgical spinal decompression therapy, the spine is stretched and relaxed intermittently in a controlled manner. The theory is that this process creates a negative intradiscal pressure (pressure within the disc itself), which is thought to have two potential benefits:

• Pulls the herniated or bulging disc material back into the disc
• Promotes the passage of healing nutrients, into the disc and fosters a better healing environment.

Spinal Decompression Session

During spinal decompression therapy for the low back (lumbar spine), patients remain clothed and lie on a motorized table, the lower half of which can move.

• A harness is placed around the hips and is attached to the lower table near the feet.
• The upper part of the table remains in a fixed position while the lower part, to which the patient is harnessed, slides back and forth to provide the traction and relaxation.

One difference between various decompression therapies is the patient's position on the table:

• Some devices place the patient in the prone position on the table, lying face down (e.g. VAX-D)
• Some devices have the patient lying supine, face up (e.g. DRX9000)

The patient should not feel pain during or after the decompression therapy although they should feel stretch in the spine.

Treatment Series and Costs

While spinal decompression therapy may be recommended as a potential treatment for a variety of lower back pain conditions, as with all lower back pain treatments, it is the patient's decision whether or not to have the treatment. Although the risk is low, the benefit of these treatments is not established.

Decompression therapy typically consists of a series of 15 to 30 treatments, lasting 30 to 45 minutes each, over a four to six-week period. Sessions are conducted in the practitioner's office.

The cost of each session typically ranges from $30 to $200, which means that a recommended series of treatments will typically cost from $450 to $6,000. Although insurance companies might pay for traditional traction, decompression therapy is not usually allowed although they are nearly the same.

Sessions may include additional treatment modalities, such as electric stimulation, ultrasound, and cold and/or heat therapy applied during or after the procedure.

Recommendations may also include drinking up to a half-gallon of water per day, rest, utilizing nutritional supplements, and/or performing exercises at home to improve strength and mobility.

Potential Candidates for Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression is an alternative therapy designed with the goal of alleviating pain and promoting healing of the intervertebral disc.

Indications for Spinal Decompression Therapy

The indications for spinal decompression therapy (given by its proponents) are relatively broad.

Lumbar Herniated Disc Treatment Video

It is often recommended as a treatment alternative for many types of lower back pain, sciatica (leg pain), or neck pain caused by a herniated disc, bulging disc, or degenerated disc.

Contraindications for Spinal Decompression Therapy

Stretching the spine to relieve back pain is not appropriate for some patients. The following groups of people are not good candidates for non-surgical spinal decompression:

• Pregnant women
• Patients with broken vertebrae
• Patients who have had spinal fusion
• Patients who have an artificial disc, or other implants, in their spine
• Patients with failed back surgery
• Anyone who has had multiple surgeries without recovery (pain improvement)

• Patients with any of the following conditions are also not good candidates:
• Osteoporosis, or osteopenia
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spinal stenosis
• Spinal infection
• Spinal tumor
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Any condition that may compromise the integrity of the spine
• Any condition requiring the patient to take blood thinner medication
• Additionally, patients with neck and arm pain may experience worsening of their symptoms, in which case decompression therapy should be discontinued. In general, any patient who experiences pain during the spinal decompression procedure or after the procedure is likely not a good candidate for this type of therapy.

Call ABChiropractic Family & Wellness at 636-916-0660 and speak to Karen or Rachel to schedule your new patient appointment.  Find out if you are a candidate for spinal decompression.  We are conveniently located in St Charles Missouri 63303.  

Tips for Golfing with Spinal Stenosis

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis, you may be wondering if playing golf is a good idea. If you've had a spinal stenosis surgery, you may even wonder if golf is possible.

The answer for many is yes, but there are a number of considerations to keep in mind.

First, recognize that golfing is not really the best thing for your low back. The golf swing imparts a tremendous amount of stress to your lumbar spine. If you are going to return to golf, be willing to accept that there is some risk of injury to the low back.

That being said, if you do decide to hit the greens, here are several things you can do to help reduce your chances of injury and hopefully enhance your enjoyment of the game:

1. When you hit the ball, hit it with about 50 to 75% of the force you would normally use.
2. Wear a back brace for support. It will serve as a constant reminder that you have a back problem. It will also keep your lower back warm, which helps keep the muscles and soft tissues loose. The support will also limit the motion of your low back enough to protect it somewhat. You can find options for low back braces at most pharmacies, and you don't need a prescription.
3. If the doctor says it’s OK, take ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) about a half hour before playing.
4. Warm up carefully and thoroughly with gentle stretching. This will encourage nutrient-rich blood to flow into the muscles in and around your back, which will help protect your lower back against further injury.
5. Consider switching your swing to the "natural golf" method, as it will reduce stress on your low back. You may also want to have a few lessons with a golf pro to see if you need to make any adjustments to your golf swing.
6. Finally, most doctors stress that if your leg pain or other symptoms flare up, take a break from golf for at least a few weeks and return to gentle strengthening and stretching exercises.

Your overall health, your specific stenosis diagnosis—and, if you've had surgery, the type of stenosis surgery that was performed—will also dictate to some extent if and when you can return to golf. As always, it's important to discuss your individual situation with your doctor.

Here at ABChiropractic Family & Wellness, we treat post surgical situations, even in the spine.  However, we can help in most cases, in preventing surgeries with proper chiropractic care.  Decompression is very effective in treating stenosis in the spine.  Call 636-916-0660 to inquire about our new patient specials.  We are conveniently located in St. Charles, MO.

6 Quick Stretches to Protect Your Back at Work

Are you spending most of your workday sitting down? Left unchecked, this positioning leads to muscular imbalances and skeletal malalignment, all of which can worsen back pain.

While seated, your hip flexors, hamstrings, and—if you're wearing high heels—calf muscles are all in a shortened position. As the years go by, this position will lead to a shortening of these soft tissues overall, which ultimately predispose you to developing pain and discomfort.

The discomfort could range from a simple ache to a problem that limits function and requires medical treatment and possibly even surgery. 

Poor posture takes a toll on your back

Your posture while sitting for long periods could also have an impact. As people sit, they have a tendency to slump down in their chairs, allowing their shoulders to round forward and their neck to look relatively upward.

This posture has a significant impact over time, because whenever you look upward, you are decreasing the amount of space your nerves have to exit the spinal cord. If you are someone who already has a condition called stenosis (a narrowing of the joint space in which a spinal nerve travels through), this posture exaggerates the problem.

Thankfully there are a few simple exercises to combat the imbalances commonly associated with too much sitting. 

To avoid common problem muscular shortness and stiffness, don’t overdo it. People often stretch too aggressively. Make the stretch mild, or you’ll waste your time. 

For maximum benefit, perform five to 10 of each of the following stretches, holding each stretch for 10 seconds. Don’t do the stretches more than twice a day.

1. Stretch those tight hamstrings.

Having tight hamstrings—the large muscles in the back of your thighs—is a common result of too much sitting in the workplace. To stretch these muscles, lie down on the floor near a doorway, straightening the leg you will not be stretching through the doorway. 

Next, place the leg you will stretch up along the doorframe, starting with the knee slightly bent. Straighten the knee completely, and depending on the level of stretch felt, either move closer or farther away. The closer you get to the wall, the more intense the stretch.

2. Focus on the hip flexors.

A second important muscle group is the hip flexors, located in the front of the hip. Begin with one knee on the ground. I would suggest putting something soft, such as a pillow, under your knee to make it more comfortable. 

The leg that is not being stretched will reach out in front, foot flat on the floor, with the hip and knee both bending approximately 90 degrees. Now, shift your weight forward allowing the leg that is behind to feel the stretch at the front of the hip. 

Two tips. If you’re feeling the stretch more in the opposite hamstring, you probably need to extend your foot farther forward at the beginning of the stretch. Second, make sure you don’t arch your back in an effort to stretch the hip. Arching could lead to low-back irritation.

3. Try a neck stretch.

To stretch your neck, tuck your chin down toward your throat, rotating the head toward each ear. Next, place your hand on the back of your head, providing a gentle downward force. 

4. Sit up tall for the head tilt.

A second stretch for your neck is to sit up tall, then allow your head to tilt toward the right or left shoulder. Again, use your hand as added weight to assist in stretching. The stretch sensation should occur on the side opposite of the way you are tilting. 

For example, a left-sided neck stretch should use a right-sided tilt, and vice versa. If you are feeling the stretch in the same side, discontinue the stretch. It could be a sign of something else going on.

5. Stretch out those arms.

Quite a few people who work in an office suffer from wrist and elbow pain. An easy way to prevent this from developing is to avoid getting stiff in your wrist flexors or extensors. 

• A good stretch begins with extending one arm straight out in front of your body. 
• Make sure your elbow is straight and your palm is facing down. Bend the wrist so the fingers are pointing down. 
• With the opposite hand, reach out to the extended hand from below, and pull the extended hand toward you. 

A stretch should be felt in the top of the forearm or back of the wrist. 

6. Stretch palms to the ceiling.

The second wrist stretch would be once again straightening your elbow, but this time the palm faces up toward the ceiling. You will once again use the opposite hand to bend your wrist back so the fingers point down towards the floor once again. This stretch should be felt in the front of your forearm. 

These 6 stretches are a simple way to help prevent pain associated with a typical sedentary work environment. If you already have pain, these exercises are not a substitute for a thorough medical evaluation to ensure no other maladies are present.

Call ABChiropractic Family & Wellness in St. Charles Missouri 63303 at 636-916-0660 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Mario Awwad to discuss more ways to prevent back pain and to correct any issues that you may have regarding your health.

Home Exercise Equipment for Low Impact Aerobic Exercise

Cardiovascular exercise can play a critical role in maintaining spine health and ensuring progress in recovery from back pain or surgery. Balancing aerobic (or cardiovascular) exercise, which works the heart, with anaerobic strengthening exercises and stretching can deliver both physical and mental benefits for back pain patients, allowing them to:

• Maintain a healthy weight or lose weight
• Relieve stress, anxiety, and depression
• Increase flexibility and mobility
• Improve strength of muscles and joints that support the spine
• Increase circulation throughout the spine and supporting structures, which is crucial to promote healing
• Improve quality and duration of sleep

More Exercise Info:

Sciatica Exercises

Exercise and Back Pain

Neck Pain Exercises

Abdominal Exercises

While the physical or mechanical benefits captured through exercise are important for spine health, the mental health benefits can also be substantial. Cardiovascular exercise in particular promotes the release of endorphins, biological chemicals that naturally help alleviate sensations of pain and produce overall positive feelings. Activity that leads to improved emotional well-being is particularly important for spine patients because depression and anxiety, as well as sleep problems, are common among those struggling with chronic back pain or recuperating from surgery or treatment. Cardiovascular exercise - whether in the form of walking, swimming, biking, or some other activity - can play a key role in helping decrease the pain one senses and increase positive feelings.

For many, ready access to home exercise equipment can make it easier to start and maintain an aerobic exercise program. Exercising in the comfort of one's own home is the preferred exercise option for many people because:

• Exercise can be done in private
• Workouts can be done at any time and don't require travel to another location during limited hours
• Unlike outdoor activities home exercise is not dependent on the weather, so staying with an exercise program may be easier

Nonetheless, it can be confusing to know which type of exercise equipment to buy, and making a mistake with cardiovascular equipment can be detrimental to both physical and financial health.

Back Exercise
Videos

This article focuses on home equipment that is designed for a cardiovascular workout. Other types of exercise equipment for resistance training and exercise (e.g., Swiss Exercise Balls, a BOSU board, Dynadiscs, or body blades) are also important parts of an exercise program for back pain patients.

The types of cardiovascular home exercise equipment profiled in this article are:

• Elliptical trainer
• Stationary bike
• Treadmill

CALL ABChiropractic Family & Wellness in St Charles Missouri (63303, 63301, 63376) at 636-916-0660 to schedule an appointment with Dr Mario Awwad to discuss recommendations on exercise to see if it is safe to pursue such a program.  

A Modern Spine Ailment: Text Neck

You may have noticed a new buzzword in health news recently: Text neck.

Text neck is the term used to describe the neck pain and damage sustained from looking down at your cell phone, tablet, or other wireless devices too frequently and for too long.

And it seems increasingly common. Recently, a patient came in to my practice complaining of severe upper back pain. He woke up and was experiencing severe, acute, upper back muscle strain. I told him I believe the pain is due to the hours he was spending hunched over his cell phone. Diagnosis: Text neck. 

Of course, this posture of bending your neck to look down does not occur only when texting. For years, we've all looked down to read. The problem with texting is that it adds one more activity that causes us to look down—and people tend to do it for much longer periods. It is especially concerning because young, growing children could possibly cause permanent damage to their cervical spines that could lead to lifelong neck pain.

What are the symptoms associated with text neck?

Text neck most commonly causes neck pain and soreness. In addition, looking down at your cell phone too much each day can lead to:

• Upper back pain ranging from a chronic, nagging pain to sharp, severe upper back muscle spasms.
• Shoulder pain and tightness, possibly resulting in painful shoulder muscle spasm.
• If a cervical nerve becomes pinched, pain and possibly neurological symptoms can radiate down your arm and into your hand.

I believe, as some studies suggest, text neck may possibly lead to chronic problems due to early onset of arthritis in the neck. 

How common is text neck? 

A recent study shows that 79% of the population between the ages 18 and 44 have their cell phones with them almost all the time—with only 2 hours of their waking day spent without their cell phone on hand.1

How is text neck treated? 

First, prevention is key. Here are several pieces of advice for preventing the development or advancement of text neck: 

• Hold your cell phone at eye level as much as possible. The same holds true for all screens—laptops and tablets should also be positioned so the screen is at eye level and you don't have to bend your head forward or look down to view it. 
• Take frequent breaks from your phone and laptop throughout the day. For example, set a timer or alarm that reminds you to get up and walk around every 20 to 30 minutes.
• If you work in an office, make sure your screen is set up so that when you look at it you are looking forward, with your head positioned squarely in line with your shoulders and spine. 

The bottom line is to avoid looking down with your head bent forward for extended periods throughout the day. Spend a whole day being mindful of your posture—is your head bent forward when you drive? When you watch TV? Any prolonged period when your head is looking down is a time when you are putting excessive strain on your neck.

Next, rehabilitation is important. 

• Many people don't know this, but you need to have strong core muscles—the abdominal and lower back muscles—to support your upper body, including your neck. Your core muscles usually do not get enough exercise during normal daily activities, so you need to do specific exercises to target these muscles.
• You also need strong and flexible muscles the neck to minimize strain on your cervical spine and help support the weight of your head. Again, your neck will not get sufficient stretching and strengthening during normal daily activities, so it is best to learn specific neck exercises with the help of a health professional.

Some people will also benefit from a more comprehensive treatment plan, such as a combination of manual adjustments, massage therapy, and strengthening exercises.

Call ABChiropractic Family & Wellness, your St. Charles Pain Relief Center, at 636-916-0660 to check your kids and family members for "Text Neck".  Dr. Mario Awwad specializes in treating patients of all ages.

References

1. Always Connected: How Smartphones And Social Keep Us Engaged.

Considerations When Buying a New Mattress

When shopping for a mattress, it is important to be aware of the quality and value of each potential purchase. The following are things a patient should consider when purchasing a new mattress:

1. Shop for the best value and quality of the mattress rather than for price. Mattresses with more coils and thicker padding tend to be higher quality and also more expensive; however, a higher price does not guarantee that the mattress is more comfortable or more supportive. Mattress stores often have sales and promotions, so it is a good idea to comparison-shop for the best price after finding the right mattress.
2. Be aware of mattress advertising gimmicks. Claims that a mattress is “orthopedic” or “medically-approved” should be viewed skeptically. There has not been extensive medical research or controlled clinical trials on the topic of mattresses and low back pain. The individual must determine whether or not extra features on a mattress make it more comfortable or supportive.
3. Give the mattress a test-run before buying. To sample mattresses, people can try sleeping on different makes and models in hotels or at other people’s homes before going to a mattress store. When shopping at the store, shoppers should lie on the mattress for several minutes to decide if it is a good fit. If two people will be sleeping on the mattress, both should test it at the same time to make sure they have enough space and are both comfortable on the same style of mattress. 
4. Purchase mattresses from stores and companies that are trustworthy. Consider the customer service offered by the mattress store, such as delivery options, warranty, and removal of old mattresses and the store’s return policy. Look for mattress stores where customers can return a mattress if they are not satisfied with the quality or comfort after sleeping on it for a significant amount of time (i.e. a couple of weeks to a month).
To help preserve the quality of a new mattress, it should be repositioned every six months to ensure that the mattress is evenly worn. This includes rotating 180 degrees and flipping the mattress lengthwise on a regular basis. The Better Sleep Council advises against putting a mattress on a box spring/foundation that is not made to go with the mattress, as this may decrease the life of the new mattress.

How to Evaluate a Mattress

Choosing a new mattress that is comfortable, supportive, and high quality is important to help people with low back pain get a sound night's sleep. And marketing messages, promotions and special features can make shopping for the right mattress a challenge.

By understanding the physical composition of a mattress and being prepared to ask questions about the interior of a mattress, individuals can accurately evaluate and compare mattresses. Some mattress stores will offer cutaway views of the interior; this is a good aid in understanding and gauging mattress quality.

Key Components of a Good Mattress

The following physical components are the important features of most high quality mattresses.

Mattress springs and coils provide back support. The wire in the coils comes in different thicknesses, where a lower gauge number denotes thicker, stiffer wire and a firmer mattress. A higher concentration of steel coils may indicate a higher quality mattress, but this does not mean that the highest number is best: patients should use their own judgment regarding which mattress is best suited to provide support and help alleviate their low back pain.
Mattress padding provides comfort. In addition to the spring coils in a mattress, the padding on top of the mattress can indicate quality. Mattress padding is usually made of materials such as polyurethane foam, puffed-up polyester or cotton batting. Extensive mattress padding is often more expensive, but many people find it more comfortable and worth the extra cost.
Middle padding in a mattress. This type of mattress padding is just below the quilted top layer and is usually made with foam. When looking at a cross-section of the mattress, softer foams feel almost moist to the touch while firmer foams won’t spring back as quickly. The next layer of mattress padding is made of cotton batting that may vary in thickness across different mattresses and even within one mattress. This causes the mattress to feel firmer in some areas rather than others, such as increased firmness in the middle of the mattress.
Insulation mattress padding. This padding lies on top of the coil springs so that they cannot be felt from the top of the mattress, and it also protects the coils from damaging the top layers of the mattress.
Mattress ticking and quilting. The outer layer of a mattress consists of ticking, which is usually a polyester or cotton-polyester blend in a good quality mattress. The mattress quilting attaches the ticking to the top layers of padding. It is a good idea to examine the quality of stitching on the mattress quilting, looking for consistent, unbroken stitches.
Mattress foundations. The mattress foundation or box spring adds another level of support to the mattress. Foundations usually consist of a wooden or metal frame with springs. A plain wooden frame may make mattresses feel harder than a frame with springs. A wood mattress foundation should only be purchased if the wood has no cracks and is straight. The Better Sleep Council recommends that purchasing a foundation and mattress as a set helps preserve the mattress.
Foam mattresses. As an alternative to traditional mattresses, some types of mattresses are constructed entirely or mostly from memory foam or latex foam. They can be purchased in different densities. Some foam mattresses are made of multiple layers of foam adhered together while others have a foam core in the center. Foam mattresses come in various degrees of firmness to give people greater selection for back support and comfort. Choosing between a foam mattress and a traditional mattress is based on personal preference.
Asking questions, requesting written product information and examining each mattress thoroughly will help patients become more educated consumers. By following the practical guidelines for selecting a new mattress, patients will be well equipped to find the best mattress for sleep comfort, back support and reducing low back pain.


Call ABChiropractic Family & Wellness in St. Charles MO at 636-916-0660 to schedule your no risk appointment.  Our chiropractors can help address your pain complaints and mattress concerns.  We offer a full range of different chiropractic adjustments, as well as decompression, traction, and massage therapy.