Chiropractic Management and Rehabilitation of a 38-Year-Old Male with an L5-S1 Disc Herniation
Received 19 April 2004; received in revised form 10 August 2004
Abstract
Objective
To present a chiropractic treatment plan for a patient with lumbar disc herniation including radicular symptoms below the knee.
Clinical Features
A 38-year-old male experienced lumbar disc herniation with radicular symptoms to the lower extremities, below the knee. Etiology of this episode included a traumatic injury which was complicated by chronic degenerative joint and disc changes.
Intervention and Outcome
The treatment regime included chiropractic spinal manipulation, modalities and exercise rehabilitation. Specific rehabilitation exercises were used during various stages of healing in an attempt to stabilize a potential surgical case. Goals of care were to alleviate pain, increase function, and decrease peripheralization related to disc herniation in this case. The patient reached a level of functional biomechanical stability over 15 weeks.
Conclusion
This case demonstrates that with proper management, rehabilitation of a patient with disc herniation can be reached in a short duration of time.
ABSTRACT