Did you ever visit a doctor and leave feeling confused and frustrated because you weren’t sure what your diagnosis was or still had questions? Maybe, you didn’t understand the terminology and didn’t want to speak up.
At Premier Chiropractic Center, serving Bessemer, AL, and the neighboring communities, we make sure you leave our office knowing exactly what the problem is and the course of action. We’ll answer all questions, so you fully understand the benefits of your treatment.
Our chiropractor would like to take a moment to educate you on words that might be used during your appointment, so you can feel confident making health decisions.
Cervical
Cervical is an anatomy term that describes the neck portion of your spine. It begins at the base of your skull and extends to your shoulders.
Thoracic
This word refers to the second portion of your spine that includes the upper and middle portions of your back. It consists of 12 vertebrae.
Lumbar
This word refers to the second portion of your spine. It includes the upper and middle portions of your back and consists of 12 vertebrae.
Sacral
When your chiropractor in Bessemer mentions the sacral area of your back, he is referring to the bottom part of your spine, which is located between your tailbone and lumbar spine.
This region has five bones that come together to form a triangle.
Coccyx
If your chiropractor names the coccyx during your treatment, he’s referencing the tailbone.
Degeneration
Degeneration describes the deterioration of tissue. Usually, your doctor uses this word when talking about the condition of the vertebrae in your back. As you age, they wear out. This is known as disc degeneration.
Bulging Disc
If you have a bulging disc, it means the contents of your disc is pressing against the disc’s wall. This condition could cause pain and nerve-related symptoms.
Herniated Disc
Your chiropractor may tell you that you have a herniated disc. With this condition, you have a tear or crack in the shell of a disc. The inside of the disc may then push through this opening and irritate the nearby nerves, causing pain and other nerve-related symptoms.
Back Extension
When your chiropractor assesses the flexibility of your back, he may talk about back extension. This is a term that means how your back bends backward.
Back Flexion
Back flexion describes how your back bends forward. Often, your chiropractor will let you know if you have a normal back flexion or abnormal back flexion.
Facet Joints
The facet joints are synovial joints. And these sets of small joints are located in between the vertebrae in the back of your spine. Specifically, these joints are for flexion and extension as well as twisting.
Ligament
A ligament is connective tissue that links one bone to another. It provides support, stabilization, and restricts movement to prevent injury. You can ligaments in joints like your knees, shoulders, and elbows.
Cartilage
This word refers to the tissue on the ends of a majority of your joints and many bones. You also have cartilage in the facet joints of the spine.
Tendon
Your tendons are pieces of connective tissue that connect muscle fibers to bones. They serve the purpose of transmitting your muscle’s mechanical force to the bones.
Body Composition Score
As your Bessemer chiropractor assesses you and your overall health, you may hear the phrase “body composition score.” It represents a combination of your body weight, hip and waist circumference, and percentage of body fat.
It’s a number that your chiropractor may use to gauge your weight loss progress.
The staff at Premier Chiropractic Center wants you to know that you’re in good hands. We’ll answer any questions you have, so please speak up during your appointment, especially if we mentioned a word not on this list.
Contact Premier Chiropractic Center for an appointment with our Bessemer chiropractor by calling 205-519-4024. You may also use our online contact form.
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