Back Pain

11 Oct 11 - 02:31 PM

Back Pain

It is a fact that approximately 8 out of every ten people will experience at least some form of debilitating back pain in their lives.

While for some people back pain is little more than discomfort, for others it can leave them incapacitated.

While some cases of back pain originate from injury, accidents or organic medical conditions such as arthritis or fracture, the most common cause of back pain is stress to the joints and muscles of the back and irritation of the spinal nerves caused by misalignments of the vertebra (subluxations) which accumulates from day-to-day activities, such as:

• Poor posture
• Incorrect bending and lifting procedures
• Sitting down for extended periods of time
• Sleeping incorrectly
• Twisting the body into an uncomfortable position

Chiropractors, resolve back pain through “hands-on” chiropractic care, including:

Spinal manipulation and manual manipulation

Referring to a high-velocity, short lever arm thrust that is applied to abnormal vertebra positioning with the goal of reducing subluxations and improving functionality, reducing nerve irritability and restoring range of motion in the back. Manual manipulation is also known as chiropractic adjustment.

Mobilization

Chiropractic mobilization refers to low velocity manipulation, movement and stretching of the muscles and joints, with the goal of increasing the range of motion within those areas.

Exercises

Various stretching and strengthening exercises may be prescribed by chiropractors to decrease lower back pain, increase strength and restore range of motion.

Ergonomics

During the course of chiropractic care, the chiropractor may recommend some procedure(s) that should be employed at home and/or at work.

Patient education

A chiropractor may advise a variety of lifestyle modifications, including diet and nutritional programs, self-care and coping strategies, to the patient experiencing lower back pain.