Many Approaches To Treat Back Problems

Back pain and problems are very common in our society. Almost everything we do requires our back. This constant usage makes it easy for a person to experience problems at some point in their lives. The following will summarize some common causes of back problems, ways to prevent them, and chiropractic methods in the event that treatment is needed.

Back problems as a result of daily life or work place conditions are common. This could be from repeating a continuous process on a daily basis, or injuries from sprains, fractures, accidents, and falls. If a person is required to lift, push, or pull, especially while twisting the spine, he or she may develop acute or chronic back problems. My mother for example, experienced much back and hip pain after bending down frequently while in a seated position. Her chiropractor informed her that she had been twisting her spine in the process, resulting in ruptured disks. The lesson I took from her is that there are many daily activities that we do that lead to back problems. Things as simple as driving, or sleeping, require that the back be in a comfortable position otherwise, pain ensues.

Another common way to develop back problems is due to poor health. One factor that has been a proven culprit is smoking. Smoking may cease the flow of nutrients to the spinal disks, resulting in disk breakdown. Smoking also affects the length of time it takes the body (and therefore back) to heal, resulting in more prolonged bouts of pain. Along with smoking, poor fitness and being overweight can contribute to back problems. Back pain is more common in those people who are continuously sedentary rather than active and fit. At the same time, being overweight causes much stress on all the bones and muscles, including those of the back. As someone who has struggled on and off with weight, it is evident to me that muscle pain in my back was much more frequent when having more weight on. Having poor health also makes you more susceptible to infections, tumors, and stress, which all lead to possible back problems.

Finally, many people develop back pain as a result of a pre-existing or newly acquired condition. Some of these conditions include scoliosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, and spondylolisthesis, to name a few. These conditions may be nerve, muscle, or bone related. They could possibly be hereditary, but that is not always the case. Even if no condition is present, simply the process of aging can lead to increased back pain compared to people are younger.

Prevention of back pain is much easier than treating the pain once it has started. There are many ways to ensure that back problems do not happen in the future. One of the best ways is to exercise frequently in order to stay fit. Additionally, maintaining a healthy body weight is essential. If someone is overweight, they should do their best to reduce this weight to relieve the back. Another factor tied to healthy bones are calcium and Vitamin D. It is important to have regular checkups with your physician to ensure that these levels are where they need to be. As well, visiting a chiropractor, physiotherapist or other health professional specializing in back pain would be ideal. For example, regular chiropractic care can keep the spine healthy, aligned and flexible. Finally, behavior changes are a good way to prevent future back problems. This involves retraining your body to do its movements differently. For example, this could be learning the correct way to lift, push, or pull without putting some much stress on the back. This could also include changing your habits such as the way you eat, sleep, and relax. Cutting out smoking is also a must. Protecting your back during daily life such as in bed, in the car, or at work will go a long way in preventing chronic back pain. A general rule of thumb is not to take our backs for granted!

Chiropractors use many approaches or methods when treating clients with back pain. Often the course of action depends on the area of the client’s pain, and if the pain is chronic or acute. One treatment used is chiropractic adjustment, or manual, or spinal adjustment. The chiropractor will apply manipulation to any vertebrae that are not functioning as they should. The main goal of this treatment is to improve the functioning of the client as well as their range of motion. It will also reduce nerve irritability and joint dislocation. Usually chiropractic adjustment results in the client feeling a sense of relief, although sometimes minor discomfort could occur. Manual and spinal manipulation implies short but rapid arm thrusts applied to the vertebra. Again, the goal is to have the muscles and bones hold their correct position and reduce pain and discomfort as much as possible. Alternatively, a chiropractor may chose to implement low velocity manipulation, called mobilization. This involves the stretching and movement of joints and muscles and is used to reduce stiffness and soreness as well as increase the client’s range of motion. A chiropractors services are not limited to the above example. A chiropractor may also involve counselling about lifestyle, diet or exercise. In particular, teaching corrective exercises in an ideal way to help a client treat their own unique needs. Finally, many chiropractors also implement massage therapy when needed. This is only a brief overview of the many services chiropractors offer in their battle against back problems.

In closing, it is clear that taking care of our backs is essential to living a full life. There are many preventative measures one can take to prevent back problems from occurring. If problems do happen to occur, chiropractors are there to get clients the help they need. They use a variety of methods to respond to each clients special needs.