Treating Back Pain with Chiropractic care
Chiropractic care has been around since 2700 BC, treating more and more conditions every year including back pain.
To understand what the role of a chiropractor is in managing back pain, a person should first know the reasons behind back pain.
Causes of Back Pain
There are two main categories of the causes of back pain. These are:
- 1. Medical Conditions
Various medical conditions can cause back pain depending on which part of the body they affect. For instance, osteoarthritis is responsible for causing pain in the lower back. Osteoporosis sometimes results in porous or brittle bones which fracture easily, which in turn causes back pain. Other conditions such as scoliosis (a medical condition that makes the spine to curve irregularly) cause back pain when they become severe.
- 2. Human Causes
People are responsible for some of the back pain they experience. A person with poor posture or the one who lifts heavy objects incorrectly (using the back instead of the legs) is likely to rupture or bulge a disk. Disks are soft materials that cushion and separate the bones of an individual’s spine. When a disk bulges or ruptures and presses against nearby nerves, a person will experience back pain. Habits such as smoking increase the risk of a person damaging one of his or her disks. Additionally, poor or habitual lifting could result in strained muscles and ligaments, which also cause back pain.
How a Chiropractor can help with Back Pain
Back pain is caused by problems with joints, muscles, nerves, and bones. Chiropractors can help reduce back pain by focusing force on those areas.
On the first visit to a chiropractor, patients will be taken through a physical exam to determine their spinal mobility. Additional tests such as MRIs, X-Rays and blood tests may also be conducted to determine the cause of the back pain. Chiropractors may also need a history of the patient’s injuries and medical conditions for treatment assessment.
During followup sessions, the chiropractor will take the patient through a series of spinal manipulations by hand. The manipulation, which involves light but forceful and sudden thrusts on the spine, reduces pain for the patient. It also helps adjust the spine and improve its mobility.
After a few sessions, the back pain will lessen. Chiropractors may also take their patients through massage techniques such as Active Release Technique and physical therapy to correct any problems that bring about back pain.
