BACK PAIN
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Back Pain
Eighty percent of people suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor's office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. 75 million Americans will experience back pain each year. 80 percent of the adult population will have low back pain at some time during their lives. It is the most common cause of disability among the 30-50 year age group. Because these age groups are usually the most productive in the work force, the economic impact of low back pain is enormous.
The susceptibility of the low back to injury and pain is due to the fact that the low back, like the neck, is a very unstable part of the spine. This instability allows us to have a great deal of mobility to touch our toes, tie our shoes or pick something up from the ground, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.
As long as it is healthy and functioning correctly, the low back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. Professional weight lifters can pick up several hundred pounds off the floor without injuring their low back. However, if the low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as taking a bag of groceries out of the trunk of their car, picking up a small child off the floor, or even simply bending down to pet the cat can cause a low back injury.
Until recently, researchers believed that back pain would heal on its own. We have learned, however, that this is not true. Recent studies showed that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily, but will most likely return. It is important to take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with pain that recurs over and over again.
While back pain patients comprise the second largest diagnostic group seen by medical family practitioners, the treatments recommended by these practitioners (drugs) are often found to be ineffective. A prominent medical researcher has suggested that family physicians consider referring their back pain patients for chiropractic care, as it has proven helpful for this disorder. Low back pain generally is a mechanical disorder that needs suitable treatment. Chiropractic manipulation is just such a method. A growing number of low back pain sufferers are turning to chiropractic each year and are finding relief.
The susceptibility of the low back to injury and pain is due to the fact that the low back, like the neck, is a very unstable part of the spine. This instability allows us to have a great deal of mobility to touch our toes, tie our shoes or pick something up from the ground, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.
As long as it is healthy and functioning correctly, the low back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. Professional weight lifters can pick up several hundred pounds off the floor without injuring their low back. However, if the low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as taking a bag of groceries out of the trunk of their car, picking up a small child off the floor, or even simply bending down to pet the cat can cause a low back injury.
Until recently, researchers believed that back pain would heal on its own. We have learned, however, that this is not true. Recent studies showed that when back pain is not treated, it may go away temporarily, but will most likely return. It is important to take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with pain that recurs over and over again.
While back pain patients comprise the second largest diagnostic group seen by medical family practitioners, the treatments recommended by these practitioners (drugs) are often found to be ineffective. A prominent medical researcher has suggested that family physicians consider referring their back pain patients for chiropractic care, as it has proven helpful for this disorder. Low back pain generally is a mechanical disorder that needs suitable treatment. Chiropractic manipulation is just such a method. A growing number of low back pain sufferers are turning to chiropractic each year and are finding relief.
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The Causes of Low Back Pain
Due to the fact that there are a many things that can cause low back pain, and some of those things can be quite serious if left untreated, it is important to seek professional help. Chiropractors are leaders in diagnosing the cause of lower back pain as well as determining the proper treatment for low back pain. Here are some of the most common causes we see:
Stress and Tension: Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness.
Poor Posture: Poor posture—standing for long periods of time or sitting incorrectly—can cause back pain (so watch out while you're at the office).
Physical Work: Low back pain is often associated with heavy physical work, lifting or forceful movement, bending or twisting, or awkward positions. This can be made worse with improper lifting techniques.
Daily Activities: Even healthy, normal activities can cause muscle sprains and strains, which can lead to back pain. Gardening, tennis, horseback riding, biking, and even golf can all potentially hurt your back.
Injuries and Accidents: Car accidents, slips and falls, sports injuries, and other mishaps can all cause back pain.
Weight Gain: Being overweight puts pressure and stress on the back, especially the low back.
Aging: Ligaments thicken and discs dry out with age. These age-related changes in the spine may lead to disorders that create pressure on your spinal nerves—meaning that you'll have symptoms such as pain, numbness, or weakness.
Stress and Tension: Stress and emotional tension can cause muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness.
Poor Posture: Poor posture—standing for long periods of time or sitting incorrectly—can cause back pain (so watch out while you're at the office).
Physical Work: Low back pain is often associated with heavy physical work, lifting or forceful movement, bending or twisting, or awkward positions. This can be made worse with improper lifting techniques.
Daily Activities: Even healthy, normal activities can cause muscle sprains and strains, which can lead to back pain. Gardening, tennis, horseback riding, biking, and even golf can all potentially hurt your back.
Injuries and Accidents: Car accidents, slips and falls, sports injuries, and other mishaps can all cause back pain.
Weight Gain: Being overweight puts pressure and stress on the back, especially the low back.
Aging: Ligaments thicken and discs dry out with age. These age-related changes in the spine may lead to disorders that create pressure on your spinal nerves—meaning that you'll have symptoms such as pain, numbness, or weakness.
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Our Approach To Your Care
We offer a unique and comprehensive approach to care for back pain.
Our primary treatment of choice for back pain is the chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle, low force correction which re-aligns the vertebrae, restores normal joint function and reduces stress to the spine and nervous system. Trigger point therapy is a system of applying pressure to specific points in the body in order to reduce or eliminate muscle pain. Most patients who suffer with chronic back pain almost always have tight stiff muscles and inflexibility problems. To correct this problem, we design a flexibility and stretch training program that is designed to restore pain-free range of motion. If the spine has been injured or if there is an old injury that has never been properly evaluated and rehabbed, we will often incorporate balance and stabilization rehabilitation to improve coordination and spinal structural integrity.
Ultimately, the strength of the spine is based on the strength of the supportive soft tissues (specifically the muscles). Just like the suspension cables that support a bridge (thus giving the bridge it’s strength), the muscles in your back give the spine it’s strength and durability. If one of these muscles has a weakness, it can lead to reocurrences of back pain. To remedy the problem, we do a functional evaluation to find weak areas. And then we prescribe strengthening exercises so you not only get out of pain, but you stay out of pain.
If you have been suffering with back pain, call me to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We can get together and discuss your case at our office in Indiana, PA. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Our primary treatment of choice for back pain is the chiropractic adjustment. A chiropractic adjustment is a gentle, low force correction which re-aligns the vertebrae, restores normal joint function and reduces stress to the spine and nervous system. Trigger point therapy is a system of applying pressure to specific points in the body in order to reduce or eliminate muscle pain. Most patients who suffer with chronic back pain almost always have tight stiff muscles and inflexibility problems. To correct this problem, we design a flexibility and stretch training program that is designed to restore pain-free range of motion. If the spine has been injured or if there is an old injury that has never been properly evaluated and rehabbed, we will often incorporate balance and stabilization rehabilitation to improve coordination and spinal structural integrity.
Ultimately, the strength of the spine is based on the strength of the supportive soft tissues (specifically the muscles). Just like the suspension cables that support a bridge (thus giving the bridge it’s strength), the muscles in your back give the spine it’s strength and durability. If one of these muscles has a weakness, it can lead to reocurrences of back pain. To remedy the problem, we do a functional evaluation to find weak areas. And then we prescribe strengthening exercises so you not only get out of pain, but you stay out of pain.
If you have been suffering with back pain, call me to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We can get together and discuss your case at our office in Indiana, PA. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
