Eighty percent of people suffer from some type of back pain in their lives and back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office. Back pain is only outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. Seventy five million Americans will experience back pain each year and 80 percent of the adult population will have some form of low back pain. It is the most common cause of disability among people in the 30-50 year age range and because these age groups are usually the most productive in the work force, the economic impact of low back pain is enormous.

The low back like, the neck, is susceptibility to injury and pain due to the fact that it is a very unstable part of the spine. This instability is one of the reasons for our great mobility to touch our toes, tie our shoes, stand upright or pick something up from the ground, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.

As long as the low back is healthy and functioning correctly, it can withstand tremendous forces without injury. An example is a professional weight lifters who can pick up several hundred pounds without injuring their low back. However, if the low back is comprimized and 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.

Researchers used to believe that back pain would heal on its own but we have learned that this is not true. Recent studies show that when back pain is not treated, it may go away but this is temporarily and it will most likely return. Take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with pain that recurs over and over again.

Back pain patients may comprise the second largest diagnostic group seen by medical profession but 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 is a mechanical disorder that needs suitable treatment and chiropractic manipulation is just such a method. A growing number of low back pain sufferers are turning to chiropractors each year and are finding relief.

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.
There are several common causes of low back pain. One such cause is stress and emotional tension by causing muscles to tighten and contract, resulting in pain and stiffness. Additional back pain can be caused by poor posture and standing for long periods of time or sitting incorrectly (so watch out while you’re at the office). A third cause of 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 in other words mechanical trauma and work. Other Mechanical causes are daily activities and even normal activities can cause muscle sprains and strains, which can lead to back pain. Some of these activates include gardening, tennis, horseback riding, biking, and even golf and all potentially hurt your back. Finlay mechanical low back pain can be caused by injuries and Accidents such as car accidents, slips and falls, and sports injuries. Being overweight is another risk for low back pain because it puts pressure and stress on the back, especially the low back. The final major cause of back pain is aging. As the ligaments thicken and discs dry out with age we become more susceptible to back pain. These age-related changes in the spine may lead to disorders that create pressure on your spinal nerves, this means that you’ll have symptoms such as pain, numbness, or weakness.

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 problems with inflexibility. To correct these problems, we design a flexibility and stretching program that is designed to restore a 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 rehabilitated, we will often incorporate balance and stabilisation 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 recurrences 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.

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If you have been suffering with back pain, call me to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.