Back pain is a common problem that almost all adults face at some point in their lives. A pulled muscle, poor posture, a herniated disc, sciatica, arthritis, accidents, and injuries can all cause pain. Pain can range from a mild dull ache to sharp, shooting pain. Your doctor could refer you to a chiropractor for treatment if your discomfort lasts longer than a few days, and you are missing work due to back pain.
A chiropractor is a health practitioner that specializes in treating back and neck pain. They carry out spinal adjustments using their hands to lower pain and discomfort. A therapist can also relieve you of pain through a nerve stroke massage. This is where very light pressure is applied using the fingertips.
To avoid future back problems, strengthen your back muscles by carrying out the right type of exercise and always stretch and warm up first. Watch your posture. Don’t lift heavy items. If you must, use your leg muscles. To prevent a future lower back problem, exercise, lose excess weight, and quit smoking.
Most types of back pain are treatable, but if the pain persists or is too severe, consult your physician.
One half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year. In fact, back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. It is also the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office.
Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some point in their lives, which leads to an increased need for quality chiropractic care. More than a million chiropractic adjustments are given all over the world every day and there are more than 75,000 chiropractors in the United States alone.
One demographic that quality chiropractic care can help greatly is pregnant women. Approximately 50% of pregnant women will experience back pain at some point before they deliver, causing aches and pains in the lower back and hips.
While many people visit a chiropractor for chronic pain, many athletes visit a chiropractor for sports injuries as well. Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) are utilized by all 32 NFL teams in optimizing the functionality, endurance and overall conditioning of football players in the treatment of neuromusuloskeletal strain injuries including low back pain, strains to hamstrings and quadriceps and whiplash injuries.
Being an athlete and being active is a great way to boost your health and overall well-being. But for as much as athletes work to get themselves in peak physical condition, injuries do happen. Depending on the injury, the results can be devastating. There’s where chiropractic medicine comes in. A chiropractor for sports injuries offers a great deal of hope and help to athletes recovering from injuries.
There are an estimated 3.5 million sports injuries each year and a chiropractor for sports injuries can benefit athletes better than turning to medications for pain relief.
A chiropractor for sports injuries can help treat a wide variety of sports injuries and symptoms including:
- Back pain
- Muscle Strains
- Shin splints
- Sprained ankles
- Runner’s knee
- Neck Pain
- Concussions
For those on the fence, seeking chiropractic care for sports injuries is a safe solution. It’s a non-invasive treatment for people who want more of a holistic approach. Plus, athletes can return to a chiropractor for multiple treatments if they need to, rather than putting off treatment for one reason or another.
When it comes to back pain, there are a great number of spinal disorders that are the root cause. Those disorders include:
- Spinal Stenosis: Spinal stenosis is caused when the spinal canal narrows and can be caused by bulging discs, spinal fractures and bone spurs among other things.
- Sciatica: The sciatic nerve is the longest one in the human body. It begins in an individual’s buttock and travels up the length of thigh and leg. It’s size makes it vulnerable to many spinal issues and bone spurs, herniated discs and bulging discs are all things that can cause sciatica. Since the sciatic nerve is so long, pain in any spot where it’s located can cause great discomfort.
- Whiplash: Though it’s common associated with being a side effect from car accidents, whiplash can often have devastating effects on the spine. Whiplash causes the sudden extension and flexing of the neck, which strains the neck muscles and can also cause spinal fractures. Whiplash is often followed by inflammation, which can cause numbness and pain.
Not only can a chiropractor help with spinal disorders, he/she can also make adjustments that help with everyday aliments such as headaches, blood pressure and arthritis. Here are several ways a visit to a chiropractic professional can help ease your back and spinal pain.
- There is also a high success rate of chiropractic care helping to relieve lower back and neck pain. That’s good news for those who may be dealing with whiplash and the inflammation that results from it.
- Chiropractic care can also help prevent back surgery. It is recommended by the American Medical Association as the first option to dealing with back pain rather than immediately opting for surgery.
- When it comes to spinal disorder treatment, chiropractic care can also help stop the progression of scoliosis. Research has suggested that it is possible to manage symptoms naturally rather than opting for surgery or braces.
Choosing the right chiropractor to help you is important. You want to know that you will be taken care of and that a chiropractor’s techniques will help you ease or fix your back pain.
