PREVENTING BACK PAIN
Walking upright on two feet has advantages, but it also puts intense pressure on the spine, as well as on other muscles and bones. Add to this improper sitting, lifting, or reaching—and the normal wear and tear of working and playing—and you have the perfect recipe for back pain. That’s why back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. In fact, some experts say, as many as 80% of us will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.1
Back injuries are a part of everyday life. They can cause a sharp pain or a dull ache and can be accompanied by a tingling, numbness, or burning sensation (neuralgia). You also may feel weakness, pain or tingling in your pelvis and upper leg—a condition known as sciatica. The spine is quite good at dealing with back injuries. Minor injuries usually heal within a day or two. Some pain, however, continues. What makes it last longer is not entirely understood, but researchers suspect that stress, mood changes and the fear of further injury may prevent patients from being active and exacerbate the pain.
There are, however, some simple steps you can take to prevent back pain. These include:
Maintain a healthy diet and weight.
Remain active—under the supervision of your doctor of chiropractic.
Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
Warm up or stretch before exercising or other physical activities, such as gardening.
Maintain proper posture.
Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in your spine.
Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body, and do not twist when lifting.
Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your workstation is ergonomically correct.
Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain
If you experience back pain, consult your doctor of chiropractic. About 30 million Americans seek chiropractic care each year. Past surveys indicate consumers are very happy with the chiropractic services they receive.
As the Drug Enforcement Agency and Department of Public Health attempt to tackle the opioid epidemic, associations advocating for nonpharmacologic approaches to pain management are commencing their own offensive to inform the people of alternatives to prescription painkillers. The opioid epidemic may now be front and center as a healthcare priority in this country, but it’s far from over," said Robert Hayden, DC, PhD, a member of the American Chiropractic Association’s (ACA) media team, via email. "While efforts are being made to curb opioid prescriptions and develop less addictive drugs, the public needs to be reminded that there are drug-free approaches such as chiropractic that, if tried first, may alleviate their pain and lessen or even eliminate the need for over-the-counter and prescription pain medications."3
With a thorough knowledge of the structure and functioning of the human body, doctors of chiropractic make diagnoses and take conservative steps to correct problems using spinal adjustments, dietary and lifestyle advice, and other natural tools. Spinal manipulation—one of the primary forms of treatment performed by doctors of chiropractic—is a recommended option for back pain treatment, rated as such by many state and workers’ compensation guidelines.
Research has shown that manipulative therapy and spinal adjusting are not only safe and effective, but can cut costs and get workers back on the job faster than other treatments. A recent medical study has also pointed out that manual manipulation offers better short-term relief of chronic back pain than medication.2
References
1. Vallfors B. Acute, subacute and chronic low back pain: Clinical symptoms, absenteeism and working environment. Scan J Rehab Med Suppl 1985;11:1-98.
2. Giles L, Muller R. Chronic spinal pain: A randomized clinical trial comparing medication, acupuncture, and spinal manipulation. Spine 2003 July 15;28(14):1490-1502.
3. Arlotta, CJ. “Chiropractors Present Themselves As An Alternative To Painkillers.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 28 July 2016
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