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The low back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. However, if the
low back is out of adjustment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as
simple as taking a bag of groceries can cause a low back injury.
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. In fact, it is estimated that
low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year and more
than 10% of all people experience frequent bouts of low back pain.
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. Unlike
the thoracic spine, which is supported and stabilized by the rib cage. 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 powerlifters 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 something up 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. Contact our chiropractor . . . we can help!
The Causes of Low Back Pain
There are many different conditions that can result in low back pain,
including: sprained ligaments, strained muscles, ruptured disks, trigger points
and inflamed joints. While sports injuries or accidents can lead to injury and
pain, sometimes even the simplest movements, like picking up a pencil from the
floor, can have painful results. In addition, conditions such as arthritis, poor
posture, obesity, psychological stress and even kidney stones, kidney
infections, blood clots, or bone loss can lead to pain.
Due to the fact that there are a whole lot of 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 the experts at diagnosing
the cause and determining the proper treatment for low back pain. Here are some
of the most common causes I see:
Subluxations
Whenever there is a disruption in the normal movement or position of the
vertebrae, the result is pain and inflammation. In the lumbar spine, these
usually occur at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum.
Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain. Fortunately, subluxations
are easily treatable and often times a significant reduction in pain is
experienced almost immediately after treatment.
Disc Herniations
Contrary to popular belief, a herniated disc does not automatically mean
that you are going to suffer from low back pain. In fact, one study found that
almost half of all adults had at least one bulging or herniated disc, even
though they did not suffer any back pain from it. On the other hand, herniated
discs can be a source of intense and debilitating pain that frequently radiates
to other areas of the body. Unfortunately, once a disc herniates, they rarely,
if ever, completely heal. Further deterioration can often be avoided through
regular chiropractic care, but a complete recovery is much less common.
Sprains, Strains and Spasms
This is commonly the source of low back pain among the weekend warriors. You
know, the type who have very little physical activity during the week, but once
the weekend arrives, they push themselves way too much. By the end of the
weekend, they are lying flat on their back counting down the hours before they
can get in to see their chiropractor. Overworking the muscles or ligaments of
the low back can lead to small tears in the tissues, which then become painful,
swollen and tight.
Stress
Whenever you become stressed, your body responds by increasing your blood
pressure and heart rate, flooding your body with stress hormones and tightening
up your muscles. When you are stressed all the time, the chronic tension causes
your muscles to become sore, weak and loaded with trigger points. If you are
stressed out all of the time and you have low back pain, it is important to do
some relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, as well as to get regular
exercise.
Treating Low Back Pain With Chiropractic
Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is usually pretty straightforward.
Most commonly, it's simply a matter of adjusting the lower lumbar vertebrae and
pelvis to re-establish normal motion and position of your bones and joints.
Chiropractic for the low back has been repeatedly shown to be the most
effective treatment for low back pain. In fact, major studies have shown that
chiropractic care is more effective, cheaper and has better long-term outcomes
than any other treatment. This makes sense because chiropractic care is the only
method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and
position in the spine. All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain
killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do
not correct the problem itself.
It's Your Life... Live it
in Health!
Call us today 575-522-0051
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