Most people experience lower back pain at some point due to factors like prolonged sitting, heavy lifting, or obesity. Chiropractic care is one treatment method that involves manual spinal adjustments to reduce joint restrictions and decrease inflammation and pain. During an initial examination, chiropractors evaluate the patient's medical history and examine the spine to determine which areas need treatment. They then classify the pain and develop a treatment plan that may include spinal adjustments to improve mobility, function, and relieve lower back pain symptoms. Studies show chiropractic care can be an effective treatment for lower back pain.
2. Overview
Most of us experience lower back pain at least once in our lifetime. It may be a common problem
for those working in the IT industry (and sitting at a desk for prolonged periods of time) or
those who do a lot of physical work. Some of the most common causes of back pain are falls,
prolonged sitting, obesity, heavy lifting, sedentary jobs and excessive reaching. Lower back pain,
when resolved on its own, is probably a result of muscle pull/strain. In some cases, however, the
pain may last for a little longer and that is when a ligament or joint sprain is suspected. There are
different types of treatments that can be used to treat lower back pain. One such method is
Chiropractic care. Studies have shown that the manual therapies used by chiropractors have proven
to be an effective treatment for lower back pain.
3. How does chiropractic care work?
EXAMINATION
An initial visit would involve a consultation where the patient gives a brief synopsis of their lower
back pain such as the areas of pain, its duration, frequency etc. The chiropractor may then ask a few
more questions to help understand the patient’s medical history. The chiropractor would then
examine the patient using different methods to determine the spinal segments (muscles, ligaments,
joints) that would require chiropractic treatment.
4. How does chiropractic care work? (cont.)
ASSESSMENT
After the initial examination, the chiropractor may classify the pain into one of the different
categories. A serious injury may include a fracture, infection or a major neurological problem (such
as nerve problem where the nerve root of the lower back may be compressed or pinched).
Mechanical back pain in the lumbar spine is the most common form of back pain. Having a
diagnosis helps the chiropractor to identify the right treatment that would be required. The
chiropractor may refer more serious injuries to another medical specialist if needed.
5. How does chiropractic care work? (cont.)
TREATMENT
The chiropractic adjustment helps reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and to
decrease inflammation and pain as a result. It could also be used in other joints in the body such as
knees and shoulders. Chiropractors help improve spine health and nervous system function by
increasing joint mobility and ultimately function. This helps the body manage the symptoms caused
by lower back pain. Patients with lower back pain are known to experience reduced pain and
discomfort, decreased inflammation, improved flexibility and range of motion and also increased
muscle tone strength through chiropractic care.
6. Conclusion
More and more people are becoming tired of using pills as a solution and are looking for other ways
to treat their pain. Chiropractors undergo extensive training to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal
problems. A good chiropractor will refer the patient to other medical professionals if the diagnosis is
beyond the scope of his or her practice.