What Can Cause Back Pain?
The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture discs and irritate joints; all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause backpain, sometimes the simplest of movements can – for example, picking up a penci from the floor. In addition arthritis, poor posture, obesity and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones, kidney infections, blood clots or bone loss.
Manipulation as a Treatment for Back Pain
Used primarily by Chiropractors for the past century, spinal manipulation has been largely ignored by most others in the health care community until recently. Now, with todays growing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness, spinal manipulation is receive more widespread attention.
Spinal manipulation is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces pain (decreasing the need for medication in some cases), rapidly advances physical therapy and requires very few passive forms of treatments like bed rest etc.
In fact, after an extensive study of all available care for low back problems, the federal agency for health care policy and research (USA) recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal manipulation as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back pain.
A patient information journal published in the Journal of American Medical Association in 2013 also suggested chiropractic care as an option for people suffering from low back pain – and noted that surgery is usually not needed and should only be tried if other therapies fail.
Tips to Prevent Back Pain
- 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 exercise
- Maintain correct posture – Ask Dr Ivory for any further posture exercise sheets
- Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimise any curve in your spine
- Lift with you knees and keep objects close to your body, do not twist while lifting
- Work with your Chiropractor to ensure that your computer workstation is ergonomically correct
References
Jensen M, Brant-Zawadzki M, Obuchowski N, et al. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People Without Back Pain. 1994: 331: 69-116
Vallfors B. Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment: Rehab Med Suppl 1985: 11: 1-98
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