Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain

Back pain is a very common problem that will affect as many as 80% of Americans during their lifetime. It is also the most common reason for someone to visit a chiropractor. There are different types of back pain, ranging from minor aches and pains that are worse in certain positions, to acute and severe pain that prevents you from carrying out your normal activities. The vast majority of people find that it is their lower back that is most affected and that it is pain felt here has the biggest impact on their quality of life.

Fortunately, chiropractic care is effective at addressing all types of back pain, including those felt in the lumbar. Here’s what you need to know about what could be causing your discomfort and how chiropractic treatment can help.  

 

What Causes Lower Back Pain?

There are a wide variety of factors that can contribute to lower back pain. Sometimes it’s possible for your chiropractor to make a firm diagnosis, but many people suffer from ‘unspecified’ back pain that normally goes away after treatment, without you ever discovering the cause of it.

Some of the most common causes of lower back pain include:

A herniated disc: This occurs when one of the gel-filled discs that cushion the vertebra cracks and breaks, enabling the inner gel to seep out and irritate the surrounding nerves.

Degenerative disc disease: This is where the intervertebral discs start to become dehydrated, increasing the likelihood that they will become damaged. It also makes them less effective at providing shock absorption in your spine, and in some cases, they can collapse completely. The latter is a condition called spinal stenosis.

Compression fractures: These are particularly common in patients who have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis – a degenerative condition that causes the bones to become weak and more likely to break.

Sprains and strains: The muscles and ligaments in the lower back are put under a great deal of pressure on a daily basis. Lower back strains and sprains are very common causes of pain. They can develop suddenly, although most tend to be the result of accumulative damage from repetitive movements, such as bending, twisting, or lifting incorrectly.

 

How Can Chiropractic Care Help To Relieve Lower Back Pain?

Research shows that chiropractic treatment techniques are some of the most effective forms of treatment for lower back pain and the other symptoms that it causes. Unlike general doctors, chiropractors have the specialist education and training that enables them to accurately identify the causes and reasons for back pain, where it is located, and determine which treatment technique will be most effective.

There are a variety of different chiropractic methods, the most well-known of which is spinal manipulation. This is where the position of the body and spine are manually altered to ensure that the bones of the spine are in the correct position. This helps to alleviate pressure on the surrounding nerves and soft tissue, reducing inflammation and pain. Spinal manipulations also help the immune system to function more effectively, which can help manage any other symptoms caused by lower back pain. Other popular chiropractic techniques that may be recommended to you could include spinal decompression, massage therapy, and hot/cold compresses on the affected area.

Your chiropractor may also recommend that you look at altering your posture, and will help you to do so. This is because poor posture is a common contributor to the development of lower back pain. Correcting your posture could also help to prevent further issues with back pain in the future.

For more information on chiropractic care for lower back pain, please speak to our expert chiropractic team at Well Adjusted in Brooklyn, New York by calling (718) 568-6228.