Lower back pain is a prevalent condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Whether it’s due to poor posture, muscle strain, arthritis, or other underlying issues, living with lower back pain can significantly impact one’s quality of life. Fortunately, chiropractic care effectively relieves many individuals suffering from this condition.
Types of Back Pain
Back pain can manifest in various forms, from dull and achy to sharp and shooting. Some of the most common types of back pain include:
- Acute Back Pain: This type of pain typically lasts a few days to a few weeks and is often caused by injury or muscle strain.
- Chronic Back Pain: Chronic back pain persists for over three months and can result from underlying conditions such as arthritis or herniated discs.
- Radicular Pain: Also known as sciatica, radicular pain occurs when a nerve root in the lower spine is compressed or irritated, causing pain to radiate down the leg.
- Mechanical Pain: Mechanical back pain is related to the movement and structure of the spine, such as degenerative disc disease or spinal stenosis.
- Referred Pain: Referred pain occurs when a problem in one part of the body causes pain in another. For example, kidney stones or infections can cause lower back pain.
Prevention Techniques
While some causes of lower back pain may be unavoidable, adopting preventive measures can help reduce the risk and severity of discomfort. These include:
- Maintaining Proper Posture: Practice good posture while sitting, standing, and lifting to alleviate strain on the lower back.
- Regular Exercise: Engage in activities that strengthen the core muscles and improve flexibility, such as yoga, Pilates, or swimming.
- Ergonomic Adjustments: Ensure your workspace is ergonomically designed to support a neutral spine posture and minimise strain.
- Weight Management: Maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise to reduce stress on the spine.
- Proper Lifting Techniques: Bend your knees and lift with your legs rather than your back to avoid muscle strain and injury.
How Chiropractic Treatments Can Help Lower Back Pain
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper movement to the spine and improving joint function to alleviate pain and promote healing. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to achieve these goals, including:
- Manual Adjustments: Manual adjusting is a type of treatment that involves mobilising the joints using gentle specific movements. This is done in order to restore biomechanical function and help the joints move more freely.
- Table adjustments: Chiropractic tables are equipped with movable sections that allow for precise adjustments to the spine. This can help target specific areas of dysfunction and improve spinal alignment.
- Toggle drop: This technique involves a quick thrust applied to the spine while the patient is lying face down on a specially designed chiropractic table. It helps to restore proper alignment and mobility to the vertebrae.
- Motion palpation: Chiropractors use their hands to feel for restricted movement or abnormal alignment in the spine. This allows them to identify areas of dysfunction and target them with specific adjustments.
- Lumbar roll: This method involves a gentle, controlled thrust applied to the lumbar spine to restore proper alignment and mobility. It can help relieve lower back pain caused by misalignment or muscle tension.
- Soft tissue release work: Chiropractors use soft tissue techniques, such as massage or stretching, to release tension in the muscles and ligaments surrounding the spine. This can help alleviate lower back pain and improve range of motion.
- Instrument adjustments: Some chiropractors use specialised instruments, such as activators or impulse guns, to deliver precise adjustments to the spine. These instruments apply a controlled force to the vertebrae, helping to restore proper movement and function.
- Flexion-distraction: This technique involves gentle stretching and mobilisation of the spine using a specialised chiropractic table. It can help decompress the lower back discs and relieve nerve pressure, reducing pain and discomfort.
- Dry Needling: A common treatment technique where a fine single-use acupuncture needle is inserted into the muscle to release trigger points or knots in the muscle. Our practitioners have advanced training in this technique which can be used to treat many conditions.
- Pelvic blocking: Chiropractors use specially designed blocks or wedges to stabilise the pelvis during adjustments. This helps to ensure proper spine and pelvis alignment, reducing strain on the lower back.
Finding Relief Through Chiropractic Care
If you’re struggling with lower back pain, don’t wait longer to seek relief. Our team of experienced chiropractors at Our Chiro Brisbane is here to help you achieve optimal spinal health and live pain-free. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward a healthier, happier you.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_pain
https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/back-pain
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/172943#causes
https://www.healthline.com/health/back-pain#prevention
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinal_adjustment
