At least 31 million people have chronic back pain according to the American Chiropractic Association. Millions more have other common back problems that can make it impossible to exercise, sleep well, or even move around the house. Injury, trigger points, arthritis, osteoporosis, posture, improper lifting and turning are all common causes of back problems. Chiropractic care, spinal decompression and other natural therapies can help strengthen and heal the back, reducing the back problems you have.
Back Got You Hurting?
The National Institutes of Health says that at least 80% of American adults will have back problems or pain at some point in their life. Back problems are the most common reason that Americans miss work. Pain in the back—especially the lower back—is the most common reason workers file disability. Many back problems are due to injuries or aging.
Aging can cause back problems due to chronic conditions, inflammation and overall deterioration of tissues over time and even simply genetics. What you’re doing throughout the day could also be contributing to your back problems. Studies show that about ½ of all working Americans have pain in their back throughout the day. A simple pillow behind the back may be all that is needed to fix the back problems happening. Wearing the wrong shoes or bending/twisting wrong can also cause back injuries and issues that take months to heal from.
The Most Common Back Problems
There are many causes of back problems. However, the most common ones we see in-office include:
- Injuries from lifting or pulling improperly
- Sprains and strains
- Vertebral fractures
- Poor muscle, bone or joint strength
- Overuse injuries in the spine or muscles surrounding it
- Slips, trips and falls, especially in the winter
- Scoliosis/Skeletal irregularities
- Whiplash and other auto accident injuries
- Poor back strength
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Poor posture or improper footwear
- Back pain, especially centered in the lower back (lumbar spine) region.
- Pain or popping/cracking in the back during pregnancy.
- Sprains and strains of the muscles
- Sciatica pain from the sciatic nerve
- Spinal stenosis, which is when narrowing of the spinal column places extra pressure on the spine
- Disc degeneration, which can easily happen with degenerative conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis or simply aging.
- Osteoporosis, which affects joints of the back and all over
- Fibromyalgia, which causes chronic muscle pain in the body
- Herniated or bulging discs in the spine
- Tumors or infections
Chiropractic Care and Other Helpful Services
Have back problems? Don’t let them rule your life! Because back problems are so common, there are also many treatments to remedy the specific issues you are having. Chiropractic care is one of the best rehabilitative options we suggest for patients. Chiropractors provide natural, drugless, non-surgical health treatments and rely on the body’s inherent recuperative abilities. In your treatment, we incorporate the use of physiologic therapies like ultrasound, electrical nerve stimulation and traction. We may also recommend changes in your lifestyle, exercise, nutrition and postural programs.
A chiropractic adjustment is what most patients receive with chiropractic care. A healthy spine will follow a straight alignment so that all joints have equal distribution of force with movement. When the spine becomes misaligned, discs and the nerves around them are easily compressed. A chiropractor applies a small amount of focused pressure to move vertebrae and to loosen joints that have become frozen in an incorrect position. Once the spine is aligned, some patients feel immediate relief of back pain, and they have more range-of-motion. Healing can happen quicker, getting you back to normal life.
Some patients prefer several natural therapies for healing and stress relief. Massage therapy, trigger point therapy (removing back knots), anti-inflammatory joint injections and more are also available to patients to help treat their back problems.
Prevention and At-Home Tips
Take some simYou can actually do that with a few simple tips at home:
- Never lift with your back. This is one of the easiest ways that people get hurt. Always grasp the box or heavy object firmly and lift with your legs, focusing on your thighs for proper support.
- Lift objects with the help of others. Don’t carry too much at one time.
- Wear proper shoes for the elements and the workplace. If it’s winter and snowy, wear snow boots, then change into your work shoes once you arrive at the office. Many athletes benefit from wearing the right shoes for their exercises or sport. If you wear improper footwear, it can cause both back problems and leg problems. Choose a trusted brand with ample support.
- Eat well. If you lack nutrients, your body can’t rebuild and repair cells correctly. That can lead to weak muscles susceptible to injury in the future. Avoid processed foods, greasy/fatty foods and added sugars if you can. Instead choose nutrient-dense foods, proteins, healthy fats and carbs and get plenty of vitamins, minerals and water.
- Exercise! Nutrition and exercise coupled together make for a strong body and one that has fewer back problems and overall health issues. The American Heart Association recommends that each person get at least 150 minutes of exercise every week, or 30 minutes, 5 days a week.
- Sleep! Adults need 7-9 hours to have full cell repair and rejuvenation.
- Quit tobacco and alcohol products. Both lead to nerve and tissue damage all over the body and can lead to countless health issues besides back problems.
If you want help overcoming your back problems quickly and with professionals that are trained to specifically do this, call Spine Correction Center today at (970) 658-5115!
