Back Pain, Chiropractor, Massage Therapy, Muscle Pain, Sports Injury, Children, Pregnancy - Chiropractic - Australia
Back pain relief - learn what to do
Back pain is one of the most common musculo-skeletal conditions. In fact, research suggests that up to eighty percent of people will experience back pain at some stage of their lives. While for some people back pain is little more than discomfort, for others it can leave them incapacitated, with back pain being one of the most common reasons for missing work, and for referrals to medical clinics.
Back pain can result from a number of factors. While some cases of back pain originate from injury, accidents or organic medical conditions such as arthritis or fracture, the most common cause of back pain is stress to the joints and muscles of the back, which accumulates from day-to-day activities, such as:
- bending and lifting
- poor posture
- sitting down for extended periods of time
- overexertion
- sleeping incorrectly
- twisting the body into an uncomfortable position
Most people are prone to back pain, as the lower back area supports a lot of our body weight, and relies heavily on the strength of the vertebrae in our spine. If the spine is not in correct alignment, areas of weakness can occur, resulting in irritation of nerves in the spine, or in a bulging disc, which places pressure on the spinal cord.
Although back pain can often subside within a few days, it is important not to ignore it. Pain may be symptomatic of an underlying condition such as a disc bulge, sciatica or scoliosis.
While many people look for medication such as ibuprofen and aspirin when they suffer from low back pain, these should not be considered first-line treatments. While medication may reduce the symptomatic pain, it does not treat the actual problem. This means that once the medication wears off, the pain usually returns. This will continue until the underlying mechanism driving the pain is addressed.
Chiropractic is a safe, gentle and effective treatment for back pain. Chiropractic aims to restore the normal range of motion in the spine, and to maintain that functioning in the long term through chiropractic care coupled with a self-care plan of exercise and stretches. By releasing tension in the joints and muscles, chiropractic can assist in correcting the alignment of the spine and relieving pressure from the lower back.
There are some things you can do to help prevent relapses, or to minimise the severity of low back pain.
Some useful tips include:
- Avoid sudden bending, twisting or sharp movement while in pain. This can aggravate pre-existing vulnerabilities to back problems.
- Maintain proper posture at all times.
- Make sure that your workspace is ergonomically designed. This includes things like a supportive chair, a well-placed computer monitor and a workstation layout that doesn't require a lot of twisting and turning.
- Purchase a firm mattress designed to support your back while you sleep.
- Engage in regular exercise. Even if you are suffering from back pain, bed rest is often not the most preferable option. Low-impact exercise such as walking or swimming will help the back muscles remain active and loose.
- When exercising, ensure you correctly warm up and cool down every time.
- Wear comfortable flat or low-heeled shoes.
- Reduce your alcohol, caffeine and nicotine intake to promote blood flow.
