Having an achy back? You're not alone. Back pain is a common complaint. About 80 percent of Australians will experience disabling lower back pain at least once during their lives. About 3 million Australians going to a healthcare specialist for back pain just this year and that's roughly one in four Australians suffering from back pain right now. Moreover, the prevalence of back problems was similar for men (13.8%) and women (12.8%) with more back pain sufferers in the 65 - 79 age group.
In 2003, back pain is among the top 20 burden-imposing diseases in terms of disability-adjusted life-years in Australia. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor and miss work. It doesn't only affect a person's personal life but also the whole business industry itself when employees go home because of back pain. Figures show that Australian businesses spend $1 Billion each year for back pain alone.
Back Pain Causes
Generally, back pain doesn't have a specific cause. It can be a combination of several everyday activities not properly executed which resulted to sprains or strains. However, common conditions associated to back pain include:
· Muscle or ligament strain due to repeated heavy lifting, sudden awkward movement, over-stretching, or twisting awkwardly
· Poor posture either standing or sitting
· Overusing the muscles during sport or doing repetitive movements
· Skeletal irregularities
· Specific medical conditions such Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Bulging or ruptured disks, whiplash, and sciatica
On the brighter side, there are measures to prevent and counter back pain episodes. Rarely do you need any surgery to treat back pain. There are simple home treatment and self-care that a person can do and the pain will heal in a few days, but if you have back pain that lasts for at least a few weeks and does not improve even with over-the-counter painkillers and home treatments, it is important to see a primary care provider.
Chiropractic Care: Alternative Treatment for Back Pain
There are a number of alternative treatments available to help back pain patients ease the symptomsof back pain and one alternative therapy is Chiropractic care. One of the most common reasons people sees a chiropractor is back pain. Chiropractic care is one of the scientifically proven ways in finding back pain relief where there is no medication required. In chiropractic manual therapy, a chiropractor moves a patient's back muscles using hands-on techniques which include stretching, light pressure, and resistance.
Chiropractic care is generally considered a safe, effective treatment for back pain. There are studies that confirm the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in the reduction of most back pain episodes by 30 percent among people who underwent chiropractic care. Manual therapy in chiropractic treatment of lower back pain involves:
· Chiropractic Adjustment or spinal and manual manipulation which refers to high-velocity, short lever arm thrust applied to the abnormal vertebra with the goal of improving functionality, reducing nerve irritability and restoring range of motion in the back.
· Chiropractic Mobilization which is a low-velocity manipulation, movement and stretching of the muscles and joints, with the goal of increasing the range of motion within those areas.
Chiropractors use various techniques, with an emphasis on spine manipulation, in order to improve range and quality of motion of the back as well as restore proper mobility of the spine, which has been restricted by accidents or activities resulting to back pain. As part of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), chiropractors stand by the theory that proper alignment of the spine, or the musculoskeletal structure means natural nerve function of the body. On other words, a well-aligned body is a body in a state of natural balance with a lower chance of pain and disability.
Don't endure the back pain. There is help waiting ahead. Learn more about chiropractic care in treating back pain and discover how manual therapy can provide you with long lasting back pain relief.
In 2003, back pain is among the top 20 burden-imposing diseases in terms of disability-adjusted life-years in Australia. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor and miss work. It doesn't only affect a person's personal life but also the whole business industry itself when employees go home because of back pain. Figures show that Australian businesses spend $1 Billion each year for back pain alone.
Back Pain Causes
Generally, back pain doesn't have a specific cause. It can be a combination of several everyday activities not properly executed which resulted to sprains or strains. However, common conditions associated to back pain include:
· Muscle or ligament strain due to repeated heavy lifting, sudden awkward movement, over-stretching, or twisting awkwardly
· Poor posture either standing or sitting
· Overusing the muscles during sport or doing repetitive movements
· Skeletal irregularities
· Specific medical conditions such Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Bulging or ruptured disks, whiplash, and sciatica
On the brighter side, there are measures to prevent and counter back pain episodes. Rarely do you need any surgery to treat back pain. There are simple home treatment and self-care that a person can do and the pain will heal in a few days, but if you have back pain that lasts for at least a few weeks and does not improve even with over-the-counter painkillers and home treatments, it is important to see a primary care provider.
Chiropractic Care: Alternative Treatment for Back Pain
There are a number of alternative treatments available to help back pain patients ease the symptomsof back pain and one alternative therapy is Chiropractic care. One of the most common reasons people sees a chiropractor is back pain. Chiropractic care is one of the scientifically proven ways in finding back pain relief where there is no medication required. In chiropractic manual therapy, a chiropractor moves a patient's back muscles using hands-on techniques which include stretching, light pressure, and resistance.
Chiropractic care is generally considered a safe, effective treatment for back pain. There are studies that confirm the effectiveness of spinal manipulation in the reduction of most back pain episodes by 30 percent among people who underwent chiropractic care. Manual therapy in chiropractic treatment of lower back pain involves:
· Chiropractic Adjustment or spinal and manual manipulation which refers to high-velocity, short lever arm thrust applied to the abnormal vertebra with the goal of improving functionality, reducing nerve irritability and restoring range of motion in the back.
· Chiropractic Mobilization which is a low-velocity manipulation, movement and stretching of the muscles and joints, with the goal of increasing the range of motion within those areas.
Chiropractors use various techniques, with an emphasis on spine manipulation, in order to improve range and quality of motion of the back as well as restore proper mobility of the spine, which has been restricted by accidents or activities resulting to back pain. As part of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), chiropractors stand by the theory that proper alignment of the spine, or the musculoskeletal structure means natural nerve function of the body. On other words, a well-aligned body is a body in a state of natural balance with a lower chance of pain and disability.
Don't endure the back pain. There is help waiting ahead. Learn more about chiropractic care in treating back pain and discover how manual therapy can provide you with long lasting back pain relief.