Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation for Back Pain
Posted on January 2, 2010
Filed Under Back Pain | Leave a Comment
If you are having pain in your back you might want to consider consulting a chiropractor to look into the problem further. An estimated 40 percent of patients who visit a chiropractor do so for lower back pain. Chiropractic services offer a drug free, non-surgical method for treating back pain. Add to this the fact that it is also gentle and generally very effective. The main principle that underlies the alternative therapy is that the proper motion of the spine contributes to overall health and well-being. The emphasis of the practice is spinal manipulation. In other words, adjusting the spine so it can aid in proper alignment, body balance and good posture.
Chiropractors use a variety of different approaches to treating back pain in addition to the regular spinal adjustments that they do. The approaches they use are all geared at treating a wide assortment of back conditions. Just like a physician would, the chiropractor will examine you and do a thorough assessment before he is able to diagnose the root of the problem and then take steps to remedy it. This helps him to determine what your spinal alignment is like as well as your posture. This will help him to determine if your spine is working as it should be and if it is as mobile as it should be. It also allows him a first hand look at the mechanics of how your body moves. This is not the same for every person and that is why he must observe it for himself.
Spinal manipulation should only be carried out by a trained professional. A physical examination should be conducted first to rule out contraindications. A neurological examination should be conducted to ensure that the patient does not have nerve root damage. Contraindications involve bone conditions (e.g., tumors, infection, and osteoporosis), nerve conditions, (e.g., spinal cord compression), blood vessels disorders (e.g., aortic aneurysm and severe clotting disorders), and hypermobility (e.g., lax ligament syndrome).
There is no definitive explanation for the reported beneficial effects of spinal manipulation. Various explanations have been suggested: 1) The procedure releases entrapped synovial folds; 2) Manipulation relaxes hypertonic muscles; 3) The procedure disrupts adhesions in or around the joint; 4) Manipulation realigns displaced segments; and 5) Manipulation repositions structures within the joint.
The effectiveness of spinal manipulation in relieving back pain is a controversial subject. The treatment seems to help some people with low lack pain not associated with a referred pain pattern. However, spinal manipulation does not help all individuals with back pain. Spinal manipulation is most likely to have a beneficial effect on acute and recurrent lower back pain if administered within the first 6 weeks of onset. Within this time frame, spinal manipulation appears to improve pain and increase mobility. There is no conclusive evidence showing that spinal manipulation is effective in treating chronic lower back pain. Spinal manipulation has also not been found to be effective in the treatment of nerve root conditions.
Although there are pros and cons to the treatment, many people still turn to chiropractic services when they are suffering from back pain. It is a natural form of therapy that can be effective for a multitude of back conditions.
Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a popular form of back pain management because it’s natural. Other ways to treat back pain without resorting to medication and surgery include the use of a back stretching device, which extends the spine in order to relieve compression.
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