Chiropractic Treatment for Back Pain

Nagging back pain can be a pain on the behind, if you know what I mean. Some of us may try using over the counter pain killers while others might even try herbal medications. Have you ever considered trying chiropractic treatment for back pain instead? I’ve heard great things about it! Makes you wonder though, with all of its benefits, why is it that not everyone chooses chiropractic over the traditional medical treatments still? How is chiropractic treatment different, really?

Chiropractors specialize in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of the body. They mainly use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments. Chiropractors practice their craft believing in this simple principle: proper alignment of the body’s muscle and skeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself.  In other words, a healthy spine will help the body heal itself in times of need.

That being said, chiropractic is most often used today as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It is generally considered a safe and effective treatment for acute low back pain too! In addition, chiropractic treatment  has also shown to be helpful in treating neck pain and headaches, as well as osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.

Although its benefits are already prominent on its own, it also can be sometimes used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment.  Many chiropractors also combine nutritional counseling and exercise into the treatment plan too. In addition to relieving nagging back pain though, the long term goals of chiropractic care also include the restoration of function and prevention of injury, which will really help in the long run.

Chiropractic treatment starts off by  having the chiropractor conduct an interview to extract vital information such as your medical history. He then performs a physical examination, and may then also use laboratory tests to determine if your back pain can really be treated using chiropractic methods. The treatment plan may involve one or more spinal manipulation technique which is as a high-velocity, short lever arm thrust that is applied to areas of the vertebra with the goal of improving functionality.  The chiropractor may also opt to focus on mobilization which refers to low velocity manipulation, movement and stretching of the muscles and joints, thereby increasing the range of motion.

How long does it take? More than one session is usually needed to correct a problem, according to chiropractors. Usually, the treatments last several weeks and would range from 10 to 20 minutes each session. Subjective and actual improvement may signal the need for less sessions eventually.

Finally, chiropractic treatment would not be so successful without the follow through. Active care is highly encouraged if the patient is really willing to improve. This involves exercise, activity modification, and ergonomic modifications, to name a few. Active care is emphasized to accomplish both the patient and the chiropractor’s goal.