How Chiropractic Adjustments Relieve Lower Back Pain
Of the many health complaints, one of the most common is back pain specifically in the lower back areas. While the pain may affect some in a short period of time, there are instances wherein the lower back pain lasts for months or even years when it becomes chronic. Some cases of this type of bodily pain are easily cured by means of applying hot compress, exercising, stretching, resting and using pain relievers usually in the form of medications. For some cases, however, the lower back pain is difficult to treat. And thus, they seek the help of health care professionals to address their problem.
In order to avoid the reduction in productivity and losing wages from staying at home to rest and cure the pain, individuals have to invest in lower back pain relief with chiropractic adjustments. Basically, it is a technique undertaken by healthcare professionals which involves spinal manipulation with the aim of improving the physical function of the patient.
Regardless of the cause of the lower back pain such as injuries, accidents or a muscle strain, for instance, chiropractic treatment has been a consistent alternative to surgery and supplement to medication. This is in line with the fact that studies have shown its effectivity in treating lower back pain and other disorders relating to a person’s nervous system and/or musculoskeletal system.
This non-surgical treatment focuses on how spinal manipulation can be used to relieve pain in the muscles, bones, connective tissues, joints et cetera. As mentioned, chiropractic adjustments are often partnered up with the usual medical treatments. To be able to achieve more pleasing results, the chiropractor who is the health care professional that can facilitate spinal manipulation, takes into consideration the patient’s medical history and schedules a physical examination which includes but is not limited to lab tests and imaging in order to more accurately diagnose a patient. By doing so, an appropriate treatment to cure an individual’s back pain will be suggested and undertaken.
A treatment program specifically designed for a patient may range from a single to multiple manual adjustment treatments. In such adjustments, the chiropractor has to manipulate joints, muscles or bones in order to enhance the range of the patient’s motion. This spinal manipulation involves a specific arm thrust of high-velocity onto the vertebra. This, in turn, enhances the functionality and reduces the pain in the back.
After a spinal manipulation or as others prefer to call it, chiropractic adjustment, the normal range of motion is restored and more often than not, improved. Aside from the treatment itself, the program may include suggested dietary intake and exercise to further improve the results of the treatment. While many individuals use the chiropractic adjustments to cure pain, this treatment may also be used to prevent injuries or strain especially when an individual is physically active.
Patients often have second thoughts on availing this non-surgical treatment primarily because of possible risks they might face during and after the chiropractic adjustments. Many medical reviews and studies have mostly professed the success rate of recovery and cure after being subjected to chiropractic adjustments. It should be noted, however, that recommendations are restricted to the adjustments performed by not only trained but also licensed professionals.
The prevalent minor side effect of the treatment is temporary soreness. There are reports, however, which indicate the possibility of additional pain, loss of feeling in both legs, and weakness due to the cauda equina syndrome (CES) wherein a part of the lower spinal canal is narrowed causing a pinch sensation in the nerves.
Patients should not be discouraged, however, because there is no direct relation between spinal manipulation and CES since there are cases wherein CES occurs prior to any chiropractic treatments. In fact, chiropractic adjustments have been very notable in terms or curing people with non-specific chronic low back pain. To be able to lengthen the results obtained from spinal manipulation, it is highly recommended that after the main manipulation, the patient may opt to avail additional maintenance spinal manipulation along with some exercises.
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