Back pain is one of the most common issues people have to deal with. You may experience stiffness, tension, or a dull ache in your back. This can range from uncomfortable to incapacitating. An estimated 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain at some point during their lives, making it one of the most common medical problems. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons why people miss work or schedule a visit with their doctor.

It is possible to trigger back pain by lifting incorrectly, bending awkwardly, or having bad posture while sitting or standing. Serious back pain may make it impossible to stand or sit for prolonged periods, making it hard to function throughout the day. Fortunately, it is possible to lessen or prevent back pain episodes in the future.

How does chiropractic help back pain?

The core of chiropractic treatment in treating back pain is reducing problems through manual therapy. The two different aspects here include:

• Core chiropractic treatment– The core of chiropractic treatment traditionally includes treatment of common lower back pain conditions through manual therapy. This includes a variety of techniques such as a spinal manipulative therapy. This generally consists of a gentle, high velocity but short lever thrust to abnormal vertebra. The goal behind this technique is to restore the range of motion in the back, reduce nerve irritability, and improve overall functionality. Often times you will hear this referred to as a ‘chiropractic adjustment’. Studies have shown that this is not only safe, but also more effective than a variety of other treatment methods.
• Mobilization – This refers to stretching, movement, and low velocity manipulation of the muscles and joints with the goal to increase the range of motion within those specific areas.

Especially when it comes to treating acute lower back pain, chiropractic has proven to be successful. One of the benefits of chiropractic care is that it can lead to an understanding of what the underlying cause of the pain may be.

How does massage therapy help back pain?

Massage therapy has been found effective at treating persistent lower back pain. It is possible to use massage therapy in conjunction with chiropractic care. In those situations massage therapy compliments chiropractic care by making sure that the soft tissue structures such as the muscles are not so stiff and tight that they reduce the effect of the chiropractic adjustments. Aside from the complimentary benefits for chiropractic care, research shows that massage therapy has a number of different health benefits for people who struggle with lower back pain. These include:

• Increase blood flow and circulation – By applying massage therapy to the affected area it is possible to provide nutrition to the tissue and muscle. This will aid recovery with muscle strains or muscle soreness from physical activity.
• Decreased tension in the muscles – It is possible to improve sleep, reduce pain caused by tight muscles, and improve flexibility through muscle relaxation.
• Increase endorphin levels – Endorphins are the brain chemicals responsible for a ‘pleasant’ feeling. Having more endorphins in the body may reduce anxiety, which can help speed up recovery and reduce pain. Especially for those with chronic back problems, this is essential.

Massage is considered very low risk for most people and a non-invasive treatment method.

Why it is important to take action

Despite the fact that many different forms of back pain will eventually go away on their own, it is possible for the issue to worsen over time. If you want to ensure you are not suffering through a progressive issue or just want to know if you can get immediate relief from your back pain, make sure to call Total Back Care today on (08) 8357 8211. Back pain can make it impossible to enjoy every day activities, make sure that you take steps to reduce your pain or discomfort today.