3 Causes Of Back Pain And How A Chiropractor Can Help
According to recent statistics, about 65 million Americans experience back pain. About 16 million of these adults suffer with chronic back pain that limits their everyday activities include working, sleeping, and exercising. In most instances, back pain can be treated by a chiropractor. One of the first things that a chiropractor will do is find the root cause for back pain. Once the cause of pain is determined, the most effective form of treatment is provided.
Here are three causes of back pain and how a chiropractor can help.
1. Osteoarthritis
When there is a breakdown of cartilage between the joints, it results in a type of arthritis called osteoarthritis. This condition primarily affects the weight-bearing joints in the body, which include the hips and knees. Osteoarthritis also affects the spine.
When the spine is affected, it causes inflammation and pain in the back. Chiropractors use a variety of methods to treat osteoarthritis. Some of the most common treatments they use include ultrasound therapy, electrotherapy, and cold laser therapy.
2. Car Accidents
Certain types of car accidents including rollovers, rear-end collisions, and hitting objects in the road often result in back injuries. One of the most common types of back injuries that happen as a result of a car accident is whiplash. While whiplash is commonly associated with pain and stiffness in the neck, it can cause pain in the upper back as well.
If whiplash is not treated right away, it can cause chronic pain, vertigo, vertebrae misalignment, and degenerative disc disease. For this reason, it's important to see a chiropractor right away after sustaining whiplash. Some of the most effective treatment options for whiplash spinal manipulation, muscle relaxation techniques, and corrective exercises. Along with whiplash, chiropractors can effectively treat other types of car accident injuries that cause back pain.
3. Bulging Disc
Also known as a slipped disc, a bulging disc occurs when the middle part of a disc in the spine protrudes through the exterior part of the disc. The most obvious symptom of a bulging disc is pain in the back. This pain is usually aggravated by certain activities such as sitting, lifting, and bending forward. Coughing and sneezing can also aggravate back pain caused by a bulging disc.
Besides pain in the back, a bulging disc can also cause numbness and tingling in the neck or shoulders. Chiropractors treat bulging discs with spinal manipulations as well as lumbar traction machines.
