Who suffers from back pain?

Virtually all human beings are subject to back problems. The fact that humans walk upright, on two legs, puts great pressure on the spine and muscles that support it. Over time, back pain is all but inevitable. Normal wear and tear, accidents, disease, and such bad "back habits" as unnecessary strain from overexertion at play or work (especially lifting, pushing, pulling, and reaching for things improperly), and poor standing and sitting posture result in both immediate and long-term back problems.

What can chiropractic do?

Chiropractors successfully treat subluxation (a complex of functional and/or structural changes in joints, which can interfere with nerve transmission, disturb other organ systems and undermine general health). Spinal subluxations may have symptoms localized in some part of the back or may radiate down to the buttocks, thighs and legs. Chiropractors also treat tension that can show up as backaches and/or headaches or pains elsewhere in the body.

Doctors of chiropractic draw upon a wealth of knowledge and experience with treating and preventing back pain and back injuries. Soothing and pain-reducing spinal adjustments have been developed over the last century, during which chiropractors have practiced, improved and refined their techniques.

The chiropractic approach is similar to the clinical practice guidelines of the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. That is, doctors of chiropractic not only treat the pain, they try to keep patients engaging in their normal activities rather than resting immobile in bed, which can actually cause further debilitation. And, of course, chiropractors do not rely on surgery, hospitalization and medication that can be both dangerous and needlessly costly for patients and their insurance providers.

References

From www.chiroweb.com

• Hurwitz EL. The relative impact of chiropractic vs. medical management of low back pain on health status in a multispecialty group practice. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Feb. 1994; vol. 17, no. 2 pp74-82.
• Shekelle PG, Markovich M, Louie R. Comparing the costs between provider types in episodes of back pain care. Spine, 1995; vol. 20, no. 2, pp221-27.
• Shekelle PG, Markovich M, Louie R. An epidemiologic study of episodes of back pain care. Spine, 1995; vol. 20, no. 15, pp1668-73.
• Carey TS, Evans A, Hadler N, et al. Care-seeking among individuals with chronic low back pain. Spine, 1995; vol. 20, pp312-17.
• Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H. The effects of comorbidity and other factors in medical versus chiropractic care for back problems. Spine, 1997; vol. 22, no. 19 pp2254-64.
• Ratti N, Pilling K. Back pain in the workplace. British Journal of Rheumatology, 1997; vol. 36, no. 2, pp.260-64.
• Bigos S, Bowyer O, Braen G, et al. Acute low back problems in adults. Clinical practice guideline number 14. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research publication no. 95-0643. Rockville, Md., Public Health Service, US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1994.