Nearly sixteen million adults, which makes up 8 percent of all adults, suffer from persistent or chronic back pain, limiting a range of everyday activities. Estimates suggest that 80% of the population experience back pain at some point in their life, making it a very common malady. Pain in the lower back is the most widespread, although it can be felt anywhere along the spine, from the neck down to the hips. In most cases, the pain is not caused by serious damage, and improves over time, however, the pain and discomfort can be a huge barrier in pursuing many activities.
There are several back pain relief treatments available, but the most commonly chosen one is chiropractic treatment. People seeking relief from back pain caused by accidents, sports injuries, and muscle strains all use chiropractic care for fast and efficient recovery. Other complaints including pain in the neck, arms, legs, and headaches can also be alleviated with this treatment.
Chiropractic care is characterised by spinal manipulation using manual techniques. It involves exercise advice, and self care recommendations. Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation, which is reported to relieve pain and improve function in people with acute lower back pain. The underlying notion is that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will allow the body to heal itself, without medication or surgery. The manipulation helps in restoring mobility to joints which are otherwise restricted by tissue injury. This treatment is primarily employed as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, connective tissue including cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.
Chiropractic care for back pain, or any other pain for that matter, begins with a thorough medical examination in which they take a medical history, conduct a physical examination, and use lab tests or diagnostics to determine the appropriate treatment for your specific problem. The treatment may entail one or more manual adjustments in which the chiropractitioner manipulates the joints, using a controlled, sudden force to improve range and quality of motion. It is also often completed with nutritional counselling, and exercise. The goal of the treatment is to enable the person to regain their function, prevent injury, and relieve back pain.
Chiropractic care is usually regarded as a safe and effective treatment for acute low back pain, which is produced as a result of sudden injury from moving heavy furniture or getting tackled. Acute back pain which lasts for a brief period or upto six weeks, is also more common than chronic back pain. It can address back pain caused by back sprain injuries, facet joint sprain, lumbar intervertebral disc injuries, sacroiliac sprain, and spinal stenosis. They use a variety of techniques such as flexion-distraction, which is a gentle, non thrusting type of spinal manipulation, instrument assisted manipulation which involves a hand held device to apply force, and specific spine manipulation. There are also several manual as well as instrument mediated therapies to aid healing.
If you are experiencing back pain, and wish to know if chiropractic care is suitable for you, visit us at The Hundred wellness centre in Dubai. Our resident chiropractor, Dr. Gary Fitzgerald, is an award-winning practitioner whose philosophy is based on two principles: “find the cause, not the symptom” and “every patient is different”. We provide the best service, tailoring our treatment based on your unique needs, to help you achieve the desired results. Book a consultation today, and embark on your healing journey.
