Low Back Pain

LOW BACK PAIN RELIEF, LANGHORNE PA

Chiropractic care is a way to diagnose and treat health problems that affect the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints of the body. The back is a complicated structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead to back pain. While sports injuries or accidents can cause lower back pain, sometimes the simplest of movements—for example, picking up a pencil from the floor— can have painful results. Outside of traumatically induced pain, gradual repetitive injuries can also cause back pain, such as excessive bending, twisting or sitting which can take a toll on the spine.  In addition, arthritis, poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause or complicate back pain.

Back Pain Facts & Statistics

Although chiropractors care for more than just back pain, many patients visit chiropractors looking for relief from this persistent condition. Actually, millions of Americans experience low-back pain at any given time. According to WebMD, among people seeking back pain relief alternatives most choose chiropractic treatment. Millions of Americans visit chiropractors annually to avoid more drugs, injections and surgery. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work and one of the #1 reasons people go to the emergency room. Americans spend billions each year on back pain. Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives.

With today’s growing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness, Chiropractic care is receiving more widespread attention. Chiropractic spinal adjustments are proven to be gentle, safe and effective. It reduces pain and helps patients get back to work sooner.

In fact, after an extensive study of all currently available care for low back problems, the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research—a federal government research organization—recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most conservative care first. And it recommended spinal adjustments as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.

A patient information article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association also suggested chiropractic care as an option for people suffering from low back pain–and noted that surgery is usually not needed and should only be tried if conservative care doesn’t help.

In 2013 in Spine, a well known orthopedic journal, a double blind randomized controlled trial with over a hundred patients, spinal manipulation was compared to placebo and an anti-inflammatory drug.  These patients were recruited from 5 outpatient practices and criteria were numerous and strict. Outcomes included a self rated physical disability, function, off-work time, and medication.  Patient outcomes in the spinal manipulation group were better than the anti-inflammatory group and clinically superior to placebo.

At Our Office

During your visit to our office, the doctor of chiropractic will perform a detailed consultation and examination to locate the source of your pain. This will involve a series of questions about your current condition, followed by physical and neurological exams. In the physical exam, your doctor will observe your posture, range of motion, and physical condition, noting movement that causes pain. The doctor will feel your spine, note its curvature and alignment, and feel for muscle spasm. A check of your lower extremities may also be in order. During the neurological exam, the doctor may test your reflexes, muscle strength and sensory testing. If warranted the Doctor may take x-rays and/or order other tests. Once all of the information is collected to develop a specific diagnosis, a report of findings will be delivered to you and treatment begins.  In most cases, back pain responds extremely well to gentle Chiropractic care.

Treatment may include:

• Active Release Therapy
• Spinal and Extremity Adjustments
• Massage Therapy
• Traction Devices
• Shockwave Therapy
• Stretches/Exercises
• Electric muscle stimulation
• Heat/Cold Therapy
• Nutritional Supplements

To determine the cause of your pain and fix it naturally, call us at 215-750-8006!