As the most common reason to go to a chiropractor, and the second most common reason to visit the medical doctor, low back pain is a daily epidemic in our society. The human body was not meant to do the same thing day in and day out. Whether it be sitting at a desk for eight hours, or roofing homes all day, our body can not handle that much constant stress on the same muscles. Our body needs variety in its movements and actions to help maintain a strong and stable base.
There are many treatments for mechanical low back pain. The most important part of a treatment plan for back pain is making the right diagnosis. Many abdominal problems may present with low back pain, as one of the first symptoms. Kidney stones, uterine fibroids, aortic aneurysms, and prostate cancer, are just a few of the examples of serious problems that may first appear as “back pain.” And even when a muscle or joint problem is actually causing you pain, diagnosis of the problem is often too vague to isolate the true cause of dysfunction. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that “only 4% of all serious back injuries are true sprains/strains.” NIOSH has done research, and they currently believe that most back pain comes from degeneration, as a result of aging and abuse we give to our backs. They also report that most of this abuse comes between the ages of 24 and 40 years of age.
Another problem with LBP is the cost. OSHA reports that back injuries cost the American industry 10-14 billion dollars annually, just in worker’s compensation claims. The only way to reduce these costs and help maintain a healthier lifestyle for the public is to help prevent back pain.
The new buzz word in gyms today is “core strength.” Core strength refers to the strength of the muscles that make up our abdomen, back, and pelvis. These are not muscles that most of us have ever heard of, but they are the ones that can help prevent back pain. Not only do these muscles need to be strong, but they need to be flexible enough and quick enough to respond to our bodies movements. Pilates and Yoga are just two examples of exercises that are becoming more common, because of their emphasis on stretching and exercising the “core” muscles.
Other great forms of treatment and prevention for low back pain include chiropractic care, massage, physical therapy, and acupuncture. Physical therapist and chiropractors routinely prescribe exercises to patients that are aimed at reducing the stress on our vertebrae, and restoring normal motion to the back.
As far as treatment for back pain, most minor cases will resolve on their own within 2-5 days. Pain in the back that persists for more than 5-7 days should be evaluated by a health care professional. Studies have shown “that chiropractic care compared with medical care is safer, costs no more and often costs much less, and has consistently greater patient satisfaction for treatment of similar conditions.” No matter what form of treatment you pick, make sure that your treatment includes some form of stretching and exercise to help prevent future occurrences.