Best Health And Wellness Info

Back pain is an extremely common problem in the United States and most developed nations.  It has been estimated that 80% of adults will experience at least one major episode of back pain in their lives.  Many of these episodes of back pain will resolve on their own (with or without any kind of treatment), but some cases become chronic, resulting in long-term pain and disability.

There are several causes for chronic back pain, but the vast majority of chronic back pain cases are related to altered joint and/or muscular function, which in turn is related to physical trauma, poor nutrition and lifestyle choices, and emotional stress.  While conventional medicine typically focuses on symptom suppression, natural therapies concentrate more on restoring normal function and giving the body the opportunity to heal. 

Chiropractic treatment is intended to improve joint function and thereby reduce irritation of nerves and reduce stress on muscles, discs, and other soft tissues.  Chiropractic techniques vary considerably, from the use of relatively forceful manual thrusts, to low-force techniques such as the Pro-Adjuster.  Most chiropractors will use additional methods of treatment to directly address muscle and soft tissue function, but the focus of chiropractors in treating back pain is typically on the joints of the spine, as well as other joints that can indirectly place stress on the spine, such as those of the feet, ankles, knees, and hips.  Chiropractors are often the first to employ new technologies in the treatment of back pain, such as the previously mentioned Pro-Adjuster, cold laser therapy, and the various spinal decompression systems.

Massage techniques can be very effective in relieving muscular and soft tissue restrictions that are very common in cases of both acute and chronic back pain.  As with chiropractic, there are many different massage techniques.  In my experience, the most therapeutic approaches tend to be the deeper massage techniques, which would include what you may see referred to as ”deep tissue”, “myofascial release”, “trigger point therapy”, “sports massage”, and “Rolfing” (to be accurate, Rolfing is a distinct technique that does deep massage on muscles in a specific sequence). 

Acupuncture and acupressure address the energy flow through the body and can provide significant back pain relief and relax muscles.  While the underlying concepts of acupuncture and acupressure are unfamiliar to most Westerners, the basic idea is that there is a balance of energy flow in the body.  This energy flow can become blocked or abnormally increased through parts of the body.  Abnormalities of this energy flow will often produce symptoms such as pain and muscle tightness.  Acupuncture and acupressure are used to normalize this energy flow, and can often provide fast relief of back pain and other symptoms.  In addition to reducing direct pain, inflammation, and muscle contraction, acupuncture is also effective in relieving many cases of back pain that are actually due to referred pain from other areas, including the kidneys and the ovaries.

Natural anti-inflammatories including bromelain, hesperidin, quercetin, ginger, omega-3 fatty acids, MSM, and many others can reduce inflammation and the pain that it causes.  In  many cases of acute and chronic back pain, inflammation results from abnormal mechanical stress and its resultant tissue damage.  Both conventional anti-inflammatory medications and natural anti-inflammatories reduce inflammation and can be helpful in reducing pain.  In my experience, the natural remedies are just as effective and produce much fewer side-effects for most patients as compared to over the counter and even prescription medications. 

Mind-body approaches, such as meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique , and many others can often provide excellent symptom relief for many back pain sufferers.  In some cases, emotional stresses result in muscular tension that can create or worsen many types of back pain.  Relaxing the mind often produces relaxation for the muscles, and can reduce the release of stress-related pro-inflammatory chemicals.  I have seen many patients over the years who suffered with back pain that did not respond to ANY physical treatment approaches, but who quickly recovered when emotional factors were handled. 

Tai Chi and Qi Gong exercises combine the energy-flow approach of acupuncture with the relaxing effects of emotional stress reduction, and can be very beneficial for back pain.  While not commonly practiced in Western countries, these exercises are credited as being a big part of the overall good health of people of all ages in China and other Asian countries. 

Finally, converting to an overall healthy lfestyle can dramatically relieve back pain for many people.  Staying well-hydrated through adequate water consumption, maintaining good posture (especially when sitting), eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking, and getting regular moderate exercise all contribute to good joint and muscle health.  People with healthy joints and muscles are not immune to back pain - anyone can be subject to an accident or lifting something the wrong way - but maintaining the function of the joints and muscles will go a long way toward preventing chronic back problems.    

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