Chiropractic Adjustment for Low Back Pain

One of the most common reasons that people seek treatment from their health care provider is low back pain. Of the many treatment options that are available for this type of condition, I’m going to discuss one of the most painless effective treatments used by chiropractors.

Low back pain is generally caused by acute injuries such as improper lifting and bending or long term strain on the back through bad posture or poor ergonomics.  No matter what the cause, the pain is often due to problems in the joints of the spine and pelvis. When we are injured are put a lot of strain on the back our body tries to protect it by tightening all the muscles around the area. This is helpful but can also cause problems since it doesn’t allow for proper movement of the joints. Our joints are made to move and are most healthy when they are moving properly.

One of the ways in which we treat improper or decreased movement in the joints of the body is through mobilization or manipulation. As chiropractors we call this type of treatment an adjustment. First we do an evaluation of the muscles and joints in the area to determine which joints are involved. Once we know where the problem is we perform an adjustment to mobilize the affected joints. This helps to decrease pain, increase movement in the joints, and relax the surrounding musculature.

There are many ways to perform an adjustment. In the low back it is usually performed with the patient either lying face down or lying on his or her side but can be performed other ways as well. A position in which the patient can relax is most beneficial. The doctor places the patient in certain position and then applies pressure to increase the movement in the affected joints. The patient will often feel a “pop” in the joint being treated but this sound is not necessary for the adjustment to be effective. This treatment is usually not painful. In fact most people report a sense of relief after an adjustment.

Chiropractic adjustments, along with exercises to stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles, are very effective for treating low back pain. If you or someone you know is experiencing low back pain, I encourage you to consider seeing a chiropractor for treatment.

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