According to the American Chiropractic Association:
80% of all Americans report having some back pain at some time in their lives
$50 billion is spent on back care and back treatments each year
2nd among all visits to the doctor are back pain complaints
91% of all Americans with back pain reported that it had persisted for more than 5 years
31 million Americans have low back pain at any given time
The numbers are staggering but true. However, advances in chiropractic treatments are changing the way people deal with their back pain. Twenty years ago, going to your Indianapolis chiropractor was a lot of snap, crackle and pop. Today the chiropractic field has make great strides in therapy for back pain that includes manipulation of the spine by adjusting the vertebrae and focusing on the muscle, not the bone.
Here at the Meridian Chiropractic Clinic, low back pain is a common complaint. The muscles of the low back are often tight and sore because they support the majority of your body’s weight.
So, what causes back pain: The most obvious is sudden trauma such as twisting or bending or lifting. A more gradual cause is bad posture or sitting too long in a car or airplane or in front of a computer. In almost all cases, it’s the lumbar region or lower back that causes the most amount of pain. If you are waking up with back pain, it is probably due to your mattress or pillow or how you are sleeping. Do you sleep on your back or stomach or on your side? Do you sleep with a child or a pet? Or, if you hurt more at the end of the day, it may be your chair at work or the position of your computer.
Can you do anything to prevent experiencing back pain? There is no 100% foolproof way of guaranteeing that you will never have pain but there are measures to take to lower your chances:
Don’t lift while bending forward at the waist – always bend at the knees
Push, don’t pull, heavy objects
Don’t sleep with a child or a pet
Wear flat shoes
Stand or sit with good posture – your ears should always be directly over your shoulders
And finally, there are a few tips to follow that just make good sense. Watch your weight….obesity can often cause back problems. And remember…back pain is not always physical. Your emotional and chemical health can be a factor. And, even after a visit to your Indianapolis Chiropractor and you are feeling great, maintenance check-ups are always a good idea.
