Your lower back can withstand tremendous forces without injury. However, if your back is out of alignment or has weakened supporting muscles, something as simple as picking up a bag of groceries can cause a low back injury.
The low back is very susceptible to injury and pain because it is a very unstable part of the spine. This instability allows us to have a great deal of mobility to touch our toes, tie our shoes or pick something up from the ground, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.
From sprained ligaments to ruptured disks, there are many conditions that can result in low back pain. Because there are so many causes, it is important to seek professional help. Chiropractors are the experts at diagnosing the cause and determining the proper treatment for low back pain. Here are some of the most common causes we see:
Subluxations
Whenever there is a disruption in the normal movement or position of the vertebrae, the result is pain and inflammation. In the lumbar spine, these usually occur at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum. Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain. Fortunately, subluxations are easily treatable and pain reduction can be seen almost immediately following treatment.
Disc Herniations
Many adults are unaware they have a herniated disk and have no symptoms, but typically herniated discs can be a source of intense and debilitating pain that frequently radiates to other areas of the body. Unfortunately, once a disc herniates, they rarely, if ever, completely heal. Further deterioration can often be avoided through regular chiropractic care, but a complete recovery is less common.
Sprains, Strains and Spasms
This is a common source of low back pain among those who do little physical activity during the week and a lot over the weekend. Overworking the muscles or ligaments of the low back can lead to small tears in the tissues, which then become painful, swollen, and tight.
Stress
Whenever you become stressed, your body responds by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate, flooding your body with stress hormones and tightening up your muscles. The chronic tension causes your muscles to become sore, weak and loaded with trigger points. If you are frequently stressed and you have low back pain, it is important to do some relaxation exercises like deep breathing and to get regular exercise.
Chiropractic Care for Low Back Pain
Chiropractic care for low back pain has been repeatedly shown to be a very effective treatment. It is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine. Other treatments like muscle relaxants, pain killers, and bed rest only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem and do not correct the problem itself.
It is important to take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with pain that recurs over and over again. Contact our talented chiropractors at Arapahoe Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center today. We can help!
BY: Dr. Friedman
Chiropractic
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