Massage Therapy Relieving Tension
A massage, on the other hand, is performed by a licensed massage therapist who applies direct pressure to soft tissue or muscle groups to relieve pain and promote healing and wellness. Unlike chiropractic treatment, massage treatment focuses solely on the stimulation of muscles and is not used to treat pain associated with the spine, joints or tendons.
There are multiple benefits to massage therapy including relaxation, increased energy and mood enhancement. Many find that receiving a massage following chiropractic treatment can promote additional healing and decrease discomfort and inflammation after treatment.
Both of these options can be used to treat temporary, situational or chronic pain. Not sure which treatment is right for you? Listen to your bodys pain points. In either scenario, talk with your doctor to determine if these options are right for you. If you cant afford a chiropractor or a massage specialist due to health insurance, check out our plans to see how Priority Health can help you ease your back pains!
Chiropractic Goals And Possible Effects
Should patients feel more pain in your back after receiving chiropractic care? When it comes to the spine, and back specifically, the goal of a successful chiropractic session is to eradicate inflammation and reduce overall pain.
The areas of relief mainly focus on joints, ligaments, and muscles.
The intention is to achieve this well-being through the use of:
- Massaging
- Electrical stimulation
- Spinal manipulation
Its important to note that common side effects of chiropractic adjustments are tiredness, minor headaches, and slight discomfort in adjusted locations.
Your body may be used to being out of alignment. So, when your spine is back in alignment, it will take some getting used to, which may cause you to feel sore.
So what else has occurred to hinder the success of your chiropractic visit and leave you in a significant amount of pain?
Are They Trained Differently
Both Physiotherapy and chiropractic are university based full time degrees. Chiropractic is a five-year full time degree while Physiotherapy is a four-year full time degree. Chiropractors and Physiotherapists are both trained in the orthopaedic, neurological and functional assessment of the spine.
Chiropractic training focuses specifically on spinal structure, function and control. They learn a wide range of specific spinal techniques, ranging from those that involve manipulation to localisation and soft tissue techniques. They are also taught how to exercises to improve movement and increase strength.
Physiotherapists are trained in spinal assessment and treatment. They tend to focus on stretching, exercises and soft tissue techniques to improve mobility and strength.
Physiotherapists do not receive the same degree of training in spinal manipulation as Chiropractors. Physiotherapists training has a much wider scope of training than the chiropractic degree. While they are mostly known for their treatment of sporting injuries, such as joint sprains and muscle tears, physios also work extensively with people recovering from stroke, womens health issues, post-surgical rehabilitation and diseases such as osteoporosis, cystic fibrosis or multiple sclerosis.
Don’t Miss: What Causes Severe Lower Back And Hip Pain
Should You Go To A Doctor Or Chiropractor For Back Pain
The answer is always yes.
You should see a back pain doctor or chiropractor. In such a case, theres no difference between a back doctor vs. chiropractor any help is good.
Back pain could resolve itself easily with minor changes in your life, such as switching out your shoes for ones with more supportive souls or buying a firmer mattress.
Often, though, youll need a highly-trained lower back pain doctor to determine how best to treat your back pain. Perhaps theres something wrong with the discs in your back, or theres a pinched nerve somewhere.
You wont know until you have a doctor or chiropractor check your back out.
While you shouldnt ignore back pain, there are many reasons why someone wouldnt want to see a doctor for their spine.
First off, in the United States, back pain doctors or chiropractors tend to congregate in larger cities, meaning they might not be available in your area. Luckily, Beach Pain Center is located just east of downtown Fort Worth.
Secondly, it might cost too much to see them. Most insurance companies should cover you if you have back pain especially if youre growing older. But some might be more skeptical, as many have claimed back pain to acquire insurance benefits. The potential of having to cover medical costs out of pocket could be enough to determine anyone from receiving care.
Youll learn to manage it, but youll never learn to treat it until you go to a doctor or chiropractor.
What To Expect If You Visit A Chiropractor
When you first visit a chiropractor for lower back pain, you can expect your first consultation to include the following 3 initial steps
1. Consultation. Youll be asked what hurts, where it hurts and what makes the pain feel better or the pain feel worse.
2. Your History. As well as your job, you may be asked about your family history, other injuries/ treatments that youve had and your diet.
3. Physical Tests. You may be asked to perform a variety of movements so the chiropractor can assess the range of motions available to you and how stable you can perform them.
4. X-Ray. It is possible that they may even ask for an e-ray to be carried out, while they try to assess the true position of the vertebrae in your spine.
The purpose of this pre-assessment is to identify areas of the spine that may have altered for specific focus during the chiropractic adjustment.
You May Like: What Can I Do For Severe Back Pain
When Should You Seek Help From A Chiropractor
Sometimes, you might see a physical therapist if you have back pain. However, many people with lower back pain get massage therapy or see a chiropractor. You might have questions about what role a chiropractor plays in your treatment plan. For example, you might wonder if you should immediately get care or if you should wait to see if other treatments are helping.
However, if you dont get any care, you might end up missing work, especially if you have a physically demanding job. You might end up debilitated by the condition, and you might even end up becoming disabled. And because of the opioid crisis, you should avoid taking potentially addicting medications whenever you can. That is where chiropractic treatment comes in.
What Is Chiropractic Care
Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation and other alternative treatments. The theory is that proper alignment of the body’s musculoskeletal structure, particularly the spine, will enable the body to heal itself without surgery or medication. Manipulation is used to restore mobility to joints restricted by tissue injury caused by a traumatic event, such as falling, or repetitive stress, such as sitting without proper back support.
Chiropractic treatment is primarily used as a pain relief alternative for muscles, joints, bones, and connective tissue, such as cartilage, ligaments, and tendons. It is sometimes used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment.
The initials “DC” identify a chiropractor, whose education typically includes an undergraduate degree plus four years of chiropractic college.
Recommended Reading: Can Chronic Back Pain Cause High Blood Pressure
Why You Should See A Chiropractor For Back Pain
Low back pain is a common affliction, with eight out of ten adults experiencing back pain at some point in their lives.
While most people might reach for the over-the-counter pain medications to deal with their back pain, theres another way of dealing with that pain that can be just as effective: chiropractic care. Back pain chiropractic care is one of the safest, most effective methods for the treatment of lower back pain. If you have lower back pain and have never been to a chiropractor, here is what you can expect, how to find a chiropractor near you, along with some of the most common chiropractic methods of treatment.
What Is Spinal Manipulation
- Spinal manipulation is also called spinal manipulative therapy. Itâs a technique where practitioners use their hands or a device to apply a controlled thrust to a joint of your spine. The amount of force can vary, but the thrust moves the joint more than it would on its own. Spinal manipulation is different from spinal mobilization, which doesnât involve a thrust .
- Most spinal manipulations are done by chiropractors , although other licensed professionals including osteopathic physicians and physical therapists also do spinal manipulations.
- Spinal manipulation is one of the most common complementary health approaches used by adults and children in the United States, the 2012 National Health Interview Survey showed.
- For more information on what chiropractors do, see the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health webpage Chiropractic.
You May Like: What Causes Nerve Pain In Lower Back
Big Benefits Little Risk To Hands
In addition to saving you time,a visit to the chiropractor may also decrease your reliance on painkillers. Astudy by the American College of Physicians listed these as the first line ofdefense for lower back pain:
- Applying heat.
- Massage.
- Acupuncture.
Anti-inflammatory pain relievers and muscle relaxants are asecond course for treating pain, with narcotics and injections taking the backseat, says Dr. Bang. There are very few side effects to chiropractictreatment. Medications, on the flip side, arent free of side effects,especially after prolonged use.
Causes Of Lower Back Pain When Should I See A Chiropractor
Lower back pain has many causes and can range from being very simple to very complicated. Its one of the most common reasons patients come to see a chiropractor. Instead of just treating the pain, it is better to find out the problem that is causing the lower back pain in the first place this helps to better establish the correct timeframe and prognosis for getting someone back to their normal lifestyle. Here are some of the common causes for back pain and the tissues that can be involved.
You May Like: What Causes Pain Across The Upper Back
What Do They Aim To Achieve
Chiropractic cares primary aim is the removal and prevention of musculoskeletal-related problems. They focus on restoring normal functional movement to the spine and strengthening the surrounding structures.
Physiotherapy primarily aim is to improve the movement and function of your joints and muscles to get you back to normal mobility. They focus on exercises to improve flexibility, mobility and strength.
As you can see their goals are essentially the same.
Is Spinal Manipulation Safe
Spinal manipulation is relatively safe when performed by a trained and licensed practitioner. The most common side effects of spinal manipulation are temporary muscle soreness, stiffness, or a temporary increase in pain.
Serious complications, deaths, and delays in diagnosis of serious illnesses have been associated with spinal manipulation, including in children, but are very rare.
Strokes and Artery Tears
- A type of spinal manipulation that focuses on the neck has been linked to small, potentially dangerous tears in the artery walls in the neck, called cervical artery dissections . These tears are rare but can lead to a stroke. Any kind of sudden neck movement, such as playing sports, getting whiplash, and violent vomiting or coughing may also increase the risk of tears. The available evidence suggests that the incidence of CAD in people getting spinal manipulation is low, but patients need to be informed of this potential risk.
Spinal Manipulation and Pregnancy
- There are few reports of spinal manipulation causing problems during pregnancy or in the period after childbirth, a 2012 research review reported. The problems that have been reported ranged from mild, temporary pain to life-threatening injuries. Serious adverse events occurred only after cervical spinal manipulation.
Don’t Miss: What Exercises Can I Do For Lower Back Pain
Should I See A Chiropractor For Lower Back Pain
Lots of us suffer from lower back pain. You might tell yourself its just part of getting older or maybe you overdid it last weekend. Maybe if you take a few pain pills and rest, the problem will take care of itself. Unfortunately, not addressing lower back pain may lead to more serious issues later. It might be something relatively minor, but left untreated it could become worse.
But where do you turn for answers? When it comes to lower back pain, everyone has an opinion. Should you see your primary care physician, an orthopedic surgeon, a neurologist, a chiropractor? If you ask five people, youll probably get six answers and still not know where to start.
And What About A Massage Therapist
If the root of your pain is muscular in nature, like a muscle spasm, an overworked muscle, or similar problem, then your issue can be helped by massage therapy. The therapist will loosen your muscles and increase the blood flow. The increased blood flow helps heal them faster, and the loosening can stop a muscle spam practically in its tracks.
Also Check: Does Gas Cause Back Pain
Visiting A Chiropractor For Back Pain
Chiropractic care first became a treatment option in 1895. D.D. Palmer had a friend with deafness in one ear. Noticing a vertebrae out of place, Palmer adjusted his friend and restored his hearing. Palmer had also had success in treating a friend with cardiovascular issues before, noting:
I had a case of heart trouble which was not improving. I examined the spine and found a displaced vertebra pressing against the nerves, which innervate the heart. I adjusted the vertebra and gave immediate relief nothing accidental or crude about this. Then I began to reason if two diseases, so dissimilar as deafness and heart trouble, came from impingement, a pressure on nerves, were not other disease due to a similar cause? Thus the science and art of Chiropractic were formed at that time.
D.D. Palmers legacy continues at a school created in his name. Palmer College of Chiropractic believes that many conditions can be treated with chiropractic, but there are other chiropractic colleges that incorporate traditional treatments in a more holistic manner.
May Help Athletic Performance
Spinal adjustments may potentially improve your athletic performance. This could be due to increased joint mobility, reduced pain, and less tissue restriction.
However, there are still found that it didnt improve performance in people without symptoms.
Chiropractic adjustments may be effective when used to deal with pain caused by an injury.
Don’t Miss: Is Lower Back Pain A Sign Of Ms
Possible Reduction Of Osteoarthritis Symptoms
Osteoarthritis pain is caused by the degeneration of the cartilage in a joint that causes the ends of your bones to rub together. Some types of chiropractic adjustments may help align your joints and reduce how much your bones rub together.
There hasnt been a lot of research on the benefits of chiropractic manipulation for osteoarthritis. However, a found some evidence that chiropractic manipulation may help slow down the progression of arthritis by improving the status of cartilage, bone, and the joint capsule.
What Are The Treatments For Lower Back Pain
Treatment for lower back pain is highly individualized and depends on a range of factors for each patient. We’ll highlight a couple of the more common ones here. Spinal mobilization may be used as a treatment for some patients experiencing lumbar pain. This is a more gentle chiropractic technique involving lower velocity stretching of the muscles and joints. Most treatments typically involve some form of spinal manipulation or manual manipulation, otherwise known as a “chiropractic adjustment.” A correctly aligned spine has been shown to improve overall bodily function, allowing joints, vertebrae, muscles, and organs to function as they should. Spinal alignment is achieved through manual manipulation, wherein the chiropractor will gently stretch, thrust, and apply pressure as they see fit until the body is properly aligned.
Do you suffer from lower back pain? Contact Dr. Lanoue’s chiropractic clinic in Mississauga to schedule an appointment today.
About:
You May Like: How To Relieve Lower Back Pain From Pulled Muscle
How Does Chiropractic Care Help Lower Back Pain
Your main question is probably: What does a chiropractor do for lower back pain?
Well, most chiropractors try to reduce the pain and help improve patients functionality. They teach people how to improve their health via exercises, proper use of ergonomics or other back pain therapies.
Licensed chiropractors can make mechanical adjustments to your body, ease pain and improve spinal alignment. They know how to use these adjustments to restore movement in your joints and spine. This process is known as spinal adjustment or manipulation.
Many people find these adjustments more effective over the long term than drugs and surgery, while having the added benefit of being much safer .
And this isnt just theory or some random, unproven idea. There have been many studies done showing the efficacy of these treatments. In fact, per the Harvard Medical School, spinal manipulation is considered an efficient treatment for lower back pain.
When You Should And Shouldnt See A Chiropractor
It is no surprise that many Americans suffer from chronic pain, whether its in the neck, lower back, or shoulders. Anyone who has experienced pain understands its all-consuming effect. Chronic pain sufferers will try almost anything to get relief.
Of the millions of Americans that suffer from chronic pain, a huge majority have found relief through chiropractic care, which is a complementary therapy that involves the physical alignment or adjustment of the spine that has moved out of position. Chiropractors use adjustments and manipulations to address alignment issues that cause pain and other symptoms all over the body, including impeding the bodys natural ability to heal. However, the benefits of chiropractic care do not end at pain relief. There are a plethora of other conditions and symptoms that can be alleviated with chiropractic care.
So, should you automatically assume you need to see a chiropractor? Not necessarily. Chiropractic care can help millions of people, but not everyone. Lets talk about when you should and shouldnt see a chiropractor.
Read Also: Who Makes The Best Mattress Topper For Back Pain