Back Pain Facts

Back Pain Facts

Patients who have symptoms of nerve or spinal cord compression should not undergo chiropractic manipulations until cleared to do so by a medical doctor. Furthermore, there are rare problems, such as infections and tumors of the spine, that should not be treated by chiropractors. Unfortunately, there are stories of patients who undergo manipulations of the spine and sustain devastating complications because of nerve injury. These cases are rare, but it is important that there is a good understanding of the cause of back pain before initiating manipulations of the spine.

The chiropractic approach is to find the cause of the pain and treat it directly. This may involve

realigning the spine or extremities by chiropractic adjustments, physiotherapy for the muscles

and ligaments, rehabilitative exercises, or a combination of these. Sometimes the doctor of

chiropractic will suggest exercises or activities to prevent a reoccurrence of the problem.  This

may provide a long term solution to the condition through prevention. Chiropractic spinal manipulation is proven to be a safe, effective, and affordable treatment option. Chiropractic care reduces pain, restores normal range of motion, and decreases the need for medication. 

A chiropractor first takes a medical history, performs a physical examination, and may use lab tests or diagnostic imaging to determine if treatment is appropriate for your back pain. The treatment plan may involve one or more manual adjustments in which the doctor manipulates the joints, using a controlled, sudden force to improve range and quality of motion. Many chiropractors also incorporate nutritional counseling and exercise/rehabilitation into the treatment plan. The goals of chiropractic care include the restoration of function and prevention of injury in addition to back pain relief.

For chronic low back pain, prospective RCT compared: (1) chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy (SMT) plus trunk-strengthening exercises with (2) chiropractic SMT plus trunk-stretching exercises and (3) trunk-strengthening exercises combined with an NSAID (drug). Enrollees (174) were measured for low back pain, disability, and functional health status at 5 and 11 weeks.