Back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor's office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections. In fact, it is estimated that low back pain affects more than half of the adult population each year and more than 10% of all people experience frequent bouts of low back pain.

The susceptibility of the low back to injury and pain is due to the fact that the low back,( like the neck) is a very unstable part of the spine. Unlike the thoracic spine, which is supported and stabilized by the rib cage, this instability in your spine allows you to have a great deal of mobility, i.e. the ability to touch your toes, tie your shoes or pick things up from the ground, but at the cost of increased risk of injury.

As long as your low back is healthy and functioning correctly, it can withstand tremendous forces without injury.   However, if your low back is out of adjustment or your supporting muscles are weakened, something as simple as taking a bag of groceries out of the trunk of your car, bending down to pet your dog or picking something up from the floor, can cause a low back injury.

Until recently, researchers believed that back pain would heal on its own.  However, research has shown that this is not true. Recent studies show that when back pain is not treated, while it may go away temporarily,it will most likely return. It is important to take low back pain seriously and seek professional chiropractic care. This is especially true with recurring pain.  Contact our chiropractor, Dr. Jeffrey Klein, located conveniently in the West Chester area  . . . he can help!

The Causes of Low Back Pain

Many different conditions can result in low back pain.  While sports injuries or accidents can lead to injury and pain, sometimes even the simplest movements, like picking up a pencil from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, conditions such as poor posture, bone loss, arthritis, obesity, stress, kidney stones, kidney infections, or blood clots,   can lead to pain.

Due to the fact that there are a whole lot of things that can cause low back pain, it is important to seek professional help. Some of those things can be quite serious if left untreated. 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 I see:

Subluxations

Whenever there is disruption in the normal movement or position of the vertebrae, the result is pain and inflammation.  This usually occurs at the transition between the lower spine and the sacrum in the lumbar spine.. Subluxations can lead to debilitating low back pain. The good news is that subluxations are easily treatable and often a significant reduction in pain is experienced almost immediately after treatment.

Disc Herniations

Contrary to popular belief, a herniated disc does not automatically mean that you are going to suffer from low back pain. Even thought they did not suffer any back pain from it, a study found that almost half of all adults had at least one bulging or herniated disc.  On the other hand, 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. Although a complete recovery is less common, further deterioration can often be avoided through regular chiropractic care.

Sprains, Strains and Spasms

Sprains, strains and spasms are often the source of low back pain among the weekend warriors. You know, the type who have very little physical activity during the week, but once the weekend arrives, they push themselves way too much. By the end of the weekend, they are lying flat on their back counting down the hours before they can get in to see their chiropractor. Small tears in the tissues, which can become painful, swollen and tight are often the result of overworking the muscles or ligaments of the low back. 

Stress

Whenever you become stressed, your body will respond by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate, which in turn floods your body with stress hormones and your muscles tighten up. When you are stressed all the time, the chronic tension causes your muscles to become sore, weak and loaded with trigger points. It is important to do some relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing, as well as get regular exercise if you are stressed out all of the time,

Treating Low Back Pain With Chiropractic

Chiropractic treatment for low back pain is usually pretty straightforward. Most commonly, it's simply a matter of adjusting the lower lumbar vertebrae and pelvis to re-establish normal motion and position of your bones and joints.

Chiropractic care for low back pain has been repeatedly shown to be the most effective treatment.  In fact, major studies have shown that chiropractic care is more effective, less expensive and has better long-term outcomes than any other treatment. This makes sense because chiropractic care is the only method of treatment that serves to re-establish normal vertebral motion and position in the spine. All other treatments, such as muscle relaxants, pain killers and bed rest, only serve to decrease the symptoms of the problem but does not correct the problem.

Klein Chiropractic Center

Dr. Jeffrey Klein

821 West Chester Pike

West Chester, Pa 19380

610-918-9455