What is Low Back Pain?
Did you know that low back pain (LBP) is actually the leading cause of disability worldwide? More often than not, it’s associated with costly, ineffective and even sometimes harmful care. Unhelpful beliefs ingrained by trusted medical professionals about LBP are not only associated with greater levels of pain, but also increased levels of disability, work absenteeism, medication use and healthcare seeking. ie. Your PCP, Ortho specialist, Physical Therapist, Massage therapist and Chiropractor!
What is a Chiropractor?
Chiropractic care is a patient-centred, non-invasive, hands-on, regulated health care profession focused on your spine, muscles, joints and nervous system. After an initial appointment to assess your condition, your chiropractor will use their clinical expertise and the best available evidence to make a diagnosis and recommend treatment options for you.
Chiropractic care is the primary method of treatment for many medical conditions, such as low back pain, neck pain and extremity pain. For other conditions, such as pain associated with arthritis, diabetes or osteoporosis, chiropractors and other health professionals recommend an interprofessional approach. So in these situations, your chiropractor will coordinate with other health care professionals in your circle of care to support your overall treatment with chiropractic care to relieve your spine, muscle or joint pain.
Chiropractors use the best available evidence and clinical expertise to diagnose issues that affect your body’s movement. They treat them without medication or surgery and prevent them from returning. Chiropractic care can also promote health and improve your quality of life, as well as alleviate pain.
How Can Your Chiropractor Help with Low Back Pain?
Over the past decades, governments, society and patients have an increasing expectation of an evidence-based approach to health care. Forward thinking chiropractors understand that the profession was founded on outdated models of care and a shift in treatment approach is needed. By incorporating the best available research, patient preferences and clinical experience, evidence-based chiropractors provide valuable health care services to their communities.
On your first visit your chiropractor will take the time to hear about the details of your pain and use a comprehensive exam to help determine the cause of your pain/injury. Following the first visit, you will receive a comprehensive report of findings, where your questions will be answered and your pain/injury better understood. Your chiropractor will then go over their recommendations of care based on the evidence, their clinical experience and your preferences & goals.
Chiropractors not only use manual therapy, such as manipulation, soft tissue therapy and dry needling but also insist on the importance of patient education and understanding. You will leave your appointment with peace of mind knowing a thorough plan of management is in place, self management strategies have been discussed, goals have been set and recovery is in sight.
Exercise is an important part of all treatments. In order to optimize outcomes, you have an important role to play in supporting your care. Studies have shown that manual therapy works best and is most effective when done in conjunction with other therapies like exercise training. Your chiropractor will take you through a rehab regime tailored to your injury, ability level and goals. So, whether you’re just trying to live pain free, run a 5k, golf on weekends or training to PR that back squat, your chiropractor will create and coach you through a program just for you.
Who Gets Back Pain?
Over 80% of people will experience low back pain at least once in their lifetime. Activities such as sitting down for long periods of time, repetitive movements and awkward work positions can all lead to an increase in pain and discomfort.
It’s important to remember that complete rest is RARELY the answer, and skipping out on that workout you had planned may actually not be the best way to get rid of your pain. Just because your movement hurts, doesn’t mean it’s causing you more harm. You may not be able to hit that PR deadlift or squat that day, but remember the things that you CAN do, and that acute lower back pain’s natural history is actually pretty short, often only 2-14 days!
Find a chiropractor or practitioner who not only helps to decrease your pain, but continues to empower you, optimizes your movement and gives you positive coping strategies. These concepts are especially important in the recovery process if you are worried or unsure about how to manage your pain.
Why Do We Experience Back Pain?
There are many misconceptions about what leads to low back pain. One you have maybe heard is that your back hurts because you have a “weak core” or “inhibited glutes.” As a result of being told that core stability is great and will protect our spine, and that we should stay as upright as possible, we are actually increasing the amount of tension in that area! Often times, chiropractors, physical therapists and personal trainers put so much emphasis on limiting lumbar spine motion during exercise, we forget our spine is strong and resilient and fail to strengthen and mobilize it in all its ranges of motion.
Does Posture Really Matter?
While there is evidence that the posture, movement and muscle tension of people with chronic low back pain might differ from those without pain, there is no evidence that most people require more “core” muscle tone. In fact, there is emerging evidence that those experiencing the most severe pain and disability would benefit from reducing their muscle tone and regaining freedom of movement. A large majority of the population who experiences either chronic back pain (that has resulted from no particular injury) or recurrent, random back pain tends to brace themselves into these positions and movements that are “tensing their core”. We don’t even realize it! Think about walking around with a clenched fist all day long. If you’re consistently tensing a part of your body, you are probably going to feel a bit (or a lot) sore afterwards.
So remember, core stability may not be the end all be all when it comes to “fixing” low back pain, but it still is an option for rehab. The deep lumbar muscles aren’t trained to fix an unstable spine, but rather it’s thought that serve as a way to begin a progressive loading program. Your chiropractor can help you understand this concept!⠀
Do I need an MRI or X-ray?
Have you had an X-ray or MRI? It’s important to not let the “findings” define you and your “injury.“ “Degeneration” is a normal part of aging and is poorly correlated to pain. Actually, over 80% of adults over the age of 20 have some kind of “degenerative” change or “disc bulge.” Remember, back pain is “multifactorial.” This means we must consider things like lifestyle, psychological components, social support, mobility, and more.
Dr. Brittany Zuback [@dr.brittzubes.dc]
November 29th 2022
Questions or concerns about your low back pain? Contact us today by visiting www.khalsachiropractic.com
Book your appointment online at our Back Bay Location here: www.khalsachiropractic.Janeapp.com
Or call us:
Back Bay: (857) 250-2939 or at our Cambridge: (617) 492-5438
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