Chronic back pain can be both debilitating and difficult to treat. Fortunately, a licensed chiropractor can deliver both pain relief treatment and longterm care management.
Here are some of the most proven chiropractic approaches to back pain.
Scan and Adjust
Chiropractic care can be synonymous with cracking and manipulating spinal alignment. However, blindly adjusting to address back pain will likely only deliver temporary pain relief and could make the problem even worse over the long haul.
- Imagining and Measuring: the best chiropractors begin by diagnosing the root causes and sources of chronic back pain. A comprehensive diagnostic scan of your back should involve X-rays and/or 3D imaging. Once these images are captured, your chiropractor can use sophisticated software to pinpoint abnormalities in your spine's alignment. After analyzing all of the data, your chiropractor should go over a range of treatment options for you to consider.
- Adjust: if appropriate, you chiropractor can make precise adjustments to correct any imbalances they might have found in your neuromuscular system. These adjustments might also include tools like cupping, e-stem, or acupuncture.
Proactive Approaches
The best chiropractic pain relief treatments for chronic back pain extend beyond your visit. Your chiropractor can design proactive pain relief management exercises and modalities to address the systemic causes of your pain.
- Foam rolling: high-density foam rollers are inexpensive and allow you to administer deep massaging in the comfort of your home. For back pain, laying on top of the foam roller, with your arms crossed, delivers deep massaging to your spinal region. While you foam roll, it's important to pay attention to the tight spots you feel. When you notice one of these tight spots, you'll want to slow down and inch along with these areas. You can also try leaning slightly to one side to deliver massaging relief to the muscles that bracket your spine.
- Mobility: increasing your flexibility and mobility can drastically decrease the strain place on your back. One easy mobility exercise you can try at home is hip T's. Begin by laying on the floor in a location where you have space to move. Next, hold your arms out wide and try to bring your opposite foot toward your opposite hand. While you extend your leg, make a point to keep your hips squared and flat to the floor. As you become more comfortable with this exercise, try controlling the movement and speed of your leg as it reaches toward your hand.