Chronic back pain is the most prevalent reason people miss work and visit the doctor. It is also one of the conditions many chiropractors deal with in America—about 35%.

Chronic back pain can result from the following:

• Injury

• Prolonged poor posture

• Muscle strains

• Accidents

Chiropractic care is one of the leading forms of treatment that provides lasting relief for chronic back pain. The condition has no single treatment.

 

What is Chiropractic Care?

Chiropractic care is holistic medicine that relieves pain and restores function. It works by utilizing manipulation and other alternative treatments. Chiropractors use hands-on techniques and may also use special tools and devices to perform specific changes to the skeletal structure. The therapy is based on the theory that restoring the balance of the spine and the associated structures allows the body to heal itself.

 

What Does Chiropractic Care Treat?

This therapy effectively restores movement in joints affected by injury or repetitive use. It helps relieve pain in bones, joints, and muscles from traumatic injury or poor posture and lifting habits.

It also effectively treats issues affecting the connective tissues in the joints, such as tendons and ligaments. Moreover, it is used with conventional medicine, especially in complex cases where the injury affects other functions of the body.
 

How Do Chiropractors Treat Chronic Back Pain?

They often use manual therapies to treat all forms of back pain, including chronic back pain. They may also include different stretches and exercises to perform at home.

Here are the two primary forms of chiropractic techniques they use for back pain:
 

Spinal and Manual Manipulation

One of the primary causes of back pain is abnormal vertebrae that lead to nerve irritation and impaired mobility. Manipulation involves short-lever arm movements and high-velocity thrusts to the particular vertebrae causing the issues.
The result is restored alignment that relieves the irritated nerves and improves mobility. This technique is also called a chiropractic adjustment. Experts support its use for lower back pain and recommend early use in treatment.

 

Mobilization

This technique stretches joints and muscles with slower-velocity thrusts, unlike spinal manipulation. These movements aim to restore the range of motion in the affected structures.

 

How Effective Is the Therapy for Chronic Back Pain?

The most recent expansive study on chiropractic care for back pain was done in 2018 and published in the JAMA Network Open. The study involved 750 military personnel. Half received different forms of care for back pain, and the other half received chiropractic care.
The patients who received chiropractic care showed significant improvement after six weeks and 12 treatments.

They reported the following improvements:

• More improvement in function and less disability

• Required less medication

• Had higher satisfaction with their treatment

• They reported less pain intensity

Very few side effects were reported in the patients, and only 10% had adverse side effects. These included joint and muscle stiffness, but 5% of the patients who received conventional care also had similar side effects.

For more on what to expect from chiropractic care for chronic back pain, visit Advanced Spinal Care and Regenerative Medicine at our office in Sebastopol, California. Call (707) 495-2192 to book an appointment today.