Back
Pain Facts, Statistics
Although
chiropractors care for more than just lower back pain, many
patients visit chiropractors searching for relief from this
pervasive condition. In fact, 31 million Americans experience
low-back pain at any given time.
Several
interesting facts about back pain:
*One-half
of the American workforce admit to experiencing back pain
symptoms each year.
*Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed
work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason
for visits to the doctor’s office, outranked only
by upper-respiratory infections.
*Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic,
meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such
as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
*Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back
pain just for the more easily identified costs.
*Experts estimate that as many as 80% of the population
will encounter a back problem at some time in our lives.
What
Causes Back Pain?
The back is a
complex structure of bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.
You can sprain ligaments, strain muscles, rupture
disks, and irritate joints, all of which can lead
to back pain. While sports injuries
or accidents can cause back pain, sometimes
the slightest of movements, for example, picking up an object
from the floor, can have painful results. In addition, arthritis,
poor posture, obesity, and psychological stress can cause
or complicate back pain. Back pain can also directly result
from disease of the internal organs, such as kidney stones,
kidney infections, blood clots, or bone loss.
Manipulation,
a Treatment for Back Problems
Used
primarily by Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) for the last
century, manipulation has been largely ignored by the majority
of others in the health care community until recently. Now,
with today's increasing emphasis on treatment and cost effectiveness,
manipulation is receiving greater attention.
Chiropractic
spinal manipulation
is a safe and effective spine pain treatment. It reduces
pain, decreases medication, rapidly advances physical therapy,
and requires very few passive forms of treatment, such as
bed rest.5
In
fact, after an extensive study of all currently available
solutions for low back problems, the Agency for Health Care
Policy and Research, a federal government research organization.
recommended that low back pain sufferers choose the most
conservative care first. And it recommended spinal manipulation
as the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial
professional treatment for acute low back problems in adults.
The American
Chiropractic Association (ACA) urges you to make
an informed choice about your back care. contact a Doctor
of Chiropractic in your area to learn more about
how chiropractic manipulation may help
your pain.
Tips
to Prevent Back Pain
*Maintain
a healthy diet and weight.
*Remain active, under the supervision of your chiropractor.
*Avoid prolonged inactivity or bed rest.
*Warm up or stretch before exercising or performing other
physical activities, such as gardening.
*Maintain proper posture.
*Wear comfortable, low-heeled shoes.
*Sleep on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any
curve in your spine.
*Lift with your knees, keep the object close to your body,
and do not twist when lifting.
*Quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood flow, resulting in
oxygen and nutrient deprivation to spinal tissues.
*Work with your doctor of chiropractic to ensure that your
computer workstation is ergonomically correct.
Tannenbaum
Chiropractic
4059 Stone School Rd Ann Arbor Michigan 48108
Phone: (734) 929-0444 Fax: (734) 929-0350
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