Research shows that spinal manipulation can help alleviate pain and improve function in people with acute low back pain, one of the most common types of back pain. Almost everyone suffers from back pain at some point. One treatment option is chiropractic care, which often includes spinal manipulation (also called manual manipulation), exercise advice, and personal care recommendations. Duke's spine health program offers chiropractic care and other conservative treatments for back pain as part of its comprehensive approach to helping you feel better faster. Chiropractic adjustments can alleviate low back pain.
Depending on the cause of your lower back pain, you may need several sessions. Research shows that spinal manipulation works to treat certain types of low back pain. Some studies also suggest that chiropractic adjustments may work for headaches and other spine-related conditions, such as neck pain. Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek out a chiropractor.
While there are many causes of back pain, a chiropractor can often help alleviate it in most cases. How exactly can a chiropractor help with back pain? Let's find out. Chiropractic care is a way to treat health problems affecting the nerves, muscles, bones, and joints in the body. The health care provider who provides chiropractic care is called a chiropractor. Chiropractors may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as losing weight if you're overweight or quitting smoking if you're a smoker, as both of these conditions can contribute to back problems.
During a chiropractic adjustment, the chiropractor will most often place you in certain positions to treat the affected areas. Tell your chiropractor about any physical problems you may have that make it difficult for you to do certain things. By placing the hands in precise places and using controlled movements, a chiropractor works on one joint at a time. A good chiropractor will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that may include an exercise and stretching routine at home.
You may hear popping or crackling sounds when the chiropractor moves your joints during the treatment session. You and your chiropractor will discuss the effectiveness of the treatment based on the goals you discussed in your first session. Here, Duke's chiropractor, Eugene Lewis, DC, MPH, answers questions about how chiropractic care can help you feel better. Chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists called chiropractors use their hands or a small instrument to apply controlled force to a spinal joint.
Chiropractors also often work with injuries to other parts of the body (knee injuries, shoulder injuries, the like), but I focus primarily on the spine. By using the hands to apply controlled force to a joint, the chiropractor pushes the joint beyond its usual range of motion. The evaluation process performed by your chiropractor at your first visit is to determine if you are at high risk of having these problems. Also tell your chiropractor if you have numbness, tingling, weakness, or any other nervous problem.
