The global effects of back pain are astounding. In the US alone, it is estimated that 4 in 5 will experience some kind of back problem. Back pain affects a person’s ability to work, exercise, sleep, and even perform normal daily tasks. As a result, it is the world’s leading cause of disability.
Common treatment for back pain involves painkillers, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxants, steroid injections, and even surgery. As a result, many are searching for natural ways to deal with the debilitating effects of back pain. Here are a few.
Ice – Ice serves as a natural anti-inflammatory. While it doesn’t fix the underlying issue, neither do anti-inflammatory drugs, and ice may provide the needed temporary relief.
Exercise – While many say that back pain limits what they can do as far as exercise is concerned, lack of fitness is at the root of many back problems. Therefore, starting with a light routine and particularly strengthening one’s core may help back pain.
Lifestyle Adjustments – When back pain is the result of overuse or repetitive use of the back muscles, changes in lifestyle can help. For example, a person may need to learn to lift with his knees instead of his back. Eating a nutritious diet and kicking a smoking habit are also good ways to help back pain.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic – Did you know that the upper neck plays a vital role in overall posture and can therefore affect back pain? Let’s take a closer look at this method of back pain relief.
When the atlas (top bone in the neck) is out of position, the head becomes tilted. This causes the body’s righting reflex to kick in. Bones, muscles, and soft tissue move in harmony to keep the eyes level with the horizon. This helps to maintain balance but may have certain other ill effects. For example, one shoulder may drop lower than the other or one hip may become raised up leaving legs a different length. As a result, pressure is placed on different parts of the spine. The pain occurs where the most pressure is placed, which is usually lower on the back.
Upper cervical chiropractic works to restore proper alignment of the atlas. This allows the rest of the back to realign naturally. Over time, back pain may be resolved as good posture is once again maintained.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
