A chiropractor is a great specialist to see if you have
lower back pain. Chiropractors believe that since the nerves
to most of our body pass through the vertebrae of the spine,
spinal problems that affect these nerves can be the cause
of many of our health problems.
A chiropractor uses his hands to manipulate the spinal column
and body in ways to fight pain and improve health. Chiropractic
treatment of course differs a bit depending on the chiropractor
and the pain being treated, however if you have lower back
pain you can rest assured a chiropractor will be able to
help reduce your pain.
A chiropractor does not include drugs or surgery in chiropractic
treatment, but simply adjusts the spine in order to gain
a more proper position. With chiropractic treatment the spine
can be properly aligned reducing lower back pain significantly.
Many visits are made to a chiropractor each year for lower
back pain and after chiropractic treatment these individuals
notice a marked difference in their lower back pain and get
back to their normal active lifestyles.
The chiropractor will diagnose the cause of your back pain,
usually by hands-on examination and diagnostic imaging such
as x-rays, a CT scan, myelogram, MRI, or a bone scan. Once
the chiropractor has pinpointed the cause of your lower back
pain he will be able to develop a chiropractic treatment
plan just for you, to realign the vertebrae and help reduce
your pain. This often involves manipulation of the spinal
column, since chiropractors do not perform surgery.
Additional treatments: Chiropractors do
not prescribe drugs, but treatments sometimes include heat
therapy, message, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound.
Back supports, braces and taping may also be used. If the
chiropractor suspects that your back pain is caused by something
other than a misalignment of the spine, he will refer you
to the appropriate specialist. However, most chiropractors
will be able to help you reduce your lower back pain over
a series of appointments.
The Alexander therapy, often referred to as the Alexander
technique, is not so much an exercise or treatment but rather
an education plan that teaches you how to reduce stress and
tension in the body. Alexander therapy also teaches you how
to maintain enough energy for all of your daily activities.
With the Alexander therapy you will learn how to eliminate
the tension from your body and reduce your back pain.
Frequently individuals tighten the muscles in their back
without even realizing it due to poor posture or overly good
posture, regardless the lack of free range of movement results
in tightened muscles, built up tension, and an achy back
and people never realize the Alexander therapy can help them
change this. However, using the Alexander therapy individuals
learn how to move their bodies, unlearn bad movement habits,
and as a result have less back pain.
The Alexander therapy teaches individuals that their back
pain is a direct result of how they do certain things and
in order to reduce back pain individuals are taught via Alexander
therapy how to move in a freer way and to expend less energy
when doing activities. Amazingly, the Alexander therapy points
out that individuals use more energy than they need to for
many activities resulting in back pain, exhaustion, and many
other common complaints.
