Chiropractic care is a comprehensive approach to managing back pain through various techniques, including chiropractic adjustments. These adjustments help align the spine, reduce nerve pressure, and improve mobility. Here are ten common back pain conditions treated with chiropractic adjustments, along with the specific techniques used and complementary exercises to enhance pain relief.
Commonly referred to as a “slipped” or “ruptured” disk, this condition causes mild to severe pain and limits mobility. A herniated disk occurs when a tear in the annulus (the rubbery, tough exterior of the spinal disk) allows some of the nucleus (the softer center of the spinal disk) to push through. This irritates the surrounding nerves, leading to pain and weakness in the back.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
Spinal Manipulation and Flexion Distraction help realign the spine and reduce nerve pressure.
Complementary Exercise:
Cat-Cow Stretch: Improves spinal flexibility and reduces tension in the lower back.
In this context, an injury refers to something that has caused acute (lasting less than six weeks) or subacute (lasting 6 to 12 weeks) back pain. Your chiropractor will work with you to determine the severity of the injury and any affected areas, as well as any medical history that may be impacting the injury. The goal is to find the right adjustment procedures and care regimen for your specific needs, to relieve pain and improve any loss of mobility.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
The Diversified Technique and the Thompson Drop-Table Technique relieve pain and restore mobility.
Complementary Exercise:
Child’s Pose: Stretches the back and relieves tension.
It is important to understand that not all pain is going to have a definitive source or root cause, and back pain is no different. Though the term lower back pain may seem general, it tends to refer to back pain as a result of multiple or unfindable causes. Sometimes, you just hurt.
Chiropractors perform an examination to diagnose any possible sources of pain before determining the best adjustment plan for you. Pressure is applied to any abnormal vertebrae or problem areas, to relieve pain and return any functionality or movement lost.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
The Diversified Technique and Spinal Mobilization help relieve pain and restore movement.
Complementary Exercise:
Bridge Exercise: Strengthens the lower back, glutes, and hamstrings.
Though it may be the result of an injury or the cause of lower back pain, pulled, strained, and torn muscles may require different or separate chiropractic adjustments. Since the goal is to relieve pain, you’ll likely find most chiropractic treatments for muscles and tendons are lighter than others, so as not to exacerbate the condition. Adjustment helps to correct muscle imbalances and improve mobility, allowing muscles to rest and properly heal.
Chiropractic Treatment that Helps:
The Activator Method provides gentle adjustments to correct imbalances.
Complementary Exercise:
Bird-Dog: Enhances stability and strengthens the core and lower back.
While the pain and numbness associated with neuropathy is often felt more in the legs and arms, it can also be felt in the back and typically stems from nerves around the spine.
Neuropathy is caused by compressed nerves being irritated, leading to pain and numbness in the arms, back, and/or legs. The point of chiropractic adjustment for neuropathy is to relieve the pressure on the nerves, which reduces pain and returns function. Always remember to contact your primary care physician before making a chiropractic appointment for neuropathy.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
Spinal Mobilization and Flexion Distraction relieve nerve pressure and restore function.
Complementary Exercise:
Pelvic Tilts: Strengthens the lower back and improves pelvic stability.
It must first be noted that inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis should not be treated with chiropractic adjustments. However, osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage between bones begins to wear down, can be helped with chiropractic adjustments. Your chiropractor works with you to determine problem areas and figure out if anything beyond your back is being affected. From there, an adjustment plan is developed to help relieve any pain and improve mobility.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
The Diversified Technique and Spinal Decompression help relieve pain and improve joint mobility.
Complementary Exercise:
Bridge Exercise: Enhances stability and reduces pain in affected joints.
A condition wherein the bones no longer produce new tissue, osteoporosis can lead to a loss of strength and mobility. Chiropractic adjustment for osteoporosis is aimed at strengthening the surrounding muscles to compensate for the strength lost and improve functionality.
The type of adjustments your chiropractor performs depends on the severity of your condition. You should always coordinate chiropractic care for osteoporosis with your primary care physician. If you have severe osteoporosis, do not seek chiropractic care.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
Gentle techniques like the Activator Method to strengthen surrounding muscles.
Complementary Exercise:
Cat-Cow Stretch: Improves overall spinal flexibility.
When the sacroiliac joint is compressed, injured, or pinched, it can cause pain in the back and legs. Moreover, both from the pain and any abnormality on the joint, it limits your ability to move. A chiropractic adjustment reduces the amount of pressure on the joint, improving mobility and relieving pain. If your sacroiliac pain is severe, be sure to consult your primary care physician before looking for a chiropractic adjustment.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
The Gonstead Adjustment and the Thompson Drop-Table Technique reduce joint pressure and improve mobility.
Complementary Exercise:
Child’s Pose: Provides gentle stretching for the lower back.
A compression of the sciatic nerve, sciatica is often caused by a bone spur or a herniated disk that puts pressure on that nerve. This condition can lead to inflammation, numbness in the legs, and pain. Sciatica feels a little bit different for everybody, with pain levels ranging from slight discomfort to extreme pain. Your pain and tenderness levels help to determine the specific adjustment procedures your chiropractor will use, but the end result is improved spinal function and movement, with reduced pain.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
Spinal Decompression and Flexion Distraction relieve nerve pressure and improve spinal function.
Complementary Exercise:
Pelvic Tilts: Helps to strengthen the lower back and improve pelvic alignment.
A sideways curvature of the spine, scoliosis is a condition that leads to alignment and posture issues, and can cause pain. While chiropractic adjustments cannot “cure” scoliosis, they can provide immense relief from pain. Regular adjustments have been shown to help improve alignment and, in conjunction with other care methods, can provide immense relief. For severe scoliosis, it is recommended to consult your primary care physician before seeking out adjustment.
Chiropractic Treatments that Help:
The Diversified Technique and Spinal Mobilization help improve alignment and reduce pain.
Complementary Exercise:
Bird-Dog: Supports proper posture and reduces strain on the spine.
Chiropractic adjustment is a valuable treatment method for a variety of different issues. Always be sure to provide a complete medical history to your chiropractor to achieve the best results. If you have concerns over the severity of your condition, contact your primary care physician before your chiropractic consultation.
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