Updated: Jun 12, 2019
Do you suffer from aches and pains in your lower back? Well you are not alone! According to the
Australian Bureau of Statistics, It is estimated that 70-90% of Australians will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their lives. This pain could range from mildly uncomfortable to extremely debilitating, and can affect your mood, work, personal relationships, finances and so much more.
Whether you are experiencing chronic pain or acute pain, it can be helpful to seek advice from a healthcare practitioner rather than self diagnosing and resorting to generic pain medication to mask the problem.
A recent review of the guidelines for the management of non-specific lower back pain suggest that spinal manipulation, massage and dry needling are more effective treatment options over drugs and other medication.
The guideline review suggested that if your back pain doesn’t self resolve, it should be first treated with a combination of spinal manipulation, massage, heat, dry needling and exercise.
For treatment of lower back pain, chiropractors use a variety of these non-surgical treatments including:
- Spinal Manipulative Therapy (Adjustments) - Chiropractors perform adjustments by using their hands or a device to apply a controlled force to a joint of the spine. The goal of the treatment is to relieve pain and improve physical functioning.
- Massage - Research shows that massage therapy can have several potential health benefits for back pain sufferers including increased blood flow and circulation, decreased tension in muscles and increased endorphin levels, all of which can help speed up recovery.
- Exercise - Rehabilitative exercise plays an important role in helping to reduce pain and improving subsequent function in patients with low back pain. An ongoing exercise program also reduces the likelihood and severity of future episodes of lower back pain.
- Dry Needling - Dry needling involves inserting very small solid acupuncture needles, into the skin, muscles or ligaments to create a response in the body.
It is used to help address muscle tightness or tension, persistent connective tissue irritation, swelling or pain.
It can be hard to identify the cause of chronic lower back pain, especially in the absence of an injury or medical condition, however, a sedentary lifestyle and poor posture are risk factors for this condition. Chiropractors can advise on self-management of chronic back pain symptoms through exercise and lifestyle modification. Book an appointment with Dr Kade Anderson (Chiropractor) or Dr Hannah Pace (Chiropractor)
for more information on how you can improve your spinal health and get relief from lower back pain.
