Chiropractic Session
People with back aches don’t have to turn to prescription drugs or surgery as a method of treatment. Instead, there is an alternative, non-invasive method such as chiropractic care. Chiropractors can use their hands to release pain in nerves caused by misaligned joints and bones. The most commonly used technique is called a spinal adjustment in which the doctor uses gentle force to realign the spine. The objective of an adjustment is to restore mobility and movement in the spine, resulting in decreased back pain. Other back pain treatments include massage, exercise instructions, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation. Stretching exercises focus on achieving flexibility in the muscles, discs, tendons, and ligaments to improve range of motion. It is also important to stretch the muscles around the injury as it can decrease stress and strain in other parts of the body. Research shows that back pain is less likely to occur if the back is stronger. Additionally, stretching that involves strengthening of the lumbar spine can reduce pain and increase back strength. Also, aerobic exercise is very important for rehabilitation and strengthening of the lower back. Active patients will have less episodes of lower back pain and will experience less back pain when an episode does occur. Patients with chronic back pain who participate in little exercise may eventually loose their ability to perform everyday activities. Lower back pain takes time to heal as there is no magic cure, but chiropractic treatment is a way to temporarily relieve pain.
Acupuncture Treatment
Many studies are showing that acupuncture relieves back aches for a long period of time and effectively cures the condition. Researchers studied a group of 1,000 people receiving six months of acupuncture treatment for back pain. More than half of the group experienced improvement. More individuals are seeking acupuncture treatment as an alternative to pain medication and surgery as there are no negative side effects to acupuncture. Typically, an acupuncture session lasts for an hour and a half and is painless. Patients may feel a pinch when needles are first inserted, but generally, pain is not encountered during treatment. Some sensations that may occur during acupuncture treatment range from nothing at all to mild tingling or slight numbness, but subside once the needle are removed. Sometimes patients will need to go through 5-10 treatments before experiencing any positive effects from treatment.
