Good Morning America's 3 Effective Tips to Overcome Low Back Pain
By Sara Butler
If you suffer from low back pain, you’re not alone. On Good Morning America recently, Dr. Jennifer Ashton described a report published in the journal The Lancet about the prevalence of low back pain all over the world. Lower back pain afflicts 540 million people worldwide. That’s not simply a condition -- that’s a global public health issue.
There’s good news. If you suffer from low back pain, you don’t just have to simply grin and bear it. Spinal manipulation, superficial heat, and exercise are the recommended forms of treatment, according to the study that Dr. Ashton called the “magnum opus” of back pain.
The report says the first line of defense in the battle against low back pain is education; you must learn what works for you -- and what doesn’t work -- if you hope to win this fight.
With more than 400 clinics nationwide, The Joint Chiropractic is positioned to be a key healthcare provider for aching Americans. At The Joint, we love to arm our patients with the information they need to lead healthier and happier lives, so here are a few of the guidelines that were recommended by the experts to help you prevent, or finally find relief from, low back pain.
Get a Spinal Adjustment!
The term “spinal manipulation” as described in The Lancet report may seem a little strange or scary if it’s new to you, but it’s nothing to be frightened of. Chiropractors, who refer to it as an adjustment, are highly trained in hands-on spinal manipulation techniques to help relieve joint restriction and dysfunction in the spine.
Low back pain is a complex problem and people who suffer from it don’t always share the same root cause. So, you can’t simply say that someone has low back pain due to “XYZ,” because a variety of things can contribute to low back pain and it differs from person to person. Two of those things are joint restriction and dysfunction in the spine.
Your spine supports everything you do. Freeing the vertebral restrictions in the spine is critical for optimal health. Your low back pain may be the result of these restrictions, but removing the restrictions has other benefits; importantly, the spine also encases the spinal cord, which controls everything you do both voluntarily and involuntarily (such as blinking or breathing), and impacts your immune system. Pain throughout the body -- not just limited to low back pain -- may emanate from the condition of the spine, which is why spinal manipulation in the hands of a professional is important.
Heat it Up!
Another recommendation made in The Lancet is to apply heat to your lower back to help control the pain. Warmth and heat are associated with comfort but utilizing heat therapy to treat your lower back pain can initiate healing and pain relief benefits.
How does it work? Heat packs, heating pads, heat wraps, hot baths (it’s a great excuse to get that hot tub you’ve always wanted!), and warm gel packs are inexpensive but highly effective ways to deliver heat to the area. If circulation is restricted to the area around the lower part of the spine from problems with the muscles or soft tissues, then that sends pain signals to the brain. Heat therapy up to 20 minutes per session can help to improve circulation and reduce the pain signals, helping provide relief.
Get Moving!
A lot of people think if you’re in pain, then you need to rest. While that may be true for acute injuries, it’s not true for back pain. In fact, one of the biggest ways to fight back against back pain is to get active!
Movement repairs and nourishes the muscles, joints, spinal discs, and ligaments in your spine. Being active helps these structures get the nutrients they need to get healthy and stay that way. Pain certainly can make it difficult to find the motivation to exercise, but if you don’t get your body moving, it can weaken the muscles that support the spine, reduce flexibility, and make your body feel stiff and deconditioned.
Exercise also has the added benefit of helping reduce inflammation in your body. Swelling often makes any nerve irritation worse, thereby increasing pain and keeping you locked into a vicious cycle of pain and discomfort.
Chiropractors at The Joint can work with you to find stretching, strength training, and aerobic conditioning exercises that will work best for you. It can take time, but getting your body moving, improving your health, and reducing your back pain will never be a decision you regret.
Low back pain may be a global health crisis, but it’s not one we must face alone. Find the nearest location of The Joint Chiropractic, with its affordable services and walk-in policy, and start your journey today to a healthier, pain-free life!
The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images and other material contained on this page are for informational purposes only. The purpose of this post is to promote broad consumer understanding and knowledge of various health topics, including but not limited to the benefits of chiropractic care, exercise and nutrition. It is not intended to provide or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your chiropractor, physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this page.