Chiropractic and Lower Back Pain - What to Expect During Treatment

Chiropractic care derives its roots from the timeless concept of the body's natural ability to heal itself. Chiropractors, osteopaths, and physical therapists all believe that the use of spinal manipulation to alter the position of bones, joints, and muscles greatly promotes self-healing while at the same time improving the body's structure.

In America, chiropractic and lower back pain are commonly associated with each other. In fact, medical research shows that chiropractic is an effective way to relieve patients suffering from mild to moderate lower back pain. Everyday, accidents on the road, the sports field, at home, or just about anywhere, occur and these accidents cause injury and pain. At least 7.7 million people who are experiencing acute back pain due to these injuries visit a chiropractor each year, seeking relief through the application of manual spinal manipulation.

It may be a stroke of bad luck, but if you are one of the millions of Americans who suffer from pain from injury, it pays to take a visit to a chiropractor and see where the initial consultation can take you.

The First Visit

Chiropractors are known in the medical industry to have gentle hands; they have to have those or else they aggravate the situation of their patients. There are no specific requirements for preparing your body for your first meeting with a chiropractor; you only have to be armed with your medical records and perhaps a recommendation from your physician that you are fit to undergo chiropractic care.

The chiropractor then performs a physical examination of your body, focusing largely on the spine. At times, he may have you get an X-ray for a more in-depth inspection of the spinal column. The results of these exams will be the basis for a chiropractic treatment plan to be implemented to alleviate pain from back injury over a certain period of time.

The Spinal Adjustment

Chiropractic and lower back pain go so frequently together that majority of all spinal adjustment procedures are done for treating back pain. During adjustment, your chiropractor uses his hands to push specific joints in the spinal column out of its normal range of motion using a sudden but steady force. You will hear a popping or cracking sound as each joint is adjusted, but you should not experience any sort of pain or discomfort. If you do, tell your chiropractor immediately to discontinue the session.

The Aftercare

Spinal adjustment is the core element of chiropractic, but it is not chiropractic itself. Chiropractors believe that their practice is a holistic treatment that involves other therapies to supplement spinal adjustment. Depending on your case, your practitioner may recommend massage therapy, an exercise program, application of heat or ice, and weight loss and lifestyle counseling.