Can A Chiropractor Help Your Lower Back Pain?

Lower back pain is a very common condition that most people experience at some point in their lives.  In the United Kingdom, almost 10 million Britons deal with lower back pain daily and it is now considered to be a leading cause of disability by medical experts.

Fortunately, there are some very effective treatments available for lower back pain.  One of the most best options is chiropractic treatment.  It involves the non-surgical manipulation of the spine to correct alignment issues and ensure the body’s musculoskeletal structure is correct.  This article will explain how a chiropractor can help you alleviate lower back pain.

Common causes of lower back pain

There are multiple potential causes of lower back pain, but the most common include:

Strains or tears in muscles and ligaments (mechanical pain)

Many people suffer from lower back pain because they have injured the muscles or ligaments in their back.  Often, this has occurred from sports injuries, picking up heavy objects, lifting while twisting the spine, or a serious accident.  Damage to your muscles and ligaments can even be caused by sleeping in an awkward position or having improper posture for many years.

Slipped (herniated) disc
The spinal column consists of a series of bones that are stacked upon one another.  It includes bones in the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacrum, and coccyx.

Each bone is cushioned by a disc, which helps your body absorb shocks.  The discs have two sections — a soft inner section and an tough outer ring.  If a disc has been damaged or weakened, the soft section may push through the tough outer lining.  This is called a herniated or slipped disc.  It can be very painful and cause inflammation in your lower back.

Pinched sciatic nerve
The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the human body.  It consists of many nerve roots that branch out from the spine in the lower back.  If a part of the sciatic nerve is compressed by a poorly aligned spine or an injury, it can cause a significant amount of back pain.  The pain from a pinched sciatic nerve can also appear in the buttocks and legs.

Referred pain

Referred back pain is pain caused by the legs, ankles, feet, and hips that affects the back.  This can often be corrected by improving a person’s posture.

How can a chiropractor help your lower back pain?

Chiropractic treatments involve a hands-on manipulation of the body to properly align the spine and the body’s musculoskeletal structure.  This helps the body heal without the need for surgery or medication and can relieve lower back pain. 

Chiropractors often perform a spinal adjustment to realign the spine and surrounding muscles.  This procedure involves the use of controlled force to the joints of the spine to bring the spine back into its natural position.  This kind of procedure can restore mobility, help the body heal and relieve pain in the lower back.  

Some of the techniques that may be used by a chiropractor when performing a spinal adjustment include:

  • Direct thrust technique
    The chiropractor uses high velocity force to realign a specific part of the back. This is what people commonly called having your back cracked.
  • Functional technique
    Force is gradually applied to a joint until a release is felt and the joint is re-aligned.
  • Table adjustments
    The chiropractor may use a table with a drop piece that releases when they apply pressure to the spine.
  • Pelvic blocking
    The chiropractor places wedges under the patient’s body, then gently moves a spinal disc away from a nerve. The wedge helps the chiropractor move the spine with less pressure.  This technique is often used to treat a pinched sciatic nerve or slipped disc.
  • Articulatory
    The chiropractor will move joints through their full range of motion.

Over the years, various studies have looked at the effectiveness of chiropractic treatments for dealing with lower back pain.  One study, published in 2013, found that chiropractic treatments significantly decreased pain and improved function in military veterans suffering from back pain.

Other studies have found that:

  • Chiropractic treatments produce equivalent or superior results compared to other treatment methods like medication and exercise for lower back pain relief.
  • Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy in conjunction with standard medical care offers a significant advantage for decreasing pain and improving physical functioning.
  • Patients with chronic low-back pain treated by chiropractors showed greater improvement and satisfaction at one month than patients treated by family physicians.

If you are suffering from lower back pain, consider visiting a chiropractor.  They may be able to correct any issues that you are experiencing and help you enjoy life without lower back pain.

Tracy Sellors
Always welcoming, staff is friendly and professional. The treatments have significantly helped with my back pain. I highly recommend to anyone seeking chiropractic care!
Tracy Sellors
02/12/2024
Michael Lucas
Really good. Would recommend. Honest and forthright approach.
Michael Lucas
26/11/2024
malcolm sawkins
First visit and professional from walk in to walking out.
malcolm sawkins
05/11/2024
Nathaly Naty
First time I went was due to my very bad back pain, didn't have much hope as doctors didn't do anything just kept me on medication that wasn't easing my pain much. Dr Burcu Cetinkaya helped me more than i could say in words, she made a plan for me, did my treatments and gave me exercises to ease my pain and it worked amazingly. I am not struggling with back pain and very happy with the result. Recomand with trust.
Nathaly Naty
02/11/2024
JONATHAN
Very polite, efficient and helpful the staff are capable and do areally good job
JONATHAN
30/10/2024
Becki Sargeant
Fantastic treatments, service and advice. Love my visits here
Becki Sargeant
28/10/2024