My back pain:
www.Amerchiro.Org
back pain facts & statistics
although chiropractors care for more than
just back pain, many patients visit
chiropractors looking for relief from this
pervasive condition. In fact, 31 million
americans experience low-back pain at any
given time.1
a few interesting facts about back pain:
*
one-half of all working americans
admit to having back pain symptoms each
year.2
*
back pain is one of the most common
reasons for missed work. In fact, back
pain is the second most common reason for
visits to the doctor’s office,
outnumbered only by upper-respiratory
infections.
*
most cases of back pain are
mechanical or non-organic—meaning they
are not caused by serious conditions, such
as inflammatory arthritis, infection,
fracture or cancer.
*
americans spend at least $50 billion
each year on back pain—and that’s just
for the more easily identified costs.3
*
experts estimate that as many as 80%
of the population will experience a back
problem at some time in our lives.4
what causes back pain?
The back is a complicated structure of
bones, joints, ligaments and muscles. You
can sprain ligaments, strain muscles,
rupture disks, and irritate joints, all of
which can lead to back pain. While sports
injuries or accidents can cause back pain,
sometimes the simplest of movements—for
example, picking up a pencil from the
floor— can have painful results. In
addition, arthritis, poor posture,
obesity, and psychological stress can
cause or complicate back pain. Back pain
can also directly result from disease of
the internal organs, such as kidney
stones, kidney infections, blood clots, or
bone loss.
Manipulation as a treatment for back
problems
used primarily by doctors of chiropractic
(dcs) for the last century, manipulation
has been largely ignored by most others in
the health care community until recently.
Now, with today's growing emphasis on
treatment and cost effectiveness,
manipulation is receiving more widespread
attention.
Chiropractic spinal manipulation is a safe
and effective spine pain treatment. It
reduces pain, decreases medication,
rapidly advances physical therapy, and
requires very few passive forms of
treatment, such as bed rest.5
in fact, after an extensive study of all
currently available care for low back
problems, the agency for health care
policy and research—a federal government
research organization—recommended that
low back pain sufferers choose the most
conservative care first. And it
recommended spinal manipulation as the
only safe and effective, drugless form of
initial professional treatment for acute
low back problems in adults.6
the american chiropractic association
(aca) urges you to make an informed choice
about your back care. To learn more about
how chiropractic manipulation may help
you, contact a doctor of chiropractic in
your area. Search our online database
of aca members to find a doctor of
chiropractic near you.
Tips to prevent back pain
*
maintain a healthy diet and
weight.
*
remain active—under the
supervision of your doctor of
chiropractic.
*
avoid prolonged inactivity or bed
rest.
*
warm up or stretch before exercising
or other physical activities, such as
gardening.
*
maintain proper posture.
*
wear comfortable, low-heeled
shoes.
*
sleep on a mattress of medium
firmness to minimize any curve in your
spine.
*
lift with your knees, keep the
object close to your body, and do not
twist when lifting.
*
quit smoking. Smoking impairs blood
flow, resulting in oxygen and nutrient
deprivation to spinal tissues.
*
work with your doctor of
chiropractic to ensure that your computer
workstation is ergonomically correct.
References:
1. Jensen m, brant-zawadzki m, obuchowski
n, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of
the lumbar spine in people without back
pain. N engl j med 1994; 331: 69-116.
2. Vallfors b. Acute, subacute and
chronic low back pain: clinical symptoms,
absenteeism and working environment. Scan
j rehab med suppl 1985; 11: 1-98.
3. This total represents only the more
readily identifiable costs for medical
care, workers compensation payments and
time lost from work. It does not include
costs associated with lost personal income
due to acquired physical limitation
resulting from a back problem and lost
employer productivity due to employee
medical absence. In project briefs: back
pain patient outcomes assessment team
(boat). In medtep update, vol. 1 issue
1, agency for health care policy and
research, rockville, md, summer 1994.
4. In vallfors b, previously cited.
5. Time to recognize value of
chiropractic care? Science and patient
satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of
spinal manipulation. Orthopedics today
2003 feb; 23(2):14-15.
6. Bigos s, bowyer o, braen g, et al.
Acute low back problems in adults.
Clinical practice guideline no.14. Ahcpr
publication no. 95-0642. Rockville, md:
agency for health care policy and
research, public health service, u.S.
Department of health and human services,
december, 1994.
