Lower back pain is an exceptionally common complaint and it is estimated that 80% of Americans will suffer from it at some point during their lifetime. Lower back pain is also a leading cause of absence from work due to ill health, although more than half of cases are believed to be as a direct result from the patient doing a job that involves continual sitting. 

In many cases, the back pain is either not severe enough for the patient to seek professional intervention or resolves itself within a few days. However, there is a percentage of individuals who suffer from chronic, recurrent back pain and are reliant on pain medication to help keep them comfortable day today. 


What causes lower back pain?


The lower back, also known as the lumbar, works with the bones of the pelvis to help support the weight of our body and stabilize, rotate, flex and bend the spinal column.

Lower back pain has been attributed to many different things, but experts tend to agree that a sedentary lifestyle, combined with the growing obesity problem, has definitely contributed to the increasing number of people experiencing lower back pain. Posture is also a significant cause of lower back pain, with sitting at laptops and computers for hours on end, sitting too long while driving and when watching television all associated with this type of discomfort.

Occasionally, back pain can be attributed to a medical condition such as sciatica, an irritation of the nerve that runs from the pelvis to the feet, or a slipped/herniated disc. Nevertheless, often it is impossible to pinpoint an exact cause of lower back pain, and if this is the case, doctors tend to refer to it as ‘non-specific back pain’. 

How can visiting a chiropractor help my lower back pain?


You will be asked to attend a consultation with your chiropractor so that your condition can be assessed. This will involve finding out more about your general health and lifestyle, as well as discussing your symptoms and undergoing a physical examination of your back. Using this information, it will be possible for your chiropractor to recommend the best approach to treat your lower back pain. 

Every patient is unique and so you will receive an individualized treatment plan based on your current requirements. These are usually flexible as at this stage it isn’t possible to know exactly how well you will respond to the chiropractic adjustments. These are short, acute and sudden movements made to your body with the purpose of taking the pressure off of the nerves and spinal cord, which is almost certainly causing your pain. If you have an underlying injury, spinal manipulations which help speed up the healing process. 

If you are experiencing lower back pain, chiropractic care is a popular and successful treatment. Don’t suffer unnecessarily, book an appointment for an assessment today.