What Can a Chiropractor Do for Back Pain?
Most people have experienced back pain at some point, and many people think this is just something they should live with as it’s a part of life. However, back pain can actually be indicative of a number of conditions and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Chiropractors specialize in treating the spine, eliminating back pain, and improving general health. Whether you are experiencing mild or severe pain, a Broomfield chiropractor will be able to assess your spine’s condition and recommend a treatment plan to address your discomfort.
What Does a Chiropractor Do?
The practice of chiropractic care is based on the non-surgical, manual treatment of conditions that impact the nervous system and/or musculoskeletal system. Most chiropractic care is centered around spinal manipulation, known often as adjustments, and their impact on the structures near the spine. The goal of an adjustment is to return the spine to proper alignment, allowing it to function correctly as a part of the nervous system. When the spine is functioning well, communication between the brain, nerves, and other body parts is optimal, leading to the body working well and staying healthy. Depending on your condition, a Broomfield chiropractor may use high-velocity manipulations to improve functionality or low-velocity options to move and stretch tissues, increasing range of motion.
While many people worry that these adjustments will be painful, they typically involve little discomfort and are natural methods of treatment. You may hear sounds, like clicking or popping, during the adjustment, but this is simply pressure shifting within your joints. Many people find these sounds lead to immediate relief of tension or pain. Chiropractors specialize in these adjustments and will manipulate only the necessary parts of the spine to improve your condition.
Conditions Chiropractors Treat
People visit chiropractors to address a wide range of issues, as well as to maintain their general health. But probably the most common reason people seek chiropractic care is for back pain. This is because adjustments are one of the most effective ways to treat a variety of types of back pain.
Lower back pain is an extremely common complaint, especially when so many of us sit at desks for hours every day to work. The lower back is complex and designed to offer support and flexibility, which also makes it easily misaligned and in need of care. By performing adjustments that reduce joint restrictions and misalignments, inflammation can be reduced, function can be improved, and lower back pain is managed.
In addition to lower back pain, spinal misalignments can take many forms. You may experience intense pain when lying in one position, pain that radiates down one or both legs, or a dull and constant pain. Other symptoms such as weakness and tingling in the legs, swelling, or trouble with coordination can be indicators of a back injury as well.
What to Expect with Chiropractic Treatment
The goal of chiropractic care is not to offer a quick solution to hide pain, like medication, but instead to eliminate the root cause of your back pain. This may mean that your visits to a Broomfield chiropractor are different than what you are used to at other doctors in some ways. Your first visit will typically be a consultation, where you discuss your back pain symptoms, causes, and treatment plans. You will first get a physical examination where a provider can understand your spine’s condition and test your range of motion, posture, muscle tone, and other factors.
The information from this thorough evaluation will be used to design a custom treatment plan for your back pain. Chiropractic care is always based on your unique needs and symptoms, so each person’s plan may be different moving forward. Often, adjustments will be combined with stretches and exercises, non-invasive therapies, and lifestyle changes to provide a holistic treatment plan.
Chiropractors do not treat back pain in a single visit, but they create a trajectory that allows them to first return the body to alignment and then help it to maintain that alignment moving forward. Depending on the severity of your condition, chiropractic treatment may span weeks or months, though some people choose to seek chiropractic care indefinitely. As your condition improves or changes, your chiropractor will make changes to ensure your treatment remains effective.
Broomfield Chiropractic Care
If you are experiencing back pain or want to prevent future issues, Fox Integrated Health offers chiropractic care in Broomfield. With a focus on pain reduction, mobility improvement, and enhanced nerve communication, our practitioners will work with you to create a plan that addresses your pain and helps you return to daily life. Contact us today for your first consultation.