Back pain impacts millions of Canadians every day. Some people are feeling it worse than others and are dealing with chronic issues, but back pain is hard to escape as you age. You don’t need to be a professional athlete to feel the effects of back pain. Even the slightest movements can cause something to fall out of alignment, whether you’re cleaning out the garage, playing with your kids, or rearranging furniture.
If you are one of the millions of Canadians dealing with back pain to some degree, you’ve probably experimented with a range of at-home pain relief options, treatments, and topicals. But if you haven’t already seen one, it’s time to consider visiting a chiropractor.
In this article, we’re going to discuss the role of a chiropractor and how they can help ease your back pain.
What is a chiropractor?
In Canada, chiropractors must spend a minimum of 3 years in undergraduate studies, complete a 4 or 5-year program at an Accredited Doctor of Chiropractic Education Programme, and complete national examinations regulated by the Canadian Chiropractic Examining Board.
These individuals are highly trained, licensed healthcare professionals that specialize in back and neck disorders. Specifically, chiropractors target the musculoskeletal system to ease pain. They rely on skill and expertise to manually adjust the composition of the back and neck, which can positively impact the nervous system to reduce pain, numbness, tingling, and more.
Chiropractors can treat a range of issues and can even help prevent potential problems down the road. A chiropractor can be extremely effective, especially if you’ve been injured.
How can a chiropractor help with back pain?
Contrary to popular belief, chiropractors can treat back pain in many ways. With extensive training and a variety of treatments at their disposal, chiropractors can treat a range of issues with specific treatments depending on the situation.
Spinal Manipulation
The number one and most well known technique used by chiropractors is called spinal manipulation. Also known as a manual adjustment, this technique involves the chiropractor using their hands to physically adjust the spine and joints while you lay flat. This activity is known to produce loud pops or cracks, which may sound scary, but is quite safe in reality. This technique is known to ease back and neck pain, improve posture and range of motion, and relieve tight muscles.
Not all spinal manipulation is the same. This technique will vary depending on the end goal and may look and feel different than other variations of manipulation. For example, when a chiropractor is trying to straighten your spine, their technique will be different than when they’re attempting to relieve the spine’s muscles via a compression adjustment.
Other Manual Therapies
Aside from physically adjusting your back, a chiropractor will use other methods to help ease your pain. Using this technique, the target is the muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Used in isolation or to complement physical manipulation, these other manual therapies work towards easing back pain. Here’s a look at some other manual therapies a chiropractor will use:
- Massage: Massage is used to relax the muscles around your spine and improve range of motion.
- Trigger Point Therapy: This type of therapy is a soft-tissue treatment used to target specific knots in the muscle, and could involve posture correction, massage, sustained pressure, and dry needling.
- Stretching: Stretching is a highly valuable technique used and encouraged by chiropractors, which works to stimulate muscles and blood flow and improve range of motion.
Lifestyle Advice
Along with performing physical adjustments and other manual therapies to ease pain and discomfort, chiropractors can provide valuable lifestyle advice. These highly educated professionals will evaluate your everyday habits, and work with you to make better decisions around nutrition, sleep, physical activity, and daily routine.
This advice will vary depending on the type of lifestyle you lead. If you’re an athlete, a chiropractor may recommend at-home exercises, stress management, and specific physical activity to heal injuries. If you work from home, a chiropractor may recommend different methods that impact your posture, muscles, and physical activity regiment.
If you’re experiencing back pain, get in touch with Sardis Chiropractic in Chilliwack. Our fully trained chiropractors are here to help ease your pain, providing a range of services including chiropractic, laser therapy, massage therapy, and orthotics. Contact us today if you’re ready to book an introductory appointment.
