Back pain... each of those words are four letter words for a reason... It is a malady that strikes fear into the hearts of those who have it, and raised eyebrows in those who have never had the experience. Let me start with a story... there was a young man, in his 30's, who was having severe lower back pain. His wife thought he was exaggerating in order to avoid the "honey do" list. The patient was treated and recovered nicely. Six months later the wife calls up stating that she had two things to say... One, she apologized for not believing that her husband had real pain.. and Two... she wanted to make an appointment for the back pain SHE now had...
Back pain. People of all ages have it and many are trying to figure out what to do about it. A bit of background info will bring us some sobering facts. Our human body was simply not designed to be in the upright posture. Now, that may sound absurd, but hear me out. If you look at the spine from a purely anatomical point of view, in both the upright, vertical posture and then from the sideways, horizontal posture, it would become obvious that there is much less pressure on each vertebra in the horizontal posture. Think about it... the downward gravitational force (our weight) is being shared equally by each and every vertebrae in the horizontal posture. However, when you stand up, all the weight that is exerted by your head and upper torso is being forced downward by gravity to put increased pressure on the segments of your spine as you go lower and lower..That is why the majority of people have "lower" back pain as their most common compliant. And that doesn't even include considering bending and lifting incorrectly.
You might be saying at this point... there is no hope. In a sense, you are right. There is no way, as a human being, that we can avoid the pressure and aggravation that our backs have to endure throughout our lives. However, there are ways to combat this situation.
First and foremost, is to be aware that these statements are true. You can't be an ostrich with your head in the sand, avoiding that fact that we have a tendency towards back pain.
Second, prevention is more important than treatment. Keeping stomach muscles strong, and your hamstrings AND CALVES stretched out in most cases, gives you the best chance for less back pain.
Third, Be sure to have good posture.. That means head up, chest out, stomach in.. That means tighten your stomach when you change positions. This helps to stabilize the lower back and pelvis which can prevent the onset of back pain. That means bending your knees when you bend over to lift something. In other words, be aware of your movement, move a bit more slowly and you can help your body combat back issues.
Fourth. Be smart and utilize chiropractic treatment, AND NOT JUST FOR PAIN RELIEF! Think about this for a moment.. Do you get your teeth cleaned regularly? Do you get a physical exam to make sure your heart and lungs are working properly, as well as other body functions? Do you try to eat good foods? Do you exercise regularly? We all know the answer is yes if you are concerned about your health. So why would you avoid getting your spine checked? Go to an anatomy book and learn that approximately 95% of all nerve commands that come from your brain travels to your vital cells, tissues and organs by way of the spinal cord. So why wouldn't you want to be sure that your spine is in its proper functional position?
Lastly, when you decide to receive chiropractic treatment to give yourself the best chance of having the best health possible, don't short change yourself by thinking you can receive care for a short time period. Spinal care is a lifetime commitment to your own personal health. The frequency of care is not nearly as important as the mindset to take care of your spine throughout your life. Following these five basic steps just might help you avoid having to say those four letter words!
Dr. Alfred Santoro has been in private chiropractic practice for 32 years. He has treated patients from infants to professional athletes. He determines your treatment based on your history, and your body's needs to customize a treatment regime that will help you enjoy the lifestyle you choose. He lives in Florida with his wife and four children and practices in Delray Beach, FL.
http://www.drsantoro.com
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