Back pain can be annoying, frustrating, and even debilitating. If you’ve experienced it, you know it can impact your daily life, making simple activities like walking, working, or enjoying sports a challenge¹.

The Widespread Back Pain Problem

Back pain is incredibly common, affecting over half a billion people globally at any given time¹. In fact, it’s now the leading cause of disability worldwide¹. Unfortunately, the problem is on the rise, with more people experiencing back pain each year¹.

The Mystery of Back Pain

One frustrating aspect of back pain is that doctors often can’t pinpoint its cause. Most of the time, it’s not due to fractures or infections but rather changes in how your back moves and functions, which in turn affects how your brain perceives pain¹²–³. Your brain can decide that you should feel pain, even if there’s no actual tissue damage, merely a perceived threat⁴⁵.

Pain’s Origin in the Brain

Research has shown that pain is created in your brain⁴⁵. This knowledge may not change how you feel when you’re suffering from back pain, but it has significant implications for your recovery.

The Role of Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care can play a crucial role in addressing chronic back pain. It’s all about improving the communication between your brain and body, enhancing your overall function⁶. Studies suggest that chiropractic adjustments can positively impact brain function, particularly in the pre-frontal cortex, a region involved in the development of chronic pain⁷⁶⁸⁹.

Preventive Chiropractic Care

Regular chiropractic care, even when you’re not experiencing back pain, can be beneficial. Studies have shown that preventive or maintenance chiropractic care can reduce the number of days with pain and improve overall well-being¹⁰. It’s like exercise for your spine, helping it function better¹⁰.

Evidence-Based Benefits

Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of chiropractic care in reducing pain intensity, disability, and medication use among individuals with back pain¹¹¹². Current guidelines even recommend chiropractic care as a non-drug-based healthcare option before considering medications¹³¹⁴.

Remember that chiropractic care offers more than relief from back pain. It enhances the connection between your brain and body, allowing you to function optimally⁶. So, whether you’re seeking relief from back pain or striving for peak performance, consider seeing your family chiropractor. Your spine and brain will thank you for it!

 

Footnotes

1. Source: Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
2. Source: The Spine Journal – Pain, Motor Function, and Sensory Function in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Assessment ↩
3. Source: Physiotherapy Research International – Changes in Lumbar Movement in People with Low Back Pain Are Related to Decreased Lumbar Muscle Activity and Muscle Fatigue ↩
4. Source: The Journal of Pain – Pain as a Voluntary Action: An Unexpected Role for the Motor Cortex in Pain Perception ↩ ↩²
5. Source: Neuroscience Letters – The Experience of Pain and the Influence of Cognition ↩ ↩²
6. Source: Neural Plasticity – Brain Functional Changes in Patients with Chronic Pain Treated with Manual Therapy: A Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study ↩ ↩² ↩³
7. Source: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy – A Hypothesized Neurological Pathway to Chronic Pain and Disability: Implications for Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Practice ↩
8. Source: Pain Medicine – Brain Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Changes Associated with Chiropractic Spinal Manipulation: A Systematic Review ↩
9. Source: Neural Plasticity – Neurophysiological Changes in the Human Brain After Spinal Manipulation ↩
10. Source: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies – Maintenance Care and Chiropractic Use in Patients with Low Back Pain: A Prospective Non-Randomized Observational Study ↩ ↩²
11. Source: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies – The Efficacy of Chiropractic Manipulation for Patients with Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials ↩
12. Source: Chiropractic & Manual Therapies – Effect of Chiropractic Care on Self-Reported Pain, Function and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial ↩
13. Source: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) – Low Back Pain and Sciatica in Over 16s: Assessment and Management ↩
14. Source: American College of Physicians – Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline from the American College of Physicians ↩

Comments

comments