July plays host to National Pain Week in Australia. With that in mind,
How widespread is spinal pain?
Spinal pain is one of society’s most frequent complaints. In 2007, the American Academy of Family Physicians reported that about 9 out of 10 adults experience spinal pain at some point in their life, and 5 out of 10 working adults have spinal pain every year. According to a 2010 study published by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, spinal pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide.
What causes spinal pain?
Spinal pain can originate from muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other spinal structures. It can range from dull to sharp, be constant or intermittent, appear localised or travel to other regions of the body. The location, severity and accurate description of the pain can assist your chiropractor in determining its cause.
There are several potential causes of spinal pain. They include muscular strain, spinal misalignment, musculoskeletal injury and disease. Spinal pain can also be referred from other organs in the body. Your chiropractor has received extensive training in the most current methods of determining the different causes of your spinal pain. This accurate diagnosis allows the chiropractor to select the most appropriate treatment methods and techniques.
What is the best treatment for spinal pain?
The Cochrane Collaboration is an international research group that reviews and evaluates studies performed on different healthcare therapies. They have reviewed all of the available information and research projects worldwide for the past 20 years and concluded that there are three effective treatments for spinal pain:
- Heat therapy
- Acupressure
- Spinal manipulation (chiropractic adjustments)
What should you do for spinal pain?
Your first stop should be a visit to your chiropractor. They are trained to examine the spine and ask the right questions to determine what has gone wrong, and what needs to take place in order to repair the condition, restore your body and return your life to normal. Chiropractors are also trained to use the best practices in clinical decision making and can, therefore, refer you to another practitioner if required.
The scientific research is very clear – chiropractic is safe, effective, and reliable. If you or anyone you know is suffering from spinal pain, make a chiropractor your first port of call.
