Back pain is a condition that many people experience at some point in their lives. Consequently, a lot of research is being done on it, although this is not proportional to how many people are affected.
Because chiropractors have traditionally been the specialists in the field of back pain, a large proportion of these people visit a chiropractor.
What does the back consist of?
The spinal column
The stability of our body is provided by our spine (columna vertebralis). This is one of the stronger parts of the body. Besides strength, it also gives us flexibility. The spine is composed of 7 cervical vertebrae (cervical vertebrae), 12 thoracic vertebrae (thoracic vertebrae), 5 lumbar vertebrae (lumbar vertebrae), the sacrum and the coccyx. Between each two vertebrae are intervertebral discs.
The spinal cord
The spine provides protection for the spinal cord (medulla spinalis) that runs inside the spine. From the spinal cord, nerves run from the brain to the rest of the body. These nerves allow signals from the environment to reach the brain, but they also control the muscles.
Muscles
The largest muscles on the back are the latissimus dorsi muscle and the trapezius muscle. These muscles control the lower and upper parts of the back, respectively. The musculus spinatus erector spinea is also an important back muscle. This runs across the entire back and helps to stretch the back. However, the back has many other muscles that allow movement to occur from the back.
Back pain as the largest condition
Back pain is the largest condition worldwide in terms of the number of years lived with a condition. This is mainly because back pain is not a fatal condition per se, but also because the back is complex. Because of this complexity, it is not always clear what back pain is caused by. Not knowing a cause also makes it harder to find the right therapy. This can cause you to live with back pain for a long time.
Causes of back pain
Possible causes of back pain include an injury, strained muscles or pregnancy. However, in about 90% of people with back pain, no specific diagnosis takes place. This back pain is called aspecific.
It is then not immediately identifiable what is causing the back pain. This often means that multiple factors are involved. This very back pain is ideally a complaint in which your chiropractor can help you.
Our care for back pain
A chiropractor cares for the human body from the mindset that all bodily processes are controlled from the nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord and other nerves.
Because many nerves run through the back, this is a location where entrapments (subluxations) are relatively common. It is then the chiropractor’s job to have this entrapment up. For this, your chiropractor has several options.
A chiropractor can help you by applying various techniques. Examples include manipulations, these make room for the nerves and balance the spine. But a chiropractor can also give targeted advice to prevent intoxications, for example. If we determine that these are having an adverse effect on your back pain.
Which techniques a chiropractor applies depends on the cause of the symptoms and your personal circumstances.
What can TOPCHIRO do for you?
Are you suffering from persistent back pain? Then our experienced chiropractors will be happy to help you. For good reason people call chiropractors “the back specialists”!
To do so, make an appointment through our website or contact us by phone!