A simple truth of chiropractic care: Get your back aligned to have your health aligned – get back pain relief
Do you have back pain ? If you’re nodding then you are a member of a growing group of Americans who aren’t sitting right, aren’t stretching correctly, are hunched over computers and laptops while seated in the wrong position, and are doing a range of exercises in such a way that adds tension and stress to the middle of your back – the mid-back region, right where you have back pain.
And chances are, because you lead a busy lifestyle, you haven’t had time to treat your back pain, and instead, reach for fast pain relief in the form of over-the-counter pills or prescription medication. In doing this, you not only prolong getting any final solution to your pain but fail to get help for the underlying cause of back pain.
Not convinced of the benefits of chiropractic care? The American Chiropractic Association provides the following statistics about back pain on its website, www.acatoday.org:
Low back pain is the single leading cause of disability worldwide.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons for missed work. In fact, back pain is the second most common reason for visits to the doctor’s office, outnumbered only by upper-respiratory infections.
One-half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms each year.2
Experts estimate that as much as 80% of the population will experience a back problem at some time in their lives.
Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic, meaning they are not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on back pain, and that’s just for the more easily identified costs.
Your back is in pain for several reasons, as mentioned above; among these: your work stress has increased, tightening up your back muscles, while your physical activity has decreased. You are sitting longer, in front of the TV, computer or behind the steering wheel; you have not received a spinal checkup in years (or never received one), and like others, have failed to get treatment following a back injury. Poor posture and poor lifting techniques add to the stress on your back, ligaments, and muscles.
When you seek out the help of a Fort Lauderdale chiropractor, you will receive treatment that decreases your pain while also decreases the probability of back problems in the future. A skilled chiropractor knows every area of the back and how dysfunction can put stress on your spinal column and all of its components.
Here is more insight into this prevailing health issue: The thoracic spine is comprised of 12 vertebrae that meet with joints and attach to muscles and ligaments in the mid-spine area. These also protect the spinal cord and nerves that extend into the spine. The thoracic vertebrae have a strong connection to the ribs, thereby protecting spinal discs and joints from wear and tear that could harm other areas of the spine. Yet, this area is prone to problems, including misalignment – what is defined in the chiropractic profession as a “vertebral subluxation.” This abnormal function of the spine is at the root of pain, muscle spasm, and nerve malfunction.
What makes the thoracic spine unique is that its 12 vertebrae attach to a pair of ribs – 12 on the left side of the body and 12 on the right side, which means that when something is out of alignment it can cause a spectrum of problems or malfunctioning within this tightly knitted structure. For example: If ribs are out of alignment, you may experience pain in the area of misalignment or be in pain while twisting or bending the torso.
Like millions of others, you also may be experiencing problems with the discs in the thoracic spine. These discs form the spacing through which spinal nerves weave in and out, connect vertebrae together, and make it easier to move while providing a cushion for the spine. While it is less likely that these discs may become injured as compared to those that make up the cervical or lumbar spines, it is possible, nonetheless, that these could be subject to damage or injury
When it comes to damage or injury to any area of the thoracic spine, a chiropractor is an expert in treating these injuries through a chiropractic spinal adjustment in order to reposition the various spinal connectors so that they form a seamless piece of your spinal column machine, allowing you to pursue your daily activities pain-free.
Always remember: You have a choice when it comes to living in pain or getting help. While medication may provide short-term pain relief, there is no better way to receive treatment for mid-back pain than through the healing hands of a Fort Lauderdale chiropractor.