Nothing can slow you down faster than a bad back. It can be difficult to exercise, play sports, or even get to the grocery store when your back hurts. Age, lack of exercise, excess weight, improper lifting, and too many hours sitting can all result in low back pain. Research has shown that over 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their life. The good news is that researchers have also found that chiropractic care can not only help get you back on track after an injury, but could also help prevent future episodes of low back pain from occurring.
Your spine is a marvel of engineering and design. Curves in your neck, mid-back, and low back distribute the load of
The spine is an engineering marvel
gravity just like Roman architecture. When intact, these three curves allow your spine to withstand the force of 3x your body weight. The spinal discs between your vertebrae act as a natural shock absorption system that is both strong and flexible. And winding its way through it all is our spinal cord and nerve roots- the magnificent communication system within our body. Keeping your back healthy is much more important than just avoiding aches and pains. A stable and supported back is essential to maintaining a high quality of life. The role of chiropractic in the health care system is to optimize the function and health of the spine and nervous system.
Through the month of March, we will be focusing on the spine and will show you how to take care of yours.
Here are a few take away points:
– The nervous system is protected and housed within your spinal column as it travels to and from your brain to body
– Back pain is often caused by the muscles or discs of the spine
– Muscle spasms result when the bones of the spine shift or become fixated causing irritation to the nerves. These nerves communicate to the muscles telling them to ‘spasm’ in order to ensure the bones don’t shift more.
– Chiropractic care has been shown to help over 90% of people find relief from back pain while also providing a statistically significant improvement in function
Next Steps: Chiropractors can assess the “health” of your spine through x-ray and a physical exam looking at range of motion, strength, and posture. By periodically checking your spine, we can help you take a pro-active approach to your spinal health. Research has shown that maintenance chiropractic care can help evaluate, detect, and prevent future episodes of low back pain. And, as you now know, spinal health is directly associated with living your best life.
Science Source:
A Nonsurgical Approach to the Management of Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy Secondary to Herniated Disk: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study with Follow-Up. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics. 2009
Does Maintained Spinal Manipulation Therapy for Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain Result in Better Long-Term Outcome? SPINE. 2011
Dr. Craig Hazel’s mission is to help families THRIVE. After graduating from Queen’s University with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education, he went on to earn a Doctor of Chiropractic degree and a Bachelor of Science in Anatomy from Parker College of Chiropractic in Dallas Texas. He is passionate about seeing children and families in his private practice at Synergy Chiropractic in Kanata Ontario. A sought after speaker, he has been featured regularly on TSN Team 1200, CTV and Rogers TV. He is also the Chairman of the Alliance for Chiropractic of Ontario.