Back Pain
Back pain is a prevalent condition affecting individuals of all ages. At Progressive Chiropractic Berwick, we specialize in diagnosing and treating various forms of back pain to help you achieve a pain free life
What is Back Pain?
Many patients at Progressive Chiropractic Berwick seek treatment for back pain, one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions. This discomfort can occur anywhere along the spine, from the base of the neck to the buttocks, and may sometimes radiate into one or both legs.
Patients often describe the pain as sharp, dull, aching, or as pins and needles/numbness. It can limit mobility and make everyday activities like bending, lifting, sitting, or walking difficult. Tenderness may also occur when pressure is applied to the joints of the spine.
When nerve compression is involved, there may be a reduction in reflexes, strength, or sensation in the legs. Early assessment and management are key to preventing chronic pain and improving overall function.
On This Page
Understanding Spinal anatomy
The back is a complex structure that supports the skull, ribcage, arms, pelvis, and legs. It is made up of the spine, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, all working together to provide stability and movement.
The spine consists of 33 bones called vertebrae, stacked to form a gentle ‘S’-shaped column. Between each vertebra is an intervertebral disc, which acts as a shock absorber and allows the spine to move flexibly.
Pairs of small facet joints connect the vertebrae, enabling controlled movement between each segment. The vertebrae, discs, and joints are held together by a network of ligaments and connective tissue, providing strength, stability, and support for everyday activities.
Common causes of back pain
Back pain can occur when muscles, ligaments, or joints in the back are strained or injured. Common causes include:
- repetitive or heavy lifting that strains the back muscles or discs
- sudden awkward movements that may strain muscles, ligaments, or spinal joints
- sedentary lifestyle, leading to weak supporting muscles and stiffness
- poor posture that places extra stress on the spine and supporting muscles
- Excess body weight, increasing stress on spinal structures
- stress and muscle tension that can lead to stiffness, tightness, and discomfort
Other health conditions linked to back pain
In some cases, back pain is connected to other underlying health issues. These may include:
- arthritis – osteoarthritis and ankyloses spondylitis
- sciatica
- spinal stenosis
- osteoporosis
- myofascial tightness
- spinal misalignment
- joint sprain
- pelvic dysfunction
- pregnancy-related factors
- disc bulge and herniation
- scoliosis
- postural abnormalities
- muscle imbalance
- physical injury
How can chiropractic help with back pain?
Chiropractic treatment can provide effective relief for both acute and chronic back pain for our patients in Berwick. These treatment techniques may include:
- Flexion distraction (Cox Technic): gentle spinal decompression therapy using a specialised table to reduce pressure on intervertebral discs and spinal nerves, and increase joint motion.
- Spinal manipulation (adjustment): precise, gentle adjustments to restricted joints to reduce pain, improve joint alignment, and restore flexibility and movement.
- Joint mobilisation: a safe technique to enhance joint range of motion, relieve stiffness, and support functional movement.
- Tailored exercises: individually prescribed postural and core exercises to correct muscular imbalances that contribute to back pain, stabilise the spine, and prevent future injury.
Do you need help with Back Pain?
Research on chiropractic treatment of back pain
Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy is particularly beneficial for chronic and severe back pain cases. Meade, T. W (1990). Low back pain of mechanical origin: a randomised comparison of Chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment. BMJ, 300. 1431
People who seek Chiropractic care as opposed to those who seek care with their family general practitioner are three times more likely to report higher satisfaction levels following management. Cherkin, D.C (1989). Patient evaluations of low back pain care from family physicians and Chiropractors. Western Journal of Medicine, 150(3); 351 – 355
A combination of Chiropractic manipulative therapy and traditional medical care is more beneficial as opposed to traditional medical are only for lower back pain. Goetz, C. (2013). Adding Chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute lower back pain: Results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study. Spine, 38(8); 627 – 634
Research link: A randomized clinical trial land subgroup analysis to compare flexion-distraction with active exercise for chronic low back pain
Research link: Chiropractic Management of Postsurgical Lumbar Spine Pain: A Retrospective Study of 32 Cases
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