Back Pain

While Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) successfully treat a myriad of conditions such as those described in Commonly Treated Conditions, Doctors of Chiropractic are best known for their expertise in treating back pain.

Your Back Pain - Its Causes and Prevalence

Since our backs are complicated structures of bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles, any number of sprains, strains, herniated or back painruptured disks, or irritated joints can cause us back pain. Of course, auto accidents and pickup basketball games can cause injury, but since our backs are so intricatedly constructed, so can simply reaching for a dropped pencil or sneezing!

In fact, the New England Journal of Medicine reports that 31 million of us in the U.S. are experiencing low-back pain at any given time.1 Furthermore, 50% of working adults admit to having back pain each year2 and as many as 80% of us will experience a back problem at some time in our lives.3

Studies Show Chiropractic as Better than Other Back-Pain Treatments

Fortunately, Chiropractors have studied the back extensively and treat back disorders with great success and reported satisfaction4 - greater than general practice physicians, according to a UCLA study.5, 6

The U.S. government’s Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) echoes this perception and suggests that a chiropractor may be your best first stop when you injure your back. Its report recommends we choose the most conservative care for low-back pain first and states that spinal manipulation is the only safe and effective, drugless form of initial professional treatment for acute back problems.7

Back Injuries Heal More Quickly with Chiropractic Treatment

According to Dr. Per Frietag, MD, PhD, we'll likely heal more quickly from a back injury with chiropractic care, too. Dr. Frietag documented that patients with back injuries admitted to hospitals in Chicago receiving chiropractic were discharged from the hospital almost twice as quickly as those who did not receive chiropractic treatment – 7 to 9 days sooner.8

We May Be Able to Alleviate Your Back Pain Today

Please come and see us at Prince Crossing Family Chiropractic. We'd like to help you discover what may be wrong and help restore you to pain-free living. Call us for an appointment at (630) 876-3812 and/or visit our conveniently located West Chicago office today!
Back to Commonly Treated Conditions List
dividing line

References

  1. Jensen M., Brant-Zawadzki M., Obuchowski N., et al. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Lumbar Spine in People Without Back Pain.” New England Journal of Medicine 994; 331: 69-116.
  2. Vallfors B. "Acute, Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Symptoms, Absenteeism and Working Environment." Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitative Medicine Supplemental 1985; 11: 1-98.
  3. Vallfors B., see above.
  4. “Time to recognize value of chiropractic care?: Science and patient satisfaction surveys cite usefulness of spinal manipulation.” Orthopedics Today 2003 Feb; 23(2):14-15.
  5. Hertzman-Miller, R. MD, MPH; Morgenstern H., PhD; Hurwitz, E. DC, PhD; Yu, Fei PhD; Adams, A. DC, MS; Harber, P. MD, MPH; and Kominski, G. PhD. “Comparing the Satisfaction of Low Back Pain Patients Randomized to Receive Medical or Chiropractic Care: Results From the UCLA Low-Back Pain Study” American Journal of Public Health October 2002, Vol 92, No. 10 1628-1633.
  6. Nyiendo J., Haas M., Goldberg B., and Lloyd, C. Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics November 2001 (Vol. 24, Issue 9, Pages 543-551).
  7. Bigos S., Bowyer O., Braen G., et al. “Acute Low Back Problems in Adults.” Clinical Practice Guideline No.14. AHCPR Publication No. 95-0642. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, December, 1994.
  8. Per Freitag, MD, PhD. U.S. Federal Court Testimony comparing patient outcomes at JFK Hospital and Lutheran General Hospital of Chicago. Chicago, IL., May, 1987.