Millions of Americans are encountered with some form of pain on their back and spine. There are a wide variety of factors that could lead to these well-known symptoms of pain, however, many individuals can reduce or even eliminate their back pain through a series of simple steps.

Experts at the Interventional Pain Management Center, or IPMC, a multi-site clinical practice based in New Jersey, is currently evaluating several basic methods that may help alleviate chronic back pain among the general population. Foremost, one of the first recommendations discussed by the experts included improving posture, or the position in which an individual stands and moves around. “Proper posture contributes greatly to the relief or elimination of back pain,” quoted a spokesperson for the Interventional Pain Management Center. “The spine is stronger and more stable when one practices healthy posture.”

Achieving Proper Posture

When an individual slouches or stoops, the improper posture can cause the muscles, ligaments and other tissues that support the complex structures of the spine to become misaligned, straining to provide balance to the body. This straining is what often leads to pain on the back, neck, and shoulders. The spine has a natural S-shaped curve which functions to absorb shock, maintain balance, and allow range of motion, and in order to maintain those natural curves, proper posture is essential.

In adults, proper posture needs to be a combination of body positioning and balance. The shoulders should be held back with the head leveled and aligned with the rest of the body. Tightening the muscles of the abdomen can also help support the lower region of the spine. In addition, the position of the feet and knees can also influence posture. The feet should be kept shoulder-width apart and the knees mustn’t be locked when practicing a proper posture. These positions help spread the weight of the body along more support structures, further assisting individuals to reduce or even eliminate muscular pressure and stress that may be causing pain. A good way to check whether you’re maintaining a proper posture is to perform the wall test, where the individual stands with his or her back against a wall. When the head, shoulder blades and buttocks are touching the wall, there should be a space of about one hand’s thickness between the curve of the lower back and the wall. The individual can then arch their back in order to form the proper space, placing the back into proper postural alignment.

Find a Diagnosis

Additionally, if an individual is experiencing persistent symptoms of back pain, its important for them to seek immediate medical attention to diagnose any possible injuries or underlying conditions that could be causing their pain and discomfort. Spinal misalignments, or subluxations, are one of the most frequently diagnosed conditions causing back pain and there are several types of treatments to improve this painful condition. Chiropractic care is an effective form of alternative treatment, frequently utilized to treat many back complications. After diagnosing the source of your back issues, a doctor of chiropractic, or DC, will most commonly use a series of spinal adjustments and manual manipulations to gradually restore the natural state of your spine. Chiropractic treatment focuses on re-aligning the spine while strengthening the muscles and other tissues surrounding the spine as well as improving flexibility to correct an individual’s posture and relieve or even eliminate their back pain symptoms.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.elpasochiropractorblog.com

For many individuals in the United States alone, back and spine complications are common struggles which affect people at some point in their lifetimes. There are a number of causes that can lead to back pain, but fortunately, many individuals can achieve relief of their symptoms through several well-known methods. Chiropractic care can help improve the condition of a variety of spine complications and relieve their symptoms. For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at (915) 850-0900.

By Dr. Alex Jimenez