According to the American Chiropractic Association, up to 80 percent of Americans have had back pain at some point in their lives. This means that there is a good chance you have experienced back pain. You are not alone, as back pain is one of the most commonly cited reasons for missing work. Besides lost wages, Americans spend at least $50 billion a year on treatments for back pain. Effective treatment is essential. If the potential complications of drugs or surgery do not appeal to you, try a more natural treatment alternative such as chiropractic, massage, acupuncture or yoga.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic medicine is a conservative form of medicine that uses a hands-on, drugless approach to the treatment of back pain. In a 2003 article for "Orthopedics Today," Andrew Cole, MD, associate clinical professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington, stated "Manipulation has the advantage of reducing pain, decreasing medication, rapidly advancing physical therapy and requiring fewer passive modalities." Chiropractors may combine several types of treatment such as heat, ice, electrical stimulation, rehabilitative exercises and dietary supplements.
Massage
Massage therapy has been used for thousands of years in many different cultures. There are many different styles or techniques classified under the heading of massage therapy. They generally involve the therapist rubbing, kneading or pressing on the patient to manipulate the muscles and soft tissues. According to the National Institute of Health, massage can relieve pain, rehabilitate sports injuries, reduce stress, increase relaxation and aid general wellness. All of these functions can reduce the severity of back pain.
Acupuncture
The National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines acupuncture as a family of procedures involving the stimulation of anatomical points on the body using a variety of techniques. NCCAM states that the most commonly reported use of acupuncture for pain is for back pain. As for effectiveness, a group of researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth, U.K., evaluated 22 studies on acupuncture as a treatment for low back pain. These studies indicate that acupuncture can be effective for chronic low back pain.
Yoga
The word yoga is derived from Sanskrit and means to yoke, join or unite. It is a form of exercise and philosophy that seeks to balance the energy in the body and have the mind and body unite in harmony. The NCCAM notes that research shows many health benefits to the practice of yoga, but research relating to specific conditions is limited. Some of the reported benefits are an improvement in mood and sense of well-being, stress reduction, improved muscle relaxation and body composition and an improvement in overall physical fitness, strength and flexibility. The benefits to the muscles can, in many cases, help to alleviate back pain.
Caution
The risks of side effects are very low when these therapies are used appropriately. This being said, there are times when back pain can signal a serious problem. It can indicate cancer, kidney problems, gallbladder problems or many other diseases and disorders. If you are experiencing severe back pain or back pain that is not getting better, it is essential that you be evaluated by a doctor, whether it be a chiropractor or another type of physician.
