Chiropractic-The Skeleton Physician:
Chiropractors specialize in the field of the bones joints, and vertebrae in the back and neck. It is theorized that lower back pain is often due to subluxations-meaning quite simply, misalignments of the vertebrae.
When a vertebra is misaligned or 'out of joint', cartilage will wear out and/or squeeze on a nerve. This ricochet can produce pain not only in the back, but also ends up being painfully felt in the areas fed by the nerve.
This ricochet effect can also be felt in other parts of the body, like the arms, legs, neck or head and can even affect various organs throughout the body.
When you have a re-occurring back pain or neck pain, Chiropractic treatment has been found to be very helpful.
Chiropractic care has been known to have “possible long-term benefits” for people in comparison to hospital outpatient pain management.
Even with mild back, neck problems chiropractic care is found to be effective.
Chiropractic physicians take into consideration the symptoms of the back pain in order to diagnose and determine other disorders within the body. When they clear up the subluxation causing the back pain, they can also correct the nerve flow, which in turn balancing normal functioning of any other affected areas or organs of the body.
Dr. Scalia, D.C., Montreal, believes patients with chronic lower back pain who receive chiropractic care and that are suffering from other ailments as well, like dizziness or breathing problems, often find that in the course of regular treatments the dizziness or breathing problems disappear as well.
It is common that chronic lower back pain usually stems from a pre-existing weakness. Generally, chiropractic treatment should be undergone every three to six months, although sometimes more frequent visits are beneficial for some people to maintain proper alignment and to safeguard against further injury to disks.
There are many different types of osteopathic approaches. By combining traditional and alternative medicines, people have the opportunity to choose between several different types of treatments, which are tailored to their specific needs.
Osteopaths treat chronic and acute back pain, joint or soft-tissue problems. Treatments can vary between gentle joint mobilizations to specific thrust methods that are very similar to those used by a Chiropractor. What is the difference between an Osteopath and Chiropractor?
The difference between osteopathic and chiropractic methods, is the variations in basic concepts, the education they have received, as well as in the forms and manoeuvres of manipulation used.
Some Osteopaths can either manipulate the spine and other joints of the body, restore alignment, or give injections for pain-control. They may use electrical stimulation (tense machine) and/or other mechanical therapies to induce muscle relaxation, and other gentle “muscle energy” techniques.
Dr. Kenneth S. McLean:
"This magnetic treatment is a godsend. It's good for almost anything"
There is a wide choice of techniques available to choose from. Everyone differs with their treatment choices, so choosing a specific method, that will best meet his or her individual needs is vital to get control over the pain, not the pain controlling the body.
Popular forms of bodywork used for back pain: 'Rolfing' and 'Heller work'. These treatments focus on strenuous manipulation of the:
1) Muscles
2) Connective Tissues
3) Joints
Other popular therapies such as the 'Feldenkrais' or 'Alexander technique' are also awareness treatments to choose from. Their main focus is on realignment and correcting the body's posture i.e. Slouching, not bending knees when picking something up etc…
These techniques use light touch, visualization, and mental suggestion. The focus is on reprogramming the body's habits. By relearning and reprogramming a focused proper posture and bodily movements, much unnecessary back pain can be alleviated and prevented.
Other helpful techniques are: acupressure, shiatsu, and reflexology.
