April Newsletter: Is Your Back Ready for Spring? Visit a Chiropractor!

Young woman feels back pain while gardening.

Is Your Back Ready for Spring? Visit a Chiropractor

Humans may not hibernate, but we certainly become less active during the winter. Now that spring is here, you probably have plenty of things you'd like to do. Unfortunately, it's not so easy to jump back into sports or start your weekly yardwork routine if your back is stiff and sore. A visit to the chiropractor can relieve stiffness and pain and help you accomplish everything on your spring to-do list.

Got an Aching Back?

About 80% of Americans experience backaches at some point in their lives, according to MedlinePlus. That's not surprising, since your back helps supports the weight of your body, makes it possible to bend and turn, and absorbs shock when you walk, run, and jump.

If you've been a couch potato during the winter, or your job involves plenty of sitting, you may notice that your back feels a little stiff and achy. Reaching for a glass on a high shelf may send pain shooting through your back muscles, or you may notice that it's harder to extend your arm fully. Knots or muscle spasms only make the problem worse.

Poor posture, falls (even minor ones), stress, or tight muscles could lead to subluxations. Subluxations occur when the vertebrae that make up your spine move out of their normal position. If this happens, the misaligned vertebrae may press on nerves causing pain and inflammation. Subluxations don't just affect the vertebrae but may also cause nearby tissues to tighten painfully. Increased nerve pressure from tight tissues could also be a factor in your back pain.

You might only make your back pain worse if you become more active without addressing the source of your pain. Unfortunately, tight muscles tend to become sprained or strained more easily. Both subluxations and tight tissues can affect your balance, making it more likely that you'll fall when you're reaching to trim the hedges or return the ball during a game of tennis.

Luckily, your chiropractor can treat the source of your pain, relieve aches, and improve your flexibility and mobility.

6 Chiropractic Treatments That Can Relieve Your Back Pain

During your visit to the chiropractor, you'll receive a thorough examination, which may involve a few X-rays of your back or other tests. Based on these results, your doctor will create a treatment plan designed to ease your back pain and keep it from returning. One or more of these therapies may be included in your treatment plan:

  • Spinal Manipulation. Commonly referred to as "cracking" the back, there's actually no cracking involved in this chiropractic treatment. During the treatment, your chiropractor moves the vertebrae into alignment using hands-on pressure or an activator. The cracking sound occurs when gas bubbles are released during the adjustment. Spinal manipulation relieves back pain, eases muscle tightness, increases circulation, and reduces inflammation.
  • Hot and Cold Therapy. Before your treatments begin, your chiropractor may place hot and/or cold packs on your back. Heat relaxes tight tissues and improves flexibility and blood circulation, while ice relieves inflammation and pain.
  • Massage. This soft tissue therapy loosens tight tissues and feels pretty good too. Massage improves blood circulation, which helps strained or injured muscles heal more quickly. Treatments also flood your body with endorphins and serotonin, hormones that help you relax. Massage and spinal manipulation are two of the treatments recommended by the American College of Physicians for non-radicular low back pain (pain that doesn't spread to other parts of the body).
  • Flexion-Distraction. Flexion-distraction might be recommended if your back pain is due to bulging spinal discs. The treatment, conducted on a segmented, moving table, decompresses and stretches your vertebrae, easing painful pressure on the discs.
  • Spinal Mobilization. Slow, gentle movements improve joint function and flexibility while decreasing muscle tension.
  • Ultrasound. Ultrasound waves heat the deep tissues in your back. The therapy decreases inflammation, relaxes tight tissues, improves circulation, breaks down scar tissue, and relieves pain.

Your chiropractor may also recommend a few exercises that will help you maintain the results of your treatments in between visits.

Need a little help getting your back in shape this spring? Give our office a call to make an appointment with the chiropractor.

Sources:

MedlinePlus: Back Pain, 10/21/2016

https://medlineplus.gov/backpain.html

SPINE-Health: Chiropractic Treatment for Lower Back Pain

https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-treatments-lower-back-pain

American College of Physicians: American College of Physicians Issues Guideline for Treating Non-Radicular Low Back Pain, 2/14/2017

https://www.spine-health.com/treatment/chiropractic/chiropractic-treatments-lower-back-pain

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Reviews By Our Satisfied Patients

  • "Dr. Goodman is a miracle worker! He has been our chiropractor of choice for over 10+ years. Dr. Goodman is friendly and knowledgeable. He listens and sincerely cares about his patients’ needs. I highly recommend him for any of your chiropractic needs."
    ANGELA WALKER
  • "Dr. Goodman is the best chiropractor that I've ever had! I love coming here he takes care of me very well and his receptionist is awesome as well. I love Goodman chiropractic!"
    SHANE BUNDY
  • "Such an amazing team. Always so welcoming. So easy to communicate. They have always squeezed me in if my schedule changes. I won't go anywhere else."
    ASHLEY GIBSON
  • "Dr. Goodman is great! He explains to you why and what he is doing. He works with you to come up with a treatment plan. He feels like a friend that just wants to help you feel better. I don't think I could ever go any where else again."
    MELISSA HOYT
  • "After two weeks of visits, I feel 15 years younger!

    Back pain is pretty much gone and I feel so much better.

    Dr. Goodman is an expert and true professional at his craft.

    I've been visiting for lower back pain, but they can help with so much more. Give their office a call if you are considering a chiropractor."
    PARKER MCCUMBER
  • "I'm from out of town visiting my daughter. I hurt my lower back just before leaving on vacation. I was miserable. My daughter had been to Dr. Goodman for her neck which fixed as well. She made me an appointment after 2 visits I was feeling great. I would highly recommend Dr. Goodman."
    TOMMY THOMSON
  • "Dr. Goodman does a great job and listens when I tell him what is going on with me."
    BRIAN
  • "We love going to the chiropractor!!! My children who are 11 and 9 look forward to going as well. Dr goodman is the best. I've been to several chiropractors, they all just end up hurting me and I never want to go back. He has helped not only my neck and lower back feel better, but my whole body as well. If you need to see a chiropractor, go see someone else; because Dr Goodman is all MINE!!! 😁😁😁. OH, and I can not forget his LOVELY receptionist Chiska she is AWESOMESAUSE πŸ’œπŸ’œπŸ’œ My children love her as well."
    REBECCA TREJO
  • "I love that Dr. Goodman does his job well and doesn't require any other unnecessary treatments. He's honest and easy to work with. He listens to you and your needs. Chiska, his secretary, is great as well, and easy to work with."
    AVALLE FAMILY
  • "I am a new patient of Dr. Goodman and I highly recommend him. He is very professional and I really appreciate him explaining all my questions and concerns. He was really great and the office is beautiful and clean. His staff is great too. Very friendly and helpful."
    JANETH M
  • "Nice place, Dr Goodman is funny and very personable, my wife is getting adjustments and feeling better with each visit"
    SCOTT NELSON
  • "I've been going to Goodman Chiropractic for many years. I feel that he keeps me going. I have chronic back pain and his adjustments help me function well. He knows what he is doing. He is a professional with a great sense of humor. He is cares about me and about my health. Chiska manages the office and runs it very efficiently. She has a great personality and a ready smile. I won't go anywhere else. I highly recommend him too anyone who is looking for Chiropractic services."
    MICKI DELALOZA