HELP MY BACK PAIN – THERAPIES TO EASE THE MISERY

Therapy to Relieve Back Pain
Lower back pain, sometimes known as lumbago or sciatica, is a common condition that affects approximately 60% of the adult population trying to get rid of back pain. Such is the problem that in the UK alone around 150 million man-days are lost in industry every year due to absenteeism due to back pain. In general, the symptoms of back pain are due to benign musculoskeletal problems, Bandscheibenvorfall Halswirbelsäule often caused by strains in the lower back muscles or soft tissues, and these subside significantly within a few weeks if sensible treatment measures are employed.

To help with back pain, a family doctor’s determination of the underlying cause of back pain is usually done through a combination of medical history, physical examination, and, if necessary, diagnostic tests such as X-ray, MRI, or CT. Usually, low back or lower back pain can be treated conventionally, with one recommendation being physical therapy, which can help relieve symptoms and reduce back pain. A summary of some of the more common therapies used to relieve back pain are listed below:

Acupuncture Acupuncture
treatment originated in China over two thousand years ago. It is believed that the first observations came from soldiers being wounded by arrows in battle and how the “punctures” of the arrows caused therapeutic effects in different parts of the victim’s body far from the wound area. The general theory behind traditional acupuncture is based on patterns or meridians of energy flow throughout the body that are essential to health. This is referred to as qi or chi and sometimes as xue (blood). Disturbances in this flow are believed to be the main causes of pain and disease. Acupuncture attempts to correct flow imbalances, thereby helping to restore the patient’s health.

How Acupuncture Works
In general, acupuncture involves the stimulation of points along these energy flows through a variety of techniques. The stimulation is typically performed with very fine needles that produce gentle sensations. Each of these needles are inserted at specific points along these “energy pathways” or “meridians.”

Can Acupuncture Help My Back Pain?
Acupuncture is considered useful in treating conditions such as low back pain, sciatica, stiffness and tension. In traditional acupuncture theory, pain arises from blocked energy along the body’s “energy pathways” or “meridians,” which are “uncovered” when acupuncture needles are inserted. Scientific reasons have been advanced in modern medicine for the apparent benefits that acupuncture offers to patients suffering from back pain. One observation is that acupuncture stimulation causes the release of neurochemicals and hormones thought to create signals that calm the sympathetic nervous system and release natural opioids that relieve back pain.

Alexander Technique
The Alexander Technique is a method for changing (movement) habits in everyday life. It’s a simple and practical way to improve ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination. The technique teaches the use of the appropriate effort for a specific activity and gives you more energy for all your activities. It is not a series of treatments or exercises, but a re-education of mind and body. The Alexander Technique is a method that helps people find a new balance in the body by releasing unnecessary tension. It can be used while sitting, lying, standing, walking, lifting and other daily activities

How
the Alexander Technique Works The Alexander Technique teaches its students how to learn to do what they are doing as simply and efficiently as possible. It is almost entirely about the process – how an activity is done, not what it is. Although there are no exercises, the Alexander Technique shows how to train more efficiently and reduce the risk of injury. Many seeking back pain relief are drawn to this technique because of its reputation for relieving back pain or lumbago, stiff necks and shoulders, and other conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Alexander teachers are not doctors and do not diagnose diseases.

Can The Alexander Technique Help My Back Pain
By becoming more aware of how the body works and learning how to “undo” bad exercise, those suffering from long-term or chronic back pain can calm and relieve their symptoms. Students of the Alexander Technique can learn how to relieve unnecessary muscle tension and freer, less stressful ranges of motion, thereby relieving back pain.

Bowen Therapy
The Bowen Technique is a soft tissue repair therapy named after its inventor, Tom Bowen. This therapy is not considered a massage, but a non-invasive muscle relaxation and integration technique, but relieves muscle tension similar to a massage. His clients describe experiences of significant relaxation after a session.

How does Bowen Therapy work?
In this technique, the therapist uses fingers or thumbs to move over muscles, ligaments, tendons, and fascia in different parts of the body. The work is very subtle, relaxing and gentle and does not involve hard or sustained pressure. During a session, the client lies on a therapy table or bed, although working with the client can be done effectively in a chair.

Can Bowen Therapy Help My Back Pain
The most common offering is back pain relief and this is where Bowen excels. The average number of treatments would be two or three for most therapists. There will always be exceptions to every rule, and certain individuals will need further or even ongoing treatment. Sports injuries is an area of healing therapy that is becoming increasingly aware of the Bowen Technique. The Bowen technique is used at a high level in sport in this country, with interest from rugby clubs and Premiership football clubs. Bowen therapists advocate that this can reduce, eliminate, or help back pain and promote overall health.
Source: European College of Bowen

Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a technique that focuses on the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. The principle of chiropractic is that the key to health is the nervous Bandscheibenvorfall Halswirbelsäule system centered on the spine. When the spine is properly aligned, optimal movement can take place and the patient can achieve improved health.

A chiropractor generally treats “subluxations” – misalignments of the spinal bones that are responsible for limited movement or loss of normal posture and cause nervous system impairment or nerve irritation.

How does chiropractic work?
To relieve back pain, a chiropractor typically examines the patient’s spine and reviews the patient’s medical history to identify any previous injuries, accidents, or strains that could affect normal function. Sometimes the chiropractor will order an X-ray to determine this. A common form of chiropractic care is spinal manipulation or adjustment. This is generally done by manipulating the affected spinal joints with the hand to try to increase or unlock joint mobility.

Additional tools are sometimes used to promote healing, including rehabilitative exercise, diet, and lifestyle improvement programs. The amount and frequency of treatment required would vary depending on the type and severity of the condition.

0