Most Americans suffer from back issues, and they can even begin in their 20s. Sitting in front of a computer all day at work or using a laptop in an odd position in bed can exacerbate the problem, even if you seek chiropractic adjustments. In your youth, that pain will go away in a day or two, but future back problems arise because people tend to ignore the early signs.
You don’t want to develop a chronic issue, which is why you can’t take a few painkillers when there’s a recurring problem. If you’re experiencing back pain where you cannot put your socks on, you must seek medical attention from your general physician, who may recommend a visit to a chiropractor as well as lifestyle changes.
Other people in pain decide to find physical therapy, but it’s better to see a doctor who can plan the correct treatment. The point is that cutting corners will only be worse, and if you have back pain when lifting your leg to put on socks, you must act quickly. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do at home to prevent further issues. Let’s find out what you can do about back pain.
The human skeleton is practically unique in design in the animal kingdom, as the human race is designed for a lifetime of bipedal walking. Our primate ancestors gave up their tree-bound, vegetarian lifestyle for hunting game across the plains of Africa, and that results in a body and skeleton designed for running. The human skeleton features an S-shaped spine, an upright pelvis, long leg bones, and arched feet, which gave our early ancestors many advantages. But all this still comes at a cost, as bipedal walking means fighting gravity, and the spine, hips, knees, and ankles will wear out over time. Even today, many millions of people around the world suffer from back pain and spinal issues. The most serious cases call for surgery, but more minor cases can be handled with non invasive methods and hardware. In a hospital, a patient may use rehab tools and systems such as range of motion trackers like dual digital inclinometers, or muscle strength testing equipment. Readouts from stretch tests and dual digital inclinometers will provide useful data for physical therapists.
Why Back Pain Might Happen
Chronic pain conditions exist around the world, and a common one is lower back pain. The American health industry is working hard to track trends and data about American public health, and the numbers show that back pain and spine issues are commonplace. In particular, around half of all working Americans admit to having back pain symptoms sometimes, and experts say that up to 80% of Americans may experience back pain at some point in their lives. One in three women and one in four men experience it, and the elderly often suffer from spinal distress or back problems.
What causes all this chronic back pain? Many surveyed Americans report that ongoing, serious stress is causing their back issues, but physical issues may cause it, too. Years of hard manual labor may cause back distress, such as in construction jobs. Pregnancy may strain the spine, and getting into an accident or suffering injuries (such as sports injuries) may harm the spine or back muscles. Simple old age often causes back issues, as many decades of upright walking may cause the spine to collapse somewhat and bend. This may pinch nerves, reduce flexibility, and strain muscles, causing chronic pain. Fortunately, anyone suffering back pain may find help, and it may not even require surgery.
Getting a Cure for Back Pain
If someone’s back problems are not serious enough to call for surgery, they may visit their private physician and report their back issues. This is a common reason to visit the doctor, and a doctor may refer their patient to a chiropractor, a pain clinic, or to a yoga expert.
At a chiropractor’s office, the doctor will use their bare hands and simple tools to readjust the patient’s bones and bone muscles to relieve pressure on joints and nerves, and relax tensed or strained muscles. Doing this can erase pain and restore a patient’s flexibility and arcs of motion, and many Americans report being satisfied with a chiropractor’s work.
A patient may also be referred to a yoga studio, or find one on their own accord, and sign up for private sessions with an expert to guide them. With a trainer instructing them, any client may bend and stretch their body in a variety of poses that will ease strain on muscles and nerves, and restore flexibility to joints ranging from the spine to shoulders to the neck. The patient/client may get these results after a few private sessions, and find their back pain (or shoulder or neck pain) erased.
What about a hospital? If a patient suffered an injury, they may end up in a hospital, and once able, start physical therapy. With the help of trained physical therapists, the patient may practice walking and stretch and bend their body to restore their strength and arcs of motion. Equipment such as dual digital inclinometers and motion capture cameras may help track a patient’s progress, and dual digital inclinometers can measure movement in 360 degrees. That, combined with muscle stretch tests (to measure strength), may help physical therapists log and track the patient’s recovery, and allow them to determine when the patient has recovered and may be discharged.