Lower Back Muscle Pain – Alternative Treatments

Lower back muscle pain is no cause for alarm. In the US alone, back pain is one of the most common causes for medical visits, next to headache. In reality, 90% of the adults will experience low back muscle pain at some point in their lives, and the majority of these adults are working men.

Paradoxically, the more severe the pain would occur, the less the severity and extent of the physical damage will be. A simple back sprain from extended periods of sitting down often leads to a strained muscle.

Though not at all that serious, the nagging pain will often interfere with the work, particularly on professionals who need plenty of room to focus.

Muscle spasm that occurs mostly on athletes and persons who do a lot of manual work will find that a simple back strain could cause severe back pain making them unable to walk or even stand correctly. In contrast, a large herniated disc or completely degenerated spinal structure in the elderly can be totally painless.

The causes of lower back muscle pain are very complex since the back muscles are complex themselves. Numerous lower back muscle pain treatments have surfaced to meet this problem.

Chiropractic Manipulation

Though chiropractic medicine normally is about the structural elements of the body, chiropractors often argued that structural manipulation does not only benefit the bones directly, it also affects other areas, if not all the entire back area.

The purpose is to realign the spine, increase the range of motion in the muscles of the back, increase the flexibility of spinal soft tissue, break down scar tissue, and reduce pressure that occurs from restricted and misaligned spinal joints, all of which help to relieve pain.

Chiropractic therapists, which include not only chiropractors, but also osteopaths and some physical therapists, diagnose and treat only problems with the muscles, nerves, and skeletal system and do not use drugs or surgery.

Its hard to check the tabs of truth about chiropractic medicine since it is still holistic by large, but since most chiropractic patients experience amazing results, its hard to pull the curtain on chiropractic lower back muscle treatment.

Therapy and Massage

Therapy and massage is a common path taken by lower back muscle pain sufferers for relief. In fact, medical science always refer massage therapy as a legitimate aid for lower back pain and an effective adjunct to lower back treatments. 54% of doctors refer therapy and massage as a complement to the regimen that they prepare for their patients.

Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami conducted a 2001 research on massage and back pain. They found that “massage lessened lower back pain, depression and anxiety, and improved sleep.

The massage therapy group also showed improved range of motion and their serotonin and dopamine levels were higher.” (International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 131-145).

Acupuncture

Thin, pre-sterilized, disposable needles are used by acupuncture treatments to re-establish the proper flow of blood through the back, alleviating lower back muscle pain. The resulting flow increases circulation for oxygen, blood and lymph nodes work together and hasten the healing process.

A research conducted by medical specialists has shown that indeed, acupuncture cause the release of neuro-chemicals such as endorphins, enkephalins, serotonin and corticosteroids all of which contribute to the reduction of pain and inflammation.

During an acupuncture treatment session, the practitioner will insert anywhere from one to twenty needles into various places in the body. Some needles may go in just under the skin, while others may go deeper into muscle and fat.

Needles will be left in from fifteen to thirty minutes. The practitioner may turn needles one way or another after inserting them into the body, or leave some in for only a few seconds before removing them and inserting them elsewhere in the body.

Don’t be surprised if the practitioner treats your back pain by putting needles in your ankles, knees, or fingers.

This is a technique called percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), where needles are inserted into nerve centers and electrically stimulated. You can expect to feel relief for chronic pain in about ten to fifteen treatments and sooner for acute or sudden pain.