Low Back Pain

We Have Your Back!

Pain in the low back can occur at any age and for a variety of reasons.

It does not care about how busy your schedule is for the week or the trip you have coming up. When it strikes, Champion Wellness is here to help.

Low back pain accounts for some of the highest percentages of disability burden.

Lost Wages

In the United States, an estimated 149 million work days are lost every year because of low back pain. Those lost work hours will result in lost wages for the worker and lower productivity for the company.

Lost Time

It is tough to say exactly how many people have back pain at any given time, but studies estimate as much as 80% of people will experience back pain in their life!

But why do I have low back pain?

That is the million dollar question!

A small percentage of people have back pain as a result of a specific mechanism such as fracture, disc herniation, ankylosing spondylitis, or tumor. Others may have a specific injury like from a fall or a car accident.

However, 90% of people will have non-specific low back pain which is defined as symptoms without a clear cause. Sometimes the cause may seem clear, but it may only be a small portion of what is contributing to the root issue. If your back pain started because you bent over to tie your shoes, but you have been tying your own shoes since you were five…there is probably more to draw from the story.

Common underlying factors may include:

Lack Of Exercise

Sometimes we get too busy to workout. Unfortunately, weak, unused muscles in your back or abdomen may not want to cooperate on certain regular, everyday tasks.

Excess Weight

Excess body weight can put stress on your back.

Improper Lifting

Using your back instead of your legs to pick up the kids may lead to back pain.

Poor Posture

Chronic slouching can lead to muscle strength imbalances and dysfunctional movement.

Age

Yes, you have aged like a fine wine. But unfortunately, back pain is more common starting around age 30 or 40.

Psychological Factors

Don’t underestimate the power of feelings to bring on pain! Stress can lead to muscle tension in the back, and depression and anxiety may make the pain feel even worse.

Do I have to get an X-ray?

At Champion Wellness, we refer for imaging only when clinically necessary.

Research has shown that there is not a strong association with image findings when it comes to non-specific low back pain. In other words, abnormalities found when imaging people without back pain are just as prevalent as those found in patients with back pain.

At Champion Wellness, after assembling a history, the doctor will take you through an individualized exam. The information gathered from this assessment will be used to rule out any “red flags” and determine if chiropractic is an appropriate treatment. If any unanswered questions arise from the initial exam, additional testing or imaging may be warranted.

Cool story doc, but how will you fix me?

Another million dollar question! There is no cookie cutter answer here.

What worked for your friend, may not be the best path for you.

Recently, The American College of Physicians updated their guidelines regarding the treatment of acute and chronic low back pain. They reviewed years and years of data and determined that the first step should be conservative, non-drug style treatments. Champion Wellness utilizes many of these top recommended therapies.