Back pain is a common issue for millions of people around the world. Conventional medicine typically treats the pain and not the cause of the back pain. Chronic back pain can be a debilitating condition, so let’s look at alternative methods to treat the pain and help repair the underlying cause of the pain.
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation is when a practitioner puts pressure on particular places on your spine for the purpose of realigning your neck and back to increase movement. This is usually done by chiropractors, physical therapists, sports doctors, and osteopaths (bone doctors). This increased movement and realignment of the spine helps relieve pain.
Acupuncture
To perform acupuncture, tiny needles are inserted into the skin in particular locations. Although we don’t know exactly how acupuncture works, this treatment method has been shown to be effective in people with chronic low back pain. It eliminates pain temporarily and may provide long term relief as well.
Massage
Massage therapy is a commonly practiced and more accepted form of back pain relief than any other alternative method. A trained massage therapist rubs and kneads the muscles and tendons on the back to relieve discomfort, to stimulate circulation, alleviates stress, and improves range of motion. A patient can feel relief from their first massage, but many people get regular massages to keep the muscles loose and to prevent back pain.
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a way to relax your muscles and better cope with back pain. Electrodes are placed on your body to receive information from your heart rate, muscle twitching, and blood pressure. The therapist uses relation techniques to learn based on the feedback, which techniques work best in putting you into a relaxed state. You can then take that information and learn to perform it on yourself. The jury is still out on this alternative method to relieve back pain.
Yoga
Yoga is a series of poses and movements that require you to focus your mind on the positioning of your body. It improves your flexibility and fitness level. At first yoga can be strenuous on your muscles if you do not find the proper poses for your back pain. You’ll need to find a trained yoga instructor that can help you decide which poses are right for you. Yoga has been shown to work as well as over the counter pain medication in relieving back pain, and its effects can last for several months.
Ultrasound
Just as in an ultrasound to see an image of your unborn child in the womb, ultrasound can be used to deliver high-frequency sound waves to deliver heat to the deep tissues of your back muscles. Ultrasound can reduce stiffness, spasm, and back pain.
If you have back pain, before you run to the pharmacy to get the latest over-the-counter patch, rub, pain pills, or brace, investigate your options in alternative medicine. You just may find a method that addresses the root cause of your pain and produces long lasting results. Help your body repair itself instead of simply medicating it.
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