Low back pain results in millions of dollars of lost work and untold suffering every day. Improper sitting or lifting, over-exertion, trauma, or inherited spinal abnormalities can be the cause. Many of the pain-sensing nerves of the spine are in the facet joints, the two interlocking "fingers" at the back of each spinal bone. The normally smooth surfaces on which these joints glide, can become rough, irritated, and inflamed. Surgical treatment often involves removing these facet joints, exposing the spinal cord!

Another cause of lower back pain can be a bulging disc putting pressure on the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root. The result is often numbness, tingling, or pain down the leg. Cutting away the bulging disc tissue, can permanently alter its ability to separate and cushion the adjacent bones. This rarely addresses the underlying structural cause(s) of the problem.

The chiropractic approach is to help restore a more normal motion and position of affected spinal bones by specific chiropractic adjustments. The simplicity and success of this approach has been documented in numerous research projects and has helped many patients avoid risky surgery.

Find out if yours is a chiropractic case and enjoy the positive results that millions of patients have discovered.

Low Back Pain Prevention

Posture
Maintaining good posture is very important. Keep the ears, shoulders and hips in a straight line, with the head up and stomach pulled in.

Standing
It is best not to stand for long periods of time but, if you must, walk as frequently as possible and wear shoes with cushioned soles and low or no heels.

Sitting
Sitting puts a great deal of pressure on the back. Chairs should have straight backs or low back support. Chairs should swivel to avoid twisting, have armrests and adjustable backs. While sitting, the knees should be a little higher than the hips, so rest your feet on a low stool.

Riding
Riding and driving for a long period of time increases back stress. Move the seat as far forward as possible to avoid bending forward. The seat should be reclined not more than 30° and the seat bottom tilted slightly up in front. For long rides, you should stop and walk about every hour and avoid lifting heavy objects immediately thereafter.

Eight Steps to Lifting Safety

Repeated motion and lifting is the number one way in which people injure their back. These basic rules can help keep you free from injury.

1. If an object is too heavy or awkward, get help.
2. Spread your feet apart to give a wide base of support.
3. Bend at the knees and do not arch the back.
4. Hold objects close to the body to reduce the load on the back.
5. Lift using leg muscles, not back muscles.
6. Stand up without bending forward from the waist.
7. Never twist at the waist while lifting something heavy. Turn your whole body to change direction or set something down.
8. If an object can be moved without lifting, pull it, don't push.

- Low back pain affects 60 to 80 percent of U.S. adults at some time during their lives.

- Back symptoms are among the ten leading reasons for a person to visit an emergency room.

- Back pain will become chronic in 5 to 10 percent of those who suffer.

- Back symptoms are the most common cause of disability for persons under age 45.

- People who smoke, are obese, depressed, anxious or have high stress jobs, have a higher incidence of low back pain.

- The back is more vulnerable to injury during the first hour after waking and any time after pro-longed periods of sitting or sleeping.

Most back injuries are not the result of a single activity or exposure to heavy lifting but instead are related to repetitive motion.