If you have been recently involved in a motor vehicle collision and your upper and/or lower back are sore, it’s important you seek medical attention. One type of medical treatment for an upper or lower back injury is chiropractic treatment. There are many different types of treatment that may take place in a chiropractor’s medical facility, many of which are described in detail at Spine-health and listed below for your convenience:
- Spinal manipulation and manual manipulation.7 This type of manual manipulation refers to a high-velocity, short lever arm thrust that is applied to an abnormal vertebra with the goal of improving functionality, reducing nerve irritability and restoring range of motion in the back. It is also commonly known as “chiropractic adjustment“. There is firm literature support for chiropractic treatment of lower back pain. Many of the published guidelines recommend chiropractic manipulation to be included in the treatment plan early in the care of lower back pain.
- Chiropractic mobilization refers to low-velocity manipulation, movement and stretching of the muscles and joints, with the goal of increasing the range of motion within those areas.
- Heat and Cold. Chiropractors may alternate between heat and ice therapy to help patients treat back pain. Ice packs may be used to numb the back for a 10 to 15 minute period and then switched with a heating pad, heat wrap or hot water bottle to restore blood flow to the area and promote faster healing.
- Exercise. Chiropractors may provide patients with instructions for an exercise program focusing on stretching and strengthening the back.
- Massage. Chiropractors may massage the soft tissues to improve circulation, reduce swelling and inflammation associated with back pain, and encourage quicker healing.
- Dietary management. Many chiropractors will provide patients with tips on how an improved diet may help with their back pain, and some may recommend dietary supplements after spinal manipulation.
- Ultrasound. With ultrasound, sound waves create deep heat therapy that is applied to the soft tissues and joints. Basically, micro-massaging the soft tissues and joints, ultrasound therapy can not only help reduce back pain, stiffness, and spasms but increase blood flow and accelerate the healing process.
- Electrical muscle stimulation. During this chiropractic therapy, electrodes are placed on the skin that send light electrical pulses to different areas of the body with the purpose of reducing inflammation, curtailing muscle spasms and relieving back pain.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators (TENS). The most common form of electrical stimulation, TENS units feature electrodes that are placed over the painful area with the user having the power to control the intensity of electrical stimulation. It is believed that TENS help block the transmission of pain signals along the nerves and also release the body’s natural painkillers, endorphins.
- Traction. A chiropractic traction massage may include the patient lying face up as a system of rollers move about the back, all the while stretching and massaging the muscles in the back. Chiropractors may use other traction devices that stretch the spine, decompress the discs and reduce the pressure.
- Pelvic stabilization. When leg-length deficiency, flat feet and/or subtalar instability are present, the chiropractor may place a small heel lift in the shoe on the short leg side and/or prescribe corrective arch supports to help stabilize the pelvis.
*Credit to //www.spine-health.com/
It is important to speak to an attorney about your legal rights if you are ever injured due to another person’s negligence. Contact Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., located at 1201 Third St., Corpus Christi, Texas 78404 if you have any questions about a potential claim or would like to sit down for a consultation and discuss your issue.
