It seems odd, but humans have a bone at the end of the spine we call a tailbone. The medical name is the coccyx. When it hurts, it can really hurt because it makes it tough to sit. Usually, this bone hurts because you’ve injured it somehow. In fact, a lot of people injure the coccyx and don’t even know how. It just suddenly starts hurting. But the most frequent cause of injury to this particular bone is a fall on your rear.

Unfortunately, doctors usually don’t see much on X-rays if anything at all. Injury to the coccyx may hurt a lot, but it’s rarely serious. The worst part can be the pain around the area of this virtually useless bone. The only treatments include not sitting (duh!) on anything hard or taking some kind of anti-inflammatory medicine. If you take care not to sit on the bone for a while, the pain usually goes away. You can sit on a “donut” cushion to take the pressure off your rear.

Such a Pain in the Rear! is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

It seems like every time I watch the news concerning healthy living updates I hear the acronym MRI. It’s treated in people’s mind like it’s an X-ray, but it really is something completely different. People with back pain often get an MRI when the doctor is trying to figure out what’s causing the problem. An MRI shows a lot more than an X-ray.

MRI actually stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. It uses radio waves and a magnetic field to create a clear picture of your spine. Some people don’t like to get an MRI, because you have to lie still in a long tube that’s open at both ends. It can be hard to handle if you have any claustrophobia. The newer machines are now made with some added features such as music intended to be distracting. The MRI can be a real important test when trying to diagnose the source of back pain. If the doctor wants you to have one, you should agree because it gives a lot more information about soft tissue which doesn’t show up on X-rays.

An MRI Anyone? is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

Besides, of course, sudden, violent trauma to the neck, injury can alternatively be caused by prolonged minor abuses, such as incorrect posture or neglecting to stretch before heavy physical activity, or even something as seemingly harmless as an uncomfortable chair or mattress. An injury along the neck can result in not only pain, discomfort and limited mobility of the neck, but seemingly unrelated issues thanks to poor communication through the nervous system and limited blood flow. These issues may include troubles with vision or hearing, headaches and limited mobility of the rest of the body.

Chiropractic care might seem the obvious choice for anyone suffering from neck pain, however, the practice is still considered an alternative form of care by many professionals in the medical and insurance industries. A chronic neck pain sufferer will probably be recommended prescription drugs, physical therapy or even surgery, long before anyone brings up the possibility of safe, cost-effective chiropractic care as a solution. It is advised to mention the possibility of meeting with a chiropractor when discussing the problem with your physician. Of course, many family doctors are as distrusting of chiropractic care as anyone and someone seeking a capable solution for their neck pain may be stuck having to find a competent chiropractor all on their own as the alternative may be more expensive, painful, time consuming and less effective.

Contrary to popular belief, chiropractic care of the neck does not involve any dangerous twisting, jerking or yanking on the head and further injury is not a common result of chiropractic neck care. Chiropractic patients are thoroughly diagnosed by the doctor to determine exactly what area of the neck needs adjustment, there is no element of the random or any kind of trial and error involved in this treatment, chiropractic care is as professional and exact as any alternative method of treatment may prove. If delivered by a trained professional, chiropractic care is not going to cause further injury or paralysis or anything of the sort.

There is a common myth that chiropractic care of the neck is painful. On occasion, some slight discomfort may be experienced, but this is usually caused by the injury itself and the swelling and soreness that indicate that it is improving. Chiropractors will recommend daily exercises and stretching routines to help alleviate this strain. The need to adhere strictly to the chiropractor’s recommended exercise routine can’t be stressed enough, alternatively, you can neglect these exercises, relying solely on the adjustment, and seeing minimal, rather than full recovery from a neck injury.

Considering Alternative Chiropractic Care for Neck Pain is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

It can happen to anyone who experiences a car accident or an unfortunate slip, but for a contact sports athlete, the possibility of compression fracture is something of a clear and present danger, especially football players or those who compete in mobile sports. Unfortunately, the signs aren’t always obvious. Sometimes it’s easy to chalk the discomfort up to the normal aches and pains one will usually experience after heavy exercise. Any athlete is advised to have a regular physician and to get regular checkups to make sure that any health problems are caught early on while they’re still manageable. One sign of spinal injury that you might not expect would be pain in the kidneys and darkly colored urine. This is usually a sign of little more than some kidney damage that will heal on its own, but can also have its roots in lower back compression fracture, so any abnormality in the body is a good enough reason to talk to a doctor, as seemingly minor injuries might actually be signs of something much more serious. Of course, this advice doesn’t just apply to athletes, but rather, anyone who experiences seemingly minor health problems, because you never know when a small problem is just a symptom of a bigger problem.

Luckily, compression fractures of the posterior area don’t usually develop into more serious problems and the physician or chiropractic care professional probably won’t recommend much more than some over the counter painkillers and a bit more rest than usual.

If a compression fracture affects up to 25% of the vertebral body height, then chiropractic care should almost certainly be employed. Patients suffering from such injuries are considered stable and don’t have much to worry about beyond the expected discomforts, but attention must be given nonetheless. Experienced chiropractic care professionals will recommend stretches and exercises to keep the healing process on track and prevent the atrophy of muscular tissue.

With compression fractures that affect between 25% and 50% of the vertebral body height, the severity of the injury is a clinical decision. Beyond 50%, more drastic measures may need to be taken and time is of the essence. If the injury is still new, the patient can recover completely by undergoing a procedure known as ‘vertebroplasty’. This is a minimally invasive method wherein a needle enters the spinal column and applies a kind of cement that will seal the fractures. After this procedure, the doctor may recommend recuperative therapy with a chiropractic care professional to ensure that the rehabilitation process goes smoothly. If neglected, though, these injuries can get worse over time through little more than regular daily activity and never heal properly, possibly requiring expensive, high risk, invasive surgery and pricy medicine.

The Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Sufferers of Compression Fracture is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

The Webster technique is perhaps the most well known of pediatric chiropractic techniques. It has been featured on television shows like The Learning Channel’s A Baby Story, as well as in numerous magazines like Midwife Today and Mothering. This technique was developed in 1978 by Dr. Larry Webster, the well known pediatrician and chiropractor who founded the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association, or ICPA. The technique’s goal is to relieve physical and mental stress on the mother and unborn child by targeting the causes of intrauterine constraint. It has been practiced throughout the United States for nearly thirty years and has proven very successful in relieving constraint and helping to convert breech presentations to cephalic presentation.

Intrauterine constraint is defined as any external force adversely affecting the developing fetus by constraining the natural movement of said fetus. Intrauterine constraint can result in such abnormal development as the fetus resisting the head-down position, which can lead to later complications in birth and possibly throughout the child’s life. By dealing with the potential for complications early on, the labor and birthing process become easier and the child may find it easier to live a productive, happy life by allowing the chiropractor to provide a foil for possible birth defects as their potential for development becomes apparent.

The Webster Technique and pediatric chiropractic care in general are not without their detractors, of course. Critics doubt that chiropractic care can do anything to affect the physical position of the fetus during pregnancy or remove any constraints. Furthermore, they maintain that chiropractic care during pregnancy in the final weeks can actually be detrimental. These critics protest the application of chiropractic care for either pregnant mothers or newborn children. One can easily imagine what provokes this criticism, as when you imagine the loud pops and cracks that go along with chiropractic care being applied to the sensitive body of a newly born baby, it’s hard not to cringe. Of course, pediatric chiropractic care is a very gentle method of light pushing to correct spinal misalignments that can occur during even the easiest of childbirths. This gentle realignment isn’t generally accompanied by the same loud noises that adult chiropractic care results in and might prove necessary to prevent scoliosis and other back and nervous system problems later in life, however, even these critics will admit that breech deliveries are the last thing a mother to be wants and that some preventative measure should be taken. Not all of these criticisms are completely unfounded, though, so a mother to be is advised to discuss their pregnancy with their primary doctor first and resist the temptation to go straight to the chiropractor.

The Webster Technique does have a definite weakness in that it’s only proven effective against the problem of breech pregnancy. Breech presentation isn’t the only possible incorrect position for a fetus to take during pregnancy, so other methods should be looked into as much as possible, as well.

The Webster Technique in Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

Chiropractic care focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects that such disorders have on the general health of the patient. Other pain, such as back, neck and joints are also a focus for the chiropractic. Increasing mobility is often the goal of any chiropractic care. This is done through manipulation of the skeletal system and tissue. There are no drugs involved in the practice just hands on treatment and adjustments yet the benefits of the care are numerous. Perhaps more surprisingly, chiropractic care can also aid in ailments such as headaches and chiropractic care professionals are also trained to be rather versatile diagnosticians, being able to spot the cause of not only musculoskeletal troubles, but also those related to nutrition, diet and lifestyle and can provide professional recuperative therapy in these areas.

The method of diagnosis for a chiropractic care professional is just as demanding as with any other medical professional. Assessment may include clinical examination, diagnostic imaging, testing in laboratories and diagnostic intervention. Contrary to some people’s misconceptions, chiropractors commonly refer patients to other professionals when chiropractic care is deemed insufficient, ineffective or detrimental to the patient’s condition. Sometimes a patient’s needs’ will demand not just chiropractic care, but chiropractic care in conjunction with the skill set and attention of someone else on the health team with different qualifications. A capable, learned chiropractor can be trusted to do what’s right for the patient and this care necessitates just as thorough a diagnosis process as any other medical professional employs.

Most commonly, chiropractic care treatment entails what is called ‘spinal manipulation’ or ‘chiropractic adjustment’. Spinal manipulation involves the use of controlled force applied manually to joints that have become less mobile due to tissue injury. Tissue injury can take place either thanks to a single traumatic event, such as a car accident or lifting something an object that is too heavy, or through repeated excess strain over a long period of time, this latter cause might be something as seemingly harmless as sitting in an awkward position or falling asleep in the recliner on a semi-regular basis.

Chiropractic care is not known to cause discomfort in most cases, however, some patients may experience some noticeable discomfort for a day or two afterwards, due to soreness or swelling, similar to the discomfort one might feel after some forms of extraneous exercise. These issues generally resolve themselves before long and rarely signify any serious problems.

An Introduction to Chiropractic Care is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

It may come as a bit of a surprise that chiropractic care is not only of use to new mothers recovering from the back pains and drastic body changes of pregnancy, but it also has its benefits for both mother and child during pregnancy. There are myths surrounding the practice of chiropractic care that might lead a mother to be to think that it is potentially dangerous during pregnancy, such discouraging myths might include claims of extreme discomfort or awkward spinal positioning as part of therapy, leading pregnant women to believe there to be some probability for birth defects, personal damage or worse. Certainly, no competent, licensed chiropractor ever performed a treatment that did more harm than good to a mother to be or an unborn child and there are perhaps few people who can benefit for from chiropractic care than a woman going through her first pregnancy.

Some of the more obvious benefits of chiropractic care during pregnancy include keeping symptoms of nausea under control, thanks to chiropractic care’s effect on the nervous system and, of course, relieving pain in the back, neck and joints. Perhaps not as readily apparent, though, is that chiropractic care can also help in keeping labor and delivery as short as possible and maybe even prevent the need for a delivery by cesarean section by keeping the mother’s musculoskeletal system in check during a time of dramatic physical change, not to mention that regular chiropractic appointments during pregnancy can help prevent a misaligned spine thanks to the increased back curve, pelvic changes and changes in posture that occur, especially during the third trimester.

All chiropractors are trained to work with women during their pregnancy, but rather than settling for the first available professional, a mother to be is advised to find a chiropractic care worker with advance training in the field if at all possible. The late Larry Webster, D.C. founded the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. If available, a chiropractor with an ICPA certificate, DACCP (certificate for those with the highest level of advanced ICPA training) or who is Webster Certified should be sought out.

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is not only safe, but can also be something of a life saver, preventing complications involving the spine, keeping the nervous system in check to ensure that more blood and oxygen flows to the unborn child and making the child birthing process easier in general. Given the additional benefit of reduced headaches and stress, it may not be a bad idea for a mother to keep in touch with their chiropractor beyond pregnancy, as well.

Chiropractic Care in Regards to Pregnancy is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

Surgery for any reason is more than enough to invoke a great fear in the patient even though medical science is at a pinnacle. Spinal surgery is, perhaps, one of the scariest procedures to undergo despite the multiple benefits. And since spinal surgery involves a very important area of the body, rehabilitation and recovery will be at the forefront of concern post-spinal surgery. Chiropractic care following spinal surgery can greatly help the patient in regaining full mobility and reduction of pain along the back.

While the necessity of most spine surgery has found itself under scrutiny, those that have already undergone procedures derive great benefits from seeking chiropractic care. The chiropractor will not be focusing directly on the area of the operation, but on the area above and below. Such care can help reduce the pain associated with post-surgery and any stiffness that could result. The chiropractor will manipulate the spine in such a way to increase mobility to the area. The spinal surgery was more than likey performed to prevent or to reduce damage down. Other areas of the skeletal frame, joints, and even tissue may have been negatively affected. Chiropractic care focuses on such areas and, in conjunction with the surgery, will increase the effectiveness of which these areas are used. The greatest benefit of chiropractic care following spine surgery is the rate of recovery and the achievement of normalcy that patients enjoy. It is important after any major operation to ease back into the normal use of the area operated upon. Since the spine is an integral part of our framework, the concern of chiropractic care is all that more important. Help from a chiropractor will greatly improve the speed of recovery and how well one will be able to function and move.

Common treatments that are employed for the chiropractic care following spine surgery can include any number of procedures. Depending upon the type and severity of the operation the procedures can be as simple manipulation of the area; massages and adjustments, to the more intensive care. Only the chiropractor can determine which treatment will be more beneficial as such determination is made on a case by case basis. No matter the treatment the primary focus is how it will improve and compliment the surgery. Any chiropractic care following spine surgery should be discussed extensively not only with the doctor but also with chiropractic professional as to what the positive and even negative aspects of such care might be.

Chiropractic care following spine surgery is an important step in the recovery process. This care is used in tangent with the care of the physician overseeing the surgery. The primary focus of this care is to enable and hasten the recovery process and is in an important tool in rehabilitation.

Chiropractic Care Following Spinal Surgery is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

While the use of chiropractic care as a viable treatment for musculoskeletal concerns is certainly nothing new, the recent surge in popularity the field has experienced might lead one to believe that it hasn’t been around for all that long. In fact, many techniques employed in chiropractic care have been used to treat injury for as long as human history has been recorded, dating back to the ancient Egyptians or earlier. The word ‘chiropractic’ comes from the Greek meanings of chiros and praktikos; ‘done by hand’.

The practice of spinal adjustment goes back much farther, but chiropractic care was officially founded in the late 19th century by D.D. Palmer and is now practiced professionally in over a hundred countries. Originally, chiropractors focused almost entirely on spinal subluxations. As of today, the practice has expanded well beyond this narrow definition and generally addresses problems with their roots in nervous system irregularities but which may affect any part of the body.

Chiropractic care treatment focuses on the musculoskeletal system and entails the manual application of controlled force to correct improper alignment of the neck, back and joints. The benefits it has on the spinal column extend to the nervous system at large. Many chiropractors and people seeking chiropractic care place heavy emphasis on just that, as the improvements on the nervous system extend well beyond the spine and joints and in fact help the body to conduct healthy, business-as-usual in all areas. Eyesight, hearing, the digestive system, breathing and the circulatory system are just a few of the areas where a patient might experience significant change for the better after undergoing treatment from a chiropractic care professional.

While many people are distrusting of chiropractic care treatments, surveys have shown that chiropractic patients have the highest of all satisfaction rates amongst all the various healthcare disciplines. There is even a danger of the process becoming addictive (though an ethical chiropractor will do what he can not to let this become a problem).

Before seeking chiropractic care treatment, it may be a good idea to consult your physician and see what he or she recommends. It’s best not to get too hung up on any single treatment process, but rather, to keep an open mind and make sure you’re getting the treatment that’s right for your individual needs. This means neither ruling out chiropractic care as an option nor jumping to the conclusion that it’s the right answer. Always make sure you’ve assessed your situation, talked it over with your physician and undergone a thorough exam before seeking any specially qualified medical professional.

The Basic Facts About Chiropractic Care Treatment is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide

Too often, money minded bureaucrats at plants and factories will reject the option of chiropractic care for injured workers and look for a cheaper alternative when chiropractic care is exactly what the worker needs. Nothing could be more foolish, though, as the effects of capable chiropractic treatment and therapy will generally be felt almost immediately after treatment, getting the worker back on the job quickly and safely after a short rehabilitation period, saving the company money in worker’s compensation while they’re unable to work and reducing the chance of having to pay for further treatment should the injury recur due to insufficient initial treatment of the worker’s injury because the employer wouldn’t consider chiropractic care. In the event of injury, chiropractic care and workers can be something of an ace in the hole.

Thanks to a surge in costs throughout the nineties and into the 21st century, independent research was conducted in Texas in 2002 by the national research and consulting firm MGT America, commissioned by the Texas Chiropractic Association, to determine what role chiropractic care played in these escalating worker’s compensation costs. Of nearly 900,000 workers compensation claims made between 1996 and 2001, only 14.6% of workers were treated by chiropractors and only 8.5% received more than half of their treatment from said professionals. Chiropractic care only made up 6.9% of total worker’s compensation costs.

According to the study, the average claim for a worker with lower back injury was just under $16,000. The average claim for a worker with lower back injury receiving treatment from a chiropractor was only about $12,000. Furthermore, if the worker was receiving at least 90% of their treatment from a chiropractic care professional, the number dropped to about $7,500, less than half of what a worker’s claim was if the worker had received no chiropractic treatment.

Not surprisingly, the study found that chiropractic care was, in fact, one of the most cost effective treatments available to workers with musculoskeletal ailments. It would be untrue to say that other studies haven’t shown an increase in cost when treatment is handled solely by chiropractors, but the MGT America study is considered to be amongst the more thorough. Regardless of what any studies say, though, a competent, thorough diagnosis by an unbiased professional might prove to be the most powerful strategy for reducing the cost of worker’s compensation claims. Correct, competent treatment should always be the most important thing to an injured worker, his or her employer and the company at large, whether that treatment entails chiropractic care or some other form of treatment.

Chiropractic Care and Workers Compensation Costs is a post from: Back Pain and Physical Therapy Guide