What is it?

Back pain is more prevalent than ever, with upto 60% of the adult population experiencing low back pain in their life time (NICE 2022).

This is likely down to the strains of modern day life. Pain can begin for a variety of reasons such as poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, age related degeneration or sporting injuries.

There are multiple integral structures in your back, that could be the cause of back pain, these include Facets (joints), discs (structure between each vertebra), muscles attaching to the spine or pelvis, in addition to nerves that exit your spine.

Categories of pain:

• Acute back pain: Lasting 6 weeks or less

• Sub-acute back pain: Lasting 6 weeks to 3 months

• Chronic back pain: Lasting 3 months or longer

Common Symptoms:

• Morning stiffness 

• Dull aching pain (often worse in the mornings)

• Sharp pain during particular movements, for example; bending or twisting, lifting.

• Radiating pain into groin or down the legs 

Diagnosis:

Here at The Chewton Chiropractor, an in-depth medical history is taken, followed by a thorough physical examination of nerves and muscles for function and mobility of joints. In addition, specialised orthopaedic tests to confirm the cause of your sciatica. If we find we cannot help, we will guide you to the correct health professional for further investigation.

Types of treatment:

We are all individuals! Therefore treatment is very individual. A course of care will be tailored for you and your presentation to clinic. Various techniques are used to reduce symptoms, educate and ultimately address the main cause of your problem. We use a variety of different treatment modalities including; manual therapy, mobility stretches, strength and conditioning exercises and medical acupuncture.