Back Pain
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Cottrell Chiropractic
Terry Cottrell, DC
Chiropractor located in Issaquah, WA
According to the American Chiropractic Association, 31 million Americans experience lower back pain. Caused by injury or trauma, poor posture, or disease, to name a few, back pain can have an immensely negative effect on your quality of life, especially if the pain is chronic. At Cottrell Chiropractic, Dr. Terry Cottrell offers patients a wide spectrum of pain-relieving treatment options. Visit Dr. Cottrell in his Issaquah, Washington, office to find out more.
Back Pain Q & A
What are the causes of back pain?
The back is a complicated structure with many bones, discs, muscles, nerves, ligaments, and tendons. There are numerous reasons you might experience back pain, including:
- Irritated joints
- Bulging, herniated, or ruptured discs; degenerative discs
- Strained or sprained muscles, ligaments or tendons
These problems and damage in your back can happen as a result of:
- Obesity
- Poor posture
- Sports injuries
- Other accidents or trauma
- Disease, such as a disease of the internal organs
Psychological stress can exacerbate back pain. Arthritis is another common cause and presents other symptoms to look out for in addition to the pain, such as:
- Redness
- General stiffness
- Decreased range of motion
Dr. Cottrell frequently assists patients with arthritis, helping to restore range of motion with exercises in conjunction with other methods. Many treatments for arthritis-related back pain focus on improving flexibility, endurance, muscle tone, and overall strength.
What are the treatment options for back pain?
The right treatment depends on the severity and cause of your back pain. Dr. Cottrell provides a wide spectrum of approaches and treatment options for his patients, including:
Gentle Spinal Manipulation
Low-force, gentle spinal manipulation techniques are used to avoid further discomfort and pain in the spine, neck, and back area. In spinal manipulative therapy, Dr. Cottrell uses his hands or a specially-designed instrument to gently move and manipulate your joints by applying controlled, calculated, and low-pressure. This can reduce inflammation and improve nerve function.
Activator Method
The activator method is a chiropractic technique where Dr. Cottrell uses a small, handheld instrument, the Activator Adjusting Instrument, to deliver targeted, gentle impulses to the spine in an effort to restore motion.
Isometrics
Dr. Cottrell may also decide that isometric exercises are the right method to reduce your back pain. These exercises are rehabilitative, targeted contractions of particular muscles or muscle groups.
What are the benefits of chiropractic care for back pain?
Chiropractic care is beneficial for a myriad of reasons, primarily because it can be an effective alternative to surgery and medications that may pose more serious increased risks or negative side effects, for example, addiction and overdose.
The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality recommended low back pain sufferers consider spinal manipulation as a safe, effective, non-pharmaceutical form of treatment for their pain. Many pharmaceutical treatments come with side effects that most patients wish to avoid.
With back pain, sometimes even the simplest of movements can aggravate it, and you could find your mobility significantly restricted. Call or book your consultation online with Dr. Cottrell, to find out what treatment options could relieve your pain.
