How Losing Weight Can Help Reduce Back Pain for Chiropractic Patients
Back pain is one of the most common and most troublesome problems that people experience. Eight out of 10 individuals will struggle with back pain at some point in their life, the US National Library of Medicine reports. Low and chronic back pain can be aggravated by many triggers. Mechanical stress, excessive strain, muscle weakness, poor sleeping position, lack of exercise, emotional stress, and excessive weight could all contribute to making the situation worse.
The good news is that chiropractic ranks among the most popular and effective treatment options available today for back pain. Through chiropractic adjustment, chiropractors not only help ease the pain but work toward correcting the problem as well. According to chiropractors, spinal adjustments can deliver even better results when combined with weight loss.
In today’s article, we’ll examine the following:
- How Obesity and Back Pain are Related
- How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Back Pain
- Improving Back Health through Chiropractic Care
How Obesity and Back Pain are Related
Individuals who are classified as overweight or obese are much more likely to experience back pain than people who aren’t, according to the American Obesity Association.
Obesity prevents individuals from engaging in everyday physical activities, as well as healthy exercises. These are essential for strengthening the core muscles. A stronger core can take some of the burden away from the back, thus making back pain less likely to occur.
Moreover, the spinal cord becomes excessively laden in the case of obese individuals. This is because it is trying to compensate for the additional weight, which can cause tilting and uneven stress. Both of these can contribute to serious to chronic back pain. Thus the reason obesity is one of the most prominent aggravating factors for lower back pain.
How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Back Pain
According to weight loss experts and chiropractors, weight loss can contribute to a partial or complete reduction in back pain symptoms. Research surrounding the connection between weight loss and back pain is still insufficient, but numerous practitioners report they’ve seen cases in which patients experience a significant reduction in pain upon losing weight.
Clearly, this occurs because the extra weight is taken off the spine. As a result, the spine doesn’t experience additional stress, especially so when a chiropractor realigns the vertebral column through multiple sessions of chiropractic adjustments.
According to the American Spine Society, individuals that stay within 10 pounds of their ideal weight are least likely to experience spinal problems, particularly chronic lower back pain.
Improving Back Health through Chiropractic Care and Physical Activity
The combination of exercise and chiropractic care can produce noticeable, long-term improvements in spinal and overall health.
Besides aiding in weight loss, exercise is also great for strengthening the core muscles and guaranteeing a proper distribution of the body’s weight throughout the spine. Stronger muscles, lower weight, and better posture provide amazing long-term benefits for chiropractic patients who suffer from back pain.
If you need more tips for how to incorporate weight loss and exercise in your daily routine, speak to your local chiropractor. He or she is more than competent to guide you along your way. If you aren’t currently seeing a chiropractor, give Millar Chiropractic a call. We're here to help! Give us a call today at (800) 462-4476 or contact us locally at (256) 830-0000. We are here for you!
Millar Chiropractic Clinics, Huntsville, Alabama.