senior care services to take some of the burden

Posted on: 13 January 2015

While lugging your Christmas decorations to your attic, you suddenly drop to your knees in pain.  For the second time this holiday season, you strain your back attempting to carry heavy boxes laden with tinsel, lights, and other items.  If you can relate to this scenario, the following two chiropractic techniques might help.

Spinal Traction

Spinal traction is a form of chiropractic treatment that releases painful pressure in your back.  This type of therapy is used to treat a number of conditions of the spine including:

• Herniated spinal discs

• Pinched nerves

• Slipped spinal discs

• Bone spurs

• Sciatica

• Degenerative spine disease

If your chiropractor believes that spinal traction is a good fit for your back problem, he or she will either administer:

• Mechanical spinal traction – This form of spinal traction is completed while you lie on a specialized table.  Your chiropractor will remove pressure from your spine by attaching pulleys, ropes, and slings to your body while you lie on the table.

• Manual spinal traction – With this type of spinal traction, your chiropractor will remove pressure from your spinal joints by manipulating them forcefully with his or her hands.

Stretching Exercises

Spinal traction can be effective.  However, in most cases, this procedure can only be completed in a chiropractor's office.  To aid in your recovery and keep your back loose between visits, your doctor may recommend that you complete daily stretching exercises.

While doing your stretching exercises, you should always:

• Avoid any movements that cause pain

• Avoid bouncing while completing stretching exercises

• Stretch your body slowly in a controlled manner

• Exercise on a flat, spacious, and clean surface

If you visit a chiropractor for back pain, this medical professional may recommend that you complete the following popular stretching exercises:

• Lie on the floor with bent knees and flat feet.  Rest your arms at your sides with your palms touching the floor.  Slowly lift your lower back and buttocks off of the floor.  Hold the move for 5 seconds.  Repeat exercise 5 times.

• Lie on the floor with bent knees and flat feet.  Lower your arms to your sides and rest your palms on the floor.  Slowly lift your left leg off of the floor and raise it as high as you comfortably can.  Put your left leg back down on the floor and repeat the move with your right leg.  Do 5 repetitions with each leg.

• Stand straight with your hands resting on your hips.  Slowly bend over to the left side without flexing your knee or hip during the process.  Hold the move for 5 seconds.  Return to the straight position and complete the move on the right side.  Do 5 repetitions on each side.

If you're desperate for relief from your back pain, the 2 aforementioned chiropractic therapies might help you feel normal again.  To learn more about these proven techniques, make an appointment with a reputable local chiropractor today.