Back pain affects millions worldwide and comes with many causes and symptoms. It can affect anyone, especially middle-aged adults and the elderly. If you have back pain, it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about it, but there are ways to help ease your symptoms. When undergoing treatment, a doctor for back pain will tailor it to your individual needs. Back pain typically results from a muscle spasm or strain but sometimes occurs due to a more severe condition, such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. It may also occur due to injury or illness.

If you have a lot of back pain, it’s paramount to get checked by visiting a chiropractors office. Back pain is usually not a sign of anything serious but a result of muscle and joint problems that develop from wear and tear over time. The first step that a back doctor considers when treating back pain is identifying the cause of your symptoms. Treatment depends on the type of back pain you have and may include medication, exercise, and massage therapy. Your doctor will likely suggest ways of maintaining a healthy back, including relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga to help reduce stress and anxiety levels.

Chronic pain is common among adults around the world, and nearly 1.5 billion people today are dealing with chronic pain of one kind or another. Many injuries or other conditions may cause chronic pain, but back pain may very well be among the most typical causes. The United States is no exception, and there are many medical professionals who can help patients with spinal disorders, strained back muscles, and more. Chiropractors offer non-invasive solutions, and even yoga masters and physical therapy experts can help as well. How often to Americans suffer from back pain, and why? When is it time to see a spinal disorder expert or a chiropractor?

American Adults and Back Pain

Back pain is a typical problem among American adults today. At any given time, in fact, nearly 31 million Americans are suffering from back pain, a greater total than the population of almost any state. About half of all working Americans admit that they get back pain, and experts believe that up to 80% of the American population will experience back pain at some point in their lives. One out of three women, and about one in four men, in the United States are suffering from back pain, whether due to their spine or back muscles, such as in the lower back.

What is causing this back pain? Sometimes, the cause is simple old age, as an elderly person’s spine has spent many decades upright and fighting gravity. Back pain and arthritis are common sources of chronic pain among the elderly, and it can limit their movements and even make them a bit shorter. The spine gets compressed over the decades, and this may cause some painful pressure on nerves or with the muscles in the back. Among younger adults, meanwhile, surveys have been done to see what the common causes of back pain might be. A Statista survey back in 2017 found that 29% of Americans with back pain blamed their condition on constant stress, while another 26% believed that weak muscles or lack of exercise caused the pain. Meanwhile, another 26% of Americans blamed physical labor. Some jobs such as carpentry or construction work might certainly cause back pain, but so might other physical causes such as pregnancy or playing sports. Athletes sometimes suffer from injuries to their spine, legs, or neck that may require some physical therapy.

Dealing With Back Pain

Some patients may choose to have surgery or take medications to deal with their chronic back pain, but other sufferers of back pain would rather use non-invasive methods. The good news is that there are plenty of yoga experts, physical therapists, and chiropractors who can help with this, and the results are often positive. For example, someone suffering from pressure in their spine may visit a chiropractor to have their spine and back muscles readjusted to relieve pressure on joints and nerves, no surgery needed. A chiropractor can do a lot of good for all sorts of spinal issues, including general back pain.

A patient recovering at a hospital, such as an injured athlete or someone who survived an accident, may work with a physical therapist who will help them get their strength and range of motion back. This may certainly include spinal issues, along with the shoulders, ankles, or neck. Such a therapist helps restore the full range of motion among affected joints.

A third option is to find yoga experts in one’s area and sign up for private sessions. Yoga does more than relax the mind; it is based on vigorous but natural stretching and bending of the human body, and guided yoga sessions can go a long way towards loosening tense muscles, relieving pressure on nerves, and other spinal or back issues. An interested client may look online, such as “yoga studios near me with private sessions” or “spine relief yoga studios nearby” to find local experts. A patient may also consult his or her private physician for recommendations on local yoga experts or chiropractors who can help them with non-invasive method to cure back pain. Over the course of several sessions, a yoga expert can help guide a client toward relief from back pain, based on natural stretches and bending of the body.