Did you know that around 4 million Australians — that’s about 1 in 6 people — live with chronic back problems?
Each year, our country spends more than $3.4 billion on back and spinal-related conditions.
That’s over 20% of all musculoskeletal healthcare spending in Australia — just for backs!
There’s an incredible study by Bishop et al., done way back in 2010 that compared 16 weeks of medical management — things like opioids, anti-inflammatories, Tylenol – aka Panadol – physiotherapy, massage, and kinesiology – to only 4 weeks of chiropractic care.
Here’s the result:
After 16 weeks of medical and physio care, patients improved by just 0.1 point on a standard disability scale.
But after only 4 weeks of chiropractic care, patients improved by 2.7 points — that’s a 2,700% greater improvement in function and quality of life!Then there is sciatica. It takes back pain to another level. You will know something is different right away. Pain that begins in your back travels down to your buttocks, and shoots down your whole leg is a classic sign of sciatica. The shooting pain down your leg is caused by compression on one of the nerves exiting your spine. Even a small amount of pressure can cause a tremendous amount of pain. So, getting rid of the inflammation and opening up space for the nerve is essential in order to find relief.
Pinching, or compression on a spinal nerve can occur because of inflammation or an injury to one of your spinal discs (such as disc herniation), inflammation to the soft tissues such as the ligaments, or the development of a bone spur. Either way, it’s likely to cause pain and discomfort. This is until you can decrease the inflammation, open up space for the nerve, or improve the movement of your spinal joints.
The good news is that research has shown that 60% of people with sciatica benefitted from chiropractic adjustments to the same degree as if they underwent surgical intervention (without any of the risks!).
So chiropractic care, when delivered consistently and according to evidence-based guidelines, gets people better — faster, is more effective, and able to get people back into life quicker. Pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs can be scary. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to consult with our office right away. Top research publications have shown that people struggling with sciatica can get fantastic results with chiropractic care. Reach out today to discover if the techniques we offer in our practice can help you get on the road to relief.
