Published on under Back Pain
So, what are the current recommendations for acute low back pain? Clinical guidelines recommend that all provider types (including chiropractors) offer reassurance to reduce fear of movement and encourage patients to maintain normal activity as tolerated. The guidelines also recommend non-pharmacological treatments including ice/heat, spinal manipulation (a chiropractic specialty), massage, or acupuncture as FIRST-LINE treatment options. Patients should avoid diagnostic imaging, specialty consults, and prescription opioids in the absence of “red flags” (cancer, fracture, or infection).
In addition to manual therapies, like spinal manipulation, to reduce pain and improve function in the low back, doctors of chiropractic will also look for dysfunction in associated areas of the body that commonly co-occur (or even contribute) to low back pain. For example, individuals with tight hamstrings may be more likely to develop back pain, and issues in the hip are often present in low back pain patients. Patients will also be encouraged to stay or become active and to engage in home-based exercises to strengthen the muscles in the low back.
Thousands of Doctors of Chiropractic across the United States and Canada have taken “The ChiroTrust Pledge”:“To the best of my ability, I agree to
provide my patients convenient, affordable,
and mainstream Chiropractic care.
I will not use unnecessary long-term
treatment plans and/or therapies.”
To locate a Doctor of Chiropractic who has taken The ChiroTrust Pledge, google “The ChiroTrust Pledge” and the name of a town in quotes.
(example: “ChiroTrust Pledge” “Olympia, WA”)
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