Back pain (also known "dorsalgia") is pain felt in the back that may originate from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.
The pain may have a sudden onset or it can be a chronic pain, it can be felt constantly or intermittently, stay in one place or refer or radiate to other areas. It may be a dull ache, or a sharp or piercing or burning sensation. The pain may be felt in the neck (and might radiate into the arm and hand), in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.
Back pain is one of humanity's most frequent complaints. In the U.S., acute low back pain (also called lumbago) is the fifth most common reason for all physician visits. About nine out of ten adults experience back pain at some point in their life, and five out of ten working adults have back pain every year.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

How do Orthotics (Arch Supports) Affect Lower Back Conditions?

There are literally millions of people who are suffering from some kind of back pain in the United States alone. Some have back pain, others middle, and still others neck pain. The consistent problem with all these patients is imbalance in her spine. Whether the condition, because of poor maintenance, trauma or hereditary factors, the fact remains that back pain can interrupt a person's life and lifestyle.

During the last 27 years of active chiropractic practice, I have used a variety of techniques, the treatment always proved effective in the treatment of the majority of spinal conditions, which in my office. Always on the lookout for better and more efficient ways to help patients, led me to my attention in support of the spine, AFTER the patient had received their treatment.

In the past, I had seen, orthotics and knew that it is an advantage for the support a patient arches. Unfortunately, after the use of orthotics occasionally over the years, the technology to support this not seem to be as consistent as I would have liked.

Let's go over a bit of anatomy to understand the benefits of orthotics. My foot has not one, but three arches. There are two arches that the length of travel of your foot, one on the inner side of the bottom of your foot and the other on the outer side of the bottom of the foot. The third sheet is as a cross-arch. It is located at the bottom of the toes, sometimes the ball of the foot. All three of these arches are working together to support the foot. In return, the ankle, knee, and finally the spine.

As we get older, or if we continue to wear shoes that are not very supportive, the arches have a tendency to decline. As the bow is the support required to be reduced and affects the entire structure. Typically, outside the arch is the first to start dropping.

I have found that some patients to wear over-the-counter arch supports. While these may feel well, they are certainly not targeted to help YOUR state. Many professionials tailor-made orthotics that still use old technology to secure their support. The patient steps into a sparkling cast, which is then to the orthotic company for the production of the orthotic. The problem that I have seen is that it is difficult, if not impossible, a perfect cast, with this old technology.

Thankfully, technology has evolved that the process digitized. The use of an electronic digital scanner takes several measurements to give the most accurate casting processes. In my office, this has allowed patients who had chronic back pain, finally supporting their conditions. This means less pain, less treatment and consequent results.

If you are interested to learn more about chiropractic treatment and the use of orthotics for your specific spinal condition, see the link in the resource box below.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Alfred_Santoro

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