Back pain is one of the most common and most troublesome problems that people experience. Eight out of 10 individuals will struggle with back pain during some point in their life, the US National Library of Medicine reports. Low and chronic back pain can be aggravated by many triggers, including carrying extra weight. Many people know that weight loss will benefit their overall health, but are not sure how it is connected to spinal integrity.
The good news is that chiropractic ranks among the most popular and effective treatment options available today for back pain. Through the chiropractic adjustment, chiropractors not only help ease the pain but also work toward correcting the problem. According to chiropractors, spinal adjustments can deliver even better results when combined with weight loss.
In today’s article, we’ll examine the following:
- How Obesity and Back Pain are Related
- How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Back Pain
- Improving Back Health through Chiropractic
How Obesity and Back Pain are Related
Individuals who are classified as overweight or obese are much more likely to experience back pain than people who aren’t, according to the American Obesity Association.
Obesity prevents individuals from engaging in everyday physical activities and healthy exercises. These are essential for strengthening the core muscles. A stronger core can take some of the burden away from the back, thus making back pain less likely.
In addition, the spinal cord becomes excessively burdened in the case of obese individuals. This is because it’s trying to compensate for the additional weight, which can cause tilting and uneven stress. Both of these can contribute to serious and chronic back pain.
How Weight Loss Helps Reduce Back Pain
According to weight loss experts and chiropractors, weight loss can contribute to partial or complete reduction in the back pain symptoms. The research on the connection between weight loss and back pain is still insufficient but numerous practitioners report that they’ve seen cases of patients experiencing serious reduction in pain after losing weight.
Obviously, this occurs because the extra weight is taken off the spine. As a result, the spine doesn’t experience further stress. Stress is further reduced when a chiropractor realigns the vertebral column as weight is being reduced through multiple sessions of chiropractic adjustments.
According to the American Spine Society, individuals who stay within 10 pounds of their ideal weight are the ones least likely to experience spinal problems, particularly chronic lower back pain.
Improving Back Health through Chiropractic Care and Physical Activity
The combination of exercise and chiropractic care can produce noticeable, long-term improvements in spinal health.
Besides aiding in weight loss, exercise is also great for strengthening the core muscles and guaranteeing a proper distribution of the body’s weight throughout the spine. Stronger muscles, less weight, and better posture will provide amazing long-term benefits for chiropractic patients who suffer from back pain.
If you need more pointers on how to incorporate weight loss and exercise in your daily routine, speak to your chiropractor. If you aren’t currently seeing a chiropractor, give us a call – Dr. Caulfield has helped many patients over the years maintain and improve posture while losing weight.