Freedom from Back and Neck Pain :: Holistic Healing

Freedom from Back and Neck Pain

For many people, a life free from back and neck pain is nothing but a dream. Sadly, in adults under 45, back and neck pain limits activity more than any other health complaint. In adults between 45 and 65, it is second only to arthritis as the most limiting health factor.

Identified by Scientific American as “one of society’s most significant non-lethal conditions,” back and neck pain will affect at least 80 percent of Canadians at some point in their lives and suck billions of dollars from our health-care system. That’s the bad news...The good news is that most back and neck pain is caused by soft tissue (muscle, ligament, tendon) strain or spasm, which is preventable and often much easier to treat than hard-tissue (cartilage, bone) damage or deterioration. The pain caused by strained or spasmodic back and/or neck muscles is telling you something. Whatever the cause of your discomfort, these four experts will share their secrets for prevention and treatment.

A Chiropractic Perspective

Catherine Owens, DC

Ask any chiropractor about the most fundamental cause of all complaints affecting the spine and you will probably hear one word: stress. The vast majority of spine-related problems result from cumulative repetitive physical, postural, chemical, environmental and emotional stresses on the nervous system. Stress triggers the nervous system to call in the body’s emergency task force, adrenaline, which tightens muscles, redistributes blood flow, fires up hormones and prepares the body for battle and/or escape. We usually suppress these natural fight-or-flight reactions. The result is that our nervous systems become stuck in a state of high alert, which short circuits, or subluxates, the impulses in the nervous system even more, resulting in symptoms of spinal problems and a decreased level of health.

Prevention and treatment of back and neck problems must address the dysfunctional nervous system. Chiropractic treatments gently and safely manipulate the skeletal system, restoring the stressed nervous system to a less reactive, clearer and healthier level of functioning. A healthier nervous system sends healing messages to other organ systems, including aching muscles and joints. Most chiropractors support the recovery process further by providing advice on exercise, nutrition and stress management. Once restored, health can be maintained by regular chiropractic adjustments, as well as other proactive lifestyle habits.

Here’s my prescription for spinal recovery and maintenance:

Drink lots of water
Exercise and stretch regularly
Visit a chiropractor regularly (kids too!)
Locate a punching bag, some decent boxing gloves, duct-tape a photo of the source of your stress to the bag, and pound the living daylights out of it!

The vast majority of spine-related problems result from cumulative repetitive physical, postural, chemical, environmental and emotional stresses on the nervous system. One solution: locate a punching bag, some decent boxing gloves, duct-tape a photo of the source of your stress to the bag, and pound the living daylights out of it!

Take hold of your right upper trapezius muscle with your left hand and hang on. At the same time, look down at the floor past your left hip. The muscle will try to slip away, but if you can hang on to it–not too hard, though–you should feel a good stretch. Hold it for five deep breaths and repeat on the other side.

Back and neck pain will affect at least 80 percent of Canadians at some point in their lives and suck billions of dollars from our health-care system.

Dr. Catherine Owens is passionate about chiropractic. She runs a paediatric and family wellness practice in Peterborough, Ont. Dr. Owens is also a busy mother to three girls who all have their spines checked regularly.

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Source: alive #250, August 2003

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