Chronic Back Pain!

Alpha Stock Images – http://alphastockimages.com/

One in 4 Americans suffers from back pain at any given time. For many, it's an everyday companion. In addition to causing suffering and physical disability, researchers have found that chronic back pain also produces detrimental changes in the brain.

People with chronic low back pain (cLBP), over 12 weeks,  show a greater brain age over their chronological age. They also show thinning of the brain or cortical area. What effects this has on their lives is still being studied. 

These brain changes are mostly reversible with proper treatment! The combination of chiropractic adjustments and exercise has been shown to effectively lessen and manage chronic back pain. This reduces pain, increases function, and helps your nervous system heal.

Clark, B.C., Goss, D.A., Walkowski, S. et al. Neurophysiologic effects of spinal manipulation in patients with chronic low back pain. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12, 170 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-12-170

Seminowicz DA, et al.  Effective treatment of chronic low back pain in humans reverses abnormal brain anatomy and function. J Neurosci. 2011 May 18;31(20):7540-50. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5280-10.2011. PMID: 21593339; PMCID: PMC6622603.

Tan, W., et al. (2020). Spinal Manipulative Therapy Alters Brain Activity in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Longitudinal Brain fMRI Study. Frontiers in integrative neuroscience, 14, 534595. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2020.534595

Yu Gary, etal. Accelerated brain aging in chronic low back pain. Brain Research,2021,147263,ISSN 0006-8993. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147263

Disclaimer

Material on this blog is provided for informational purposes only. It is general information that may not apply to you as an individual, and is not a substitute for your own doctor’s medical care or advice.



Reading this blog should not  be construed to mean that you and I have a patient-physician relationship. 

The inclusion of any link does not imply my endorsement of the linked site or its affiliates, 

NEVER DISREGARD MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY SEEKING MEDICAL CARE BECAUSE OF SOMETHING YOU HAVE READ ON OR ACCESSED THROUGH THIS WEB SITE.