Chiropractic care and a healthy lifestyle go hand-in-hand, with chiropractors often recommending lifestyle changes to enhance overall health and well-being. These changes, including nutrition, exercise, stress management, and posture, can positively impact spinal health, nervous system function, and general wellness.

Chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system, while lifestyle choices can significantly influence their health and function.

Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide with many treatments, such as medication, often failing to provide lasting relief. Researchers have uncovered a possible solution. Their study found integrating lifestyle support into back pain care could reduce disability and enhance quality of life.

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to treat spinal stenosis, including:
• Spinal adjustments: these adjustments aim to improve spinal alignment and reduce pressure on the nerves.
• Massage therapy: Massage can help to improve flexibility, reduce pain, and promote relaxation.
• Exercise therapy: specific exercises can help to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and improve range of motion.
• Lifestyle modifications: chiropractors may recommend changes to daily activities, such as posture, ergonomics, and activity level, to reduce stress on the spine.

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has developed a new systematic review to summarize the evidence for epidural steroid injections and whether they reduce pain and disability for people with certain kinds of chronic back pain. With an epidural steroid injection, a steroid or corticosteroid medication is injected into a part of the spine called the epidural space. The goal is to help reduce certain kinds of back pain.

A research team set out to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness compared to cognitive behavioral therapy as treatments for chronic opioid-treated low back pain and their long-term effects. CBT is considered the standard psychotherapy for chronic pain, but its long-term benefits haven’t been well studied. To date, only 17 studies have evaluated mindfulness for chronic low-back pain and three studies have compared mindfulness and CBT.

Behavioral interventions were associated with reduced pain and daily opioid use and improved function and quality of life for up to 12 months among adults with opioid-treated chronic low back pain, according to a new randomized clinical trial.

Different stretches have different functions. Some focus on a particular muscle or muscle group or limb and improve movement. Others, sometimes referred to as ‘active’ stretches, are intended to increase strength. These three exercises are designed to do both with your back:

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes. Obviously, it’s a wonderful phase of life. But it’s also a challenging time. Extra weight brings a shift to the center of gravity. This cause new sensations, and, in some cases, discomfort.

It’s good, of course, to keep all your muscles strong and limber. But the strength of the body’s core — the muscles in your belly and mid- and lower back, is one of the keys to long term health and stability as you grow older.

We are living longer and, if you play your cards right and have taken care of yourself, this is a wonderful thing. Good genes certainly help, but healthy lifestyle practices are just as important in continuing to live a productive life. Here are some tips the American Chiropractic Association recommends for aging with grace and health: