Spine Health & Spinal Hygiene

The goals of the chiropractic treatment of a thoracic disc herniation are to reduce pain and dysfunction while the body heals itself.



Since most disc extrusions naturally regress in a few months, chiropractors will attempt to reduce the pain and pressure caused by the disc herniation. Chiropractic treatment of a thoracic disc herniation may include one or a combination of the following:

Adjustments
Distraction or traction
Ergonomic training
Physical modalities (cold laser, heat, ice, electrical stimulation)
Specific exercises
Some chiropractors will recommend nutritional support, such as proteolytic enzymes, to reduce the pain and swelling associated with a disc herniation.

More Chiropractic Treatments for Upper Back Problems

In addition to joint dysfunction, myofascial pain syndrome, and thoracic herniated disc, which have already been reviewed in this article, chiropractic care may be a treatment option for additional upper back problems, such as thoracic joint dysfunction, thoracic outlet syndrome, and shoulder dysfunction related to the upper spine.

Joint dysfunction

The thoracic spine is a marvel of joint interaction and complex motion patterns. Composed of a total of 220 separate joints,1 it makes up the lion’s share of the 313 total joints in the entire spine. With this many interactive articulations it is easy to see that maintaining normal joint function, motion, and position is important. Chiropractors treat thoracic joint dysfunction with chiropractic adjustments.

There are a variety of chiropractic-adjustment techniques that can be used to adjust a dysfunctional joint:

Most chiropractors employ manual adjusting techniques that utilize precise thrusting adjustments to help normalize joint function.
Chiropractors can also use softer directional adjusting techniques or adjusting instruments to accommodate the needs of the patient.
Thoracic outlet syndrome

Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a disorder in which the nerves of the brachial plexus and blood vessels are compressed. This compression can cause great pain and altered sensations such as a “pins and needles” sensation in the hands.

Treatment of thoracic outlet syndrome can include stretching, manual trigger-point therapy, and myofascial anchor-and-stretch release techniques to the affected muscles. Chiropractors may also include adjustments and postural instruction.


Thoracic/shoulder dysfunction

The function of the shoulder and the upper back are interrelated. Studies have shown that thrusting manipulations applied to the thoracic spine and ribs have reduced shoulder pain and dysfunction. Chiropractic adjustments to the thoracic region can be beneficial to certain types of shoulder dysfunction.

There are many causes and treatment options for thoracic spine disorders. Chiropractors have a wide range of treatment options for treating these conditions. Chiropractors are increasingly joining collaborative spinal care teams as a drug-free option for treating spinal and musculoskeletal conditions.

In recent years, in recognition of the value and benefits of chiropractic care, Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, legislation establishing a permanent chiropractic care benefit for both active duty military personnel and veterans. Furthermore, a doctor of chiropractic is now stationed in the U.S. Capitol to provide necessary care to members of Congress

To date, there is a doctor of chiropractic at 60 military bases around the country; however, according to a 2005 Government Accountability Office report, only 54 percent of servicemen and women eligible for chiropractic care can reasonably access the benefit. It is still necessary more is done to increase chiropractic access and availability.

Upright’s wearable device connects to your back and helps improve your posture. Thankfully, we had the chance to test it out

If the opening of this article hasn’t already prompted you to straighten your back, give it a go right now. Try keeping your back straight for the rest of this article. Unfortunately you may find that after five minutes or less, you will be longing to slouch again. If this is the case, Upright has the product for you. 

As well as causing back pain in the short and long term, slouching affects your body language, mood, self confidence and more. It is estimated that as many as 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.

Vast research demonstrates the benefits of good posture. It was found that “adopting an upright seated posture in the face of stress can maintain self-esteem, reduce negative mood, and increase positive mood compared to a slumped posture.” Furthermore good posture can improve mood and energy levels and increase lung capacity by as much as 30 percent.

Oded Cohen founded Upright when he couldn’t find an adequate solution for his mother’s slouching. So in July 2012, he started Upright in Israel, with a mission to eradicate bad posture. In May 2014, Upright launched an Indiegogo campaign and raised $155,244 from over 2,000 backers.

Some people will develop widespread pain after an auto injury. Decades ago, people with these symptoms were thought to be exaggerating their injuries, but now we know that there are actual alterations that occur in the brain and nervous system that are at the root for the development of chronic pain.

After suffering an automobile injury, such as whiplash, the structures of the cervical spine, or neck, can be stretched or torn as a result of the back-and-forth motion during an auto collision. The complex tissues surrounding the neck and other areas of the spine then become swollen and inflamed, causing the well-known symptoms of neck pain. In this process, the muscles contract in order to protect from further injury.

However, if a whiplash-type injury is not treated right away, a repetitive cycle of pain and muscle contractions can occur. This can cause widespread symptoms throughout the body, including the hands and feet as well as make the individual overly sensitive to pain in general. 

The bipedal posture of humans carries many benefits for us, but alternatively, this standing posture also adds pressure on the spine as well as other bones and surrounding muscles of the body. Together with an individual’s improper sitting position and the natural wear and tear degeneration of tissues through age, it’s not uncommon for individual’s to develop symptoms of back pain. In fact, back pain is considered to be the second most common cause people seek medical attention, only next to upper-respiratory infections. According to some experts, as many as 80% of individuals may experience back complications at some point in their lives.

Although back pain and its associated symptoms is common among the population, treating your injury or condition is crucial for individuals to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Chiropractic care focuses on the structure and function of the human body, primarily that of the spine. A chiropractor can diagnose a possible injury or condition causing back complications and determine the most appropriate treatment for each individual using spinal adjustments, manual manipulation and occasionally, recommending exercise and dietary lifestyle changes to improve a person’s wellbeing. Chiropractic adjustments can be an effective treatment for back pain as well as other types of pain.

 Additionally, before relying on chiropractic care for diagnosing and treating a back complication, the common injuries or conditions relating to back pain can be prevented in a variety of ways such as, maintaining a healthy diet and weight are important towards preventing back pain, avoiding prolonged inactivity or bed rest, staying active, warming up or stretching before exercising or participating in other physical activities to avoid further injuries, maintaining a proper posture, wearing comfortable, low-heeled shoes, and sleeping on a mattress of medium firmness to minimize any curve in the spine.

With summer coming into season, many people begin to take on those last summer yard projects or start their annual gardening renovations. But, after the whole winter season without participating in any strenuous outdoor activities, it’s not uncommon for people to experience back pain and other symptoms from yard work and gardening.

For people who maintain good physical conditioning throughout the year, gardening or yard maintenance is generally an activity that can aggravate a previous injury or underlying condition in the spine. Contrary to exercising at a gym, the physical exertion required from working in the yard is far less predictable, such as pulling out weeds or even something as large as a tree root, the body is unable to determine how much force it will take to accomplish the task. Other outdoor tasks, such as digging holes, can also involve the use of unexpected resistance, both which can cause back strains.

Yard projects usually tend to last longer than your regular exercise routine and rushing through these chores without taking any breaks to stretch may ultimately cause damage or injury to the spine and other parts of the body.

A majority of individuals experience symptoms of back pain or neck pain, as a result of trauma from an injury or an undiagnosed condition, frequently ask themselves whether seeking chiropractic care or massage therapy would be beneficial to treat any complications. The fact is, a combination of both can be beneficial for treating many injuries and conditions.

The muscles attach to the bones through a variety of tendons housed within the human body while the nerves role is to control the muscles even when these become tight and contract. Considering the structure of the body, receiving a chiropractic adjustment as treatment for an injury or condition first can greatly help with the symptoms. Once a person is under regular chiropractic care and the spine, along with other bones and tissues of the body, start moving and functioning as they should, then receiving a massage would serve as a great addition to chiropractic treatment.

Daily motions of the body should normally be smooth, pain free, and can be achieved with ease, but if discomfort and other symptoms such as pain start up, there could be a complication with your skeleton and chiropractic treatment would be the best choice for you.

When the spine degenerates with age, the spinal bones gradually begin to deform. These changes can then affect the soft-tissues surrounding the spine: muscles, tendons, ligaments, discs, joints and even spinal nerves.

Through overuse, bad posture and/or as a result of an injury or other underlying condition, the spinal discs are the most commonly affected structures when the spine begins to degenerate. The spinal discs, or vertebral discs, primarily function as a shock absorber between each vertebra. These also act as ligaments to hold the bones of the spine together and provide mobility to the spine. As people age, the body begins to wear and tear from use. The spinal discs will degenerate from loss of fluid, causing these to become thinner and less flexible, no longer providing a comfortable cushion between each vertebra. The supporting ligaments, tendons and muscles can also begin to weaken, leading to various complications, including pinched nerves, herniated discs, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, and misalignments of the spine.

Because spinal degeneration occurs over an extended period of time, its symptoms can appear subtle and are often overlooked in its early stages. However, once this natural wear and tear begins to develop into much more severe complications, a majority of individuals will experience neck, back and lower back pain, depending on the location of the spinal issue.

"The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress highlights a new study which reports substantial growth in the use of chiropractic care by the U.S. Department."

The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (F4CP) notes that for more than 10 years, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has included chiropractic services as part of the standard medical benefits package offered to all enrolled veterans. According to a new study conducted by researchers from the VA Connecticut Healthcare System, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, the use of chiropractic services and the chiropractic workforce in VA has grown substantially since their introduction over a decade ago.

“Our work shows that VA has steadily and substantially increased its use of chiropractic services each year following their implementation in late 2004,” states lead author of the study Anthony J. Lisi, DC, Director of the VA Chiropractic Program, and Chiropractic Section Chief at the VA Connecticut Healthcare System. He then added, "VA continues its efforts to ensure appropriate access to chiropractic care across the whole system, but as this paper shows, the progress to date has been remarkable.”