Common Drug-Free Remedies for Back Pain

• Back pain comes in many different forms and affects people from all walks of life, at virtually any age. Back pain may be the result of an accident, a sports injury, a chronic disease or condition or a lifestyle issue like obesity.

• Many people opt for pharmaceuticals to tame back pain, but if you are looking for a drug-free kind of remedy, here are several that may provide relief.

Chiropractic

• Visiting a chiropractor is one of the most common drug-free options that people utilize for back pain. A doctor of chiropractic will use spinal manipulation to bring the vertebrae back into alignment and restore mobility.

• While you are lying down, the chiropractor applies force

to the joints to perform the treatment. Some people are leery of the traditional form of chiropractic, but there is also a gentler version that uses a small handheld tool known as an ‘activator.’

Acupuncture

• Acupuncture is a centuries-old discipline and one of the mainstays of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture uses tiny needles to help free blocked energy along the various energy pathways of the body. Acupuncture works well for pain in many different areas of the body, including the back, as well as for various other health conditions.

Yoga

• Yoga is an exercise that may not be the best idea if you’re suffering from severe back pain caused by injury, but if you are still relatively mobile, it can help. Yoga consists of different body poses, accompanied by deep breathing.

• These movements help to develop flexibility and strength throughout the body and through each section of your back. Quite often, back pain is caused or made worse by being inflexible, and if this is the case, yoga can certainly help.

Breathing Therapy

• Sometimes, just breathing on its own can make a big difference in your level of back pain. Specialized breathing techniques help to connect the body and mind, which can reduce pain in the body.

• Breathing helps to increase lung function, loosen tight muscles and relieve stress, which sometimes is the main cause of the back pain. One of the valuable aspects of breathing therapy is that once you learn it you can do it by yourself, anywhere with no equipment.

Alexander Technique

• Posture is often an issue when it comes to back pain. Slumping over and slouching become lifelong habits that create constant tension in your back.

• One way to correct posture issues is called the ‘Alexander Technique.’ This technique was developed by an Australian actor named Frederick Alexander. It teaches how to carry your body properly and often results in the reduction of back pain.

Physiotherapy

• Physiotherapy is a type of healthcare that is often prescribed by a physician, although it doesn’t require the use of any pain medications. Like other drug-free remedies, physiotherapy helps to restore mobility and strength and relieve pain.

• Physiotherapy uses manual therapy, exercises, stretches and various tools or machines to accomplish its goal. These might include weights, balls, ice, heat, pools or electrical muscle stimulators.

• Physiotherapists also give the patient exercises and routines to perform at home to help speed the process along. With physiotherapy, patients might also learn about proper posture to help take some of the pressure off the spine and lower the likelihood of future problems.

Massage Therapy

• Just about everyone likes a nice, relaxing massage to ease tense back muscles. Of course, massage therapy isn’t always relaxing and can get pretty intense, but it does help to ease back pain.

• Sometimes, the stresses of daily life can form large knots in the muscles on the upper or lower back. A massage therapist will work on these knots, and although it may seem painful at the time, the relief you will feel later is well worth it. Massage can also alleviate other symptoms of stress and depression that might be contributing to back pain.