Arthritis affects millions of people each year worldwide. It can cause debilitating effects for the person who is afflicted, causing varying degrees of symptoms and disability. A particularly difficult arthritis is when it affects the lower lumbar. This can lead to stiffness in the lower back and sometimes severe pain. Treatments can range from physical therapy, massage chair therapy to surgery on the extreme end.
Arthritis in the lumbar spine, or the lower back, is a common problem and one which can cause a variety of symptoms. Lumbar spine arthritis is more common in older people; however, it does affect people in other age groups. Some people are more prone to developing arthritis in the lower back than others. Those that are obese, those who are involved in heavy labor, or those who have suffered a previous injury to their spine are more prone to this condition.
What is arthritis of the lumbar spine? The cervical disc that make up the spinal column are connected with joints. Arthritis makes the movement of the joint stiff and with increased stiffness comes pain. The muscle and soft tissues become tends and are hard to bend. Some cases of lumbar spine arthritis have been reported for spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis and disc degeneration.
When you have arthritis of the lumbar spine you will experience stiffness in the lower back. Sometimes the stiffness can result in severe and prolonged pain. You may notice when you rise out of bed your back is stiff. This can also happen after strenuous activity or when using your lower back muscles more than usual.
Treatments for arthritis of the lumbar spine depend on the severity and persons condition. Because of the severe stiffness of muscles and joints the initial pain associated with physical therapy can be a hurdle. The stiffness needs to be counteracted with flexing of the soft tissues. A bending, kneading, or stretching is required to restore flexibility in the soft tissues areas.
Most treatments are geared towards natural therapies. Surgery is usually reserved if no other alternatives exist. Unfortunately, with surgery comes scar tissue which causes further stiffness in the region. Natural methods are geared towards restoring the original flexibility of the soft tissues. One natural method used throughout time is massage therapy. Massage therapy is used to stretch out the muscles to assist with flexibility.
If you are not a severe case, then the doctor will try natural methods first. You may be sent to physical therapy to help rebuild the muscles in that area. Another avenue is chiropractic care. A chiropractor will look to adjust your spine to help redistribute the weight across the spine. The chiropractor looks to the restore the health of the soft tissues and muscles.
The routine may include changes to your diet and exercise. An important part of any routine is consistency. The beginning of the routine is the hardest as the stiffness is the greatest. You have to have enough willpower to overcome the initial hurdle of pain to gain greater flexibility in the joints.
Many doctors use massage chairs to assist their patients. These doctors set their patients up on specific massage routines depending on their condition. The doctor may also include stretching and warming of specific areas of the body to assist recovery.
Of all the symptoms of lumbar spine arthritis, low back pain can be the most difficult to manage and live with. The constant pain and stiffness can be the cause of much stress and can seriously alter a persons way of life. It is important to recognize symptoms and begin treatment early to ensure that the progression of the disease is slowed down. This is where massage chairs can excel and get you to a more normal routine.
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