Chiropractic Care for Back Pain in Anchorage, AK
Your Trusted Back Pain Chiropractor in Anchorage, AK
Are you tired of living with persistent back pain? Here at Better Health Alaska, we understand the toll chronic discomfort can take on your life. Fortunately, as the premier back pain chiropractor Anchorage residents trust, we can help. Imagine waking up each day without that nagging ache. With years of experience and an unmatched commitment to patient-centered care, our team can address the root cause of your pain and work to ensure it doesn’t return.
Our top-rated chiropractors start with a personalized treatment plan designed to bring you relief and build a strong foundation for lasting results. With their help, you’ll be back to your favorite activities in no time!
What to Expect from Our Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
One of our highly-skilled chiropractors will develop a comprehensive, personalized care plan just for you, starting with a detailed medical history, a physical examination, and, if necessary, diagnostic imaging like X-rays. Based on these findings, your treatment plan will be tailored to your unique needs, incorporating multiple modalities like spinal adjustments, therapeutic massages, and physical therapy.
Our commitment to providing the best chiropractic services in Anchorage led us to develop our proprietary Alaska Back Pain Protocol (ABPP). This system isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution; it’s a comprehensive plan born from years of experience treating Alaskans. By combining chiropractic care, the advanced DRS System, and targeted rehabilitative therapy, the ABPP addresses pain from multiple angles, simplifying the healing process and leading to more effective, lasting results for our community.
Regular visits to an Anchorage chiropractor offer significant benefits. Patients often experience immediate relief after their first session, with continued improvements over the following weeks. Over time, consistent chiropractic care can enhance spinal alignment, reduce inflammation, prevent future injuries, and provide lasting pain relief.
If you’re considering a chiropractor for back pain in Anchorage or Juneau, you may not be sure who to choose. After all, everyone’s back pain is different, and choosing the right medical care isn’t like choosing where to eat; it could have long-lasting consequences. But at Better Health, we treat Alaskans with all kinds of back pain.
Studies show that seeing a chiropractor for back pain can be extremely beneficial for most people. Plus, there are far fewer adverse effects from conservative care than from surgery or medication. But that doesn’t mean that chiropractic is right for everyone. A small percentage of back pain sufferers may need surgery or medication.
Visit Better Health Alaska
South Anchorage
- 8840 Old Seward Hwy E, Anchorage, Alaska 99515
- Phone: 907-346-5255
- Open Hours: 9AM to 7PM
What Studies Say About Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
Before we get into more detail about chiropractic care for back pain, let’s look at what some studies have to say. The amount of evidence about the efficacy of chiropractic care continues to grow. Here are a few examples from recent years.
A study published in 2020 detailed the treatment of active duty military personnel with low back pain by chiropractors. 86% of participants reported chronic low back pain before the study. They were assigned randomly to a wait-list control group or four weeks of chiropractic care. At the end of the four weeks, those in the chiropractic care group experienced a reduction in low back pain intensity and disability. Plus, they saw an increase in strength and endurance.
Another study published back in 2004, found similar results. This study found that patients who saw a chiropractor regularly for four weeks experienced clinically significant improvements in both low back pain and disability. Spinal manipulation and other chiropractic modalities were used.
How Does a Chiropractor Treat Lower Back Pain?
When to See a Chiropractor for Back Pain?
It can sometimes be difficult when to decide that you need to see a chiropractor for your low back pain. Of course, intense pain that interferes with your ability to do much of anything will necessitate an immediate visit, but pain that comes and goes or pain after a sports game might make you wonder if you really need to see a chiropractor right now.
Some signs that you need to see a chiropractor for back pain include:
- Sudden, sharp pain that doesn’t subside.
- An injury from a car accident, boating accident, or a slip and fall.
- Pain that is getting progressively worse.
- Pain that interferes with your sleep or daily routine.
- Pain that persists for over a week despite rest, ice, or heat.
Medical Doctor vs. Back Pain Chiropractor
Patients often wonder about the differences in care. While some medical doctors may recommend chiropractic, their primary treatments often include medication or surgery. At Better Health Alaska, our chiropractors focus on conservative care first and will work with other specialists when necessary. In fact, one study found that patients with back pain were significantly more satisfied with their care from a chiropractor (66% satisfaction) compared to a family physician (22% satisfaction).
- Wait and see.
- Medication + wait and see.
- Medication.
- Surgery.
Conversely, the doctors at Better Health often work with other specialists when necessary for the optimal health of the patients. Honest recommendations are one of the most important factors of proper medical care in any field.
Surgery vs. Medication
Considering the risks of addiction, many patients are hesitant to take medication for back pain. Studies show that patients with spinal pain who saw a chiropractor were 50% less likely to fill an opioid prescription. Similarly, back surgery involves a long recovery and carries significant risks, with thousands of failed back surgeries every year in the U.S. Chiropractic care is a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free option that works to correct the root cause of pain, not just mask it.
But opioid painkillers aren’t the only medications that are prescribed for back pain. A randomized clinical trial compared chiropractic adjustment and muscle relaxants for subacute low back pain. The findings were very interesting, stating that the chiropractic group fared better than both the placebo group and the muscle relaxant group.
Beware: the Drawbacks of Surgery and Medication
For most people, the risk of surgery becomes apparent when discussing it with their doctor. Back surgery can take a long time to heal, and the risk of a failed surgery has not declined in recent years, despite advances in medical technology.
The issue is that many patients simply don’t realize that they should exhaust all options before considering surgery. The recovery time for any type of back surgery is prohibitively long and the risks involved — especially when compared to chiropractic care — are significant.
One study stated that there are between 25,000 and 50,000 failed back surgeries every year in the United States.
Of course, there are certain instances where surgery is the best option and needs to be done quickly. But for most people with back pain, surgery should be the very last resort.
The use of medication poses similar problems for patients. Especially pain medication. In fact, the more we learn about opioid pain medication, the clearer things become. One study stated that:
“Opioids do not seem to expedite return to work in injured workers or improve functional outcomes of acute back pain in primary care.”
Essentially, they are a way to mask the pain and they do little to eliminate it. The instances of addiction are high among chronic pain sufferers who take opioids regularly for pain management.
These drawbacks are another reason why many people are seeking chiropractic care. It’s a safe, non-invasive, and drug-free option for the treatment of back pain. One thing it is not is a way to mask the pain. Chiropractors work to get to the root of the pain and correct the underlying problem or problems using natural remedies for back pain.
Chiropractic Methods for Upper and Lower Back Pain
Most chiropractors use a combination of spinal manipulations, patient education, specific mobility exercises, and lifestyle tips for preventing back pain. Our doctors use a combination of spinal manipulations, patient education, mobility exercises, and lifestyle tips.
- For Upper Back Pain: We use a variety of techniques, including spinal adjustments, physical therapy, and massage therapy, to treat pain in the thoracic spine (between the shoulder blades or below the neck).
- For Lower Back Pain: As this is the most common reason people seek a back pain chiropractor in Anchorage, we utilize our proprietary Alaska Back Pain Protocol (ABPP), which combines chiropractic care, the DRS System, and rehabilitative therapy for powerful results.
- At Better Health Alaska, we place a high value on each patient’s quality of life. We welcome you to inquire about any information for which you may be uncertain and are happy to work with other medical providers to give you the care you desire.
What Does the Upper Back and Lower Back Consist of?
When you consider that our spinal anatomy is rather complex, with the back having an intricate web of bones, joints, muscles, soft tissues like ligaments and tendons, nerves, and vertebrae, it only makes sense to seek out chiropractic care for back pain.
To make things a bit easier, the back is typically broken down into four sections. In brief, they are as follows:
- Cervical: The neck area, where the weight of the head is supported
- Thoracic: The upper back, designed to protect internal organs
- Lumbar: The lower back area, increases the range of motion to carry the torso
- Sacral Spine: Involves the sacrum bone, connected to the pelvis via sacroiliac joints
The vertebrae in the spine are separated by discs, which are jelly-like-filled “pillows” that prevent the bones from touching each other and to absorb shock as we walk or perform other tasks.
The lumbar spine naturally curves slightly inward. This curve is called lordosis. There are large muscles in the lower back that support the lower spine and allow you to bend and twist. The two lowest sections in this section of your spine bear the most weight and move much more than the other sections. This is why low back pain is more common than the other sections, but those are also prone to injury.
Nearly 80 percent of Americans will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Lower back pain is why most people go to see a chiropractor.
Since chiropractors are highly trained specialists, they can diagnose and treat each section of the spine.
Finding the Right Help for Back Pain
At Better Health Alaska, we place a high value on each patient’s quality of life for their own benefit and their families. In fact, we like to think of them as our family! Pregnancy, cancer, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and any other sources for lower back pain will receive a specialized and gentle approach for relief and healing with us.
How to relieve back pain fast? See your chiropractor sooner rather than later!
Better Health Alaska employs a non-invasive, holistic, client-oriented approach to chiropractic care. We welcome clients to inquire about information for which they may be uncertain. We are happy to work with other medical providers to give you the type of care that you most desire. We work to help patients find wellness and lifelong health.
Let us help you find out what these advanced treatment options can do for you and your back pain. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and learn how our advanced, personalized treatment options can help you find lasting relief.
Conditions Helped by Chiropractors:
Same-Day Chiropractic Appointment. 10-Minute Wait Promise.
Better Health Alaska Chiropractors has helped thousands of patients get their life back through safe, effective, and cutting-edge treatments like the Alaska Back Pain Protocol. We use a multi-pronged, non-invasive approach to treat different conditions. And it’s done at a reasonable cost. We accept many types of insurance, and most insured patients pay $25 or less per visit. We even have options for the uninsured.
