Do you ever get back pain in your lower back? We depend so much on our back that sometimes we take it for granted. Statistics tell us that 80% of the population is affected by low back pain at some point in their lifetime. It is estimated that over $50 billion is spent every year in the treatment of lower back pain. Most reported back pain is due to job related injuries. There are many treatments for lower back pain including surgery and natural therapeutic methods. One interesting method being employed is with the use of massage chairs.

There are two types or categories for low back pain. There are short-term back problems which are termed acute. There are longer-term back problems lasting weeks to even months which are referred to as chronic. Most treatment methods except surgery are more along natural lines. There are some conditions where the patient may have back pain for years on end.

The majority of cases of low back pain are treated by chiropractors. Chiropractors use only natural methods to restore the health of the spine. Chiropractors do not perform surgery. Doctors of osteopath are the type of doctors that would perform low back surgery.

Lower back pain is most often treated by Doctors of Osteopath or Doctors of Chiropractic medicine. These are both specialists in musculoskeletal problems. Doctors of Osteopath are experts on joints whereas Doctors of Chiropractic medicine are experts in spinal health. Either can treat lower back pain.

There are wide variety of conditions and situations given the complexity of the spine and the muscles and soft tissue areas. Treatments vary depending on each individual situation. If you have low back pain you should check with your medical specialist and see what treatments may be right for you.

The key to good spinal health is flexibility of the soft tissues. When the tissues have normal flexibility they can adjust to weight shifts on the spine. When they become less flexible, then the same motions can cause certain muscles to become fatigued. As a muscle fatigues it becomes stiff or which causes pain.

What makes low back pain so much different than other conditions is it directly affects our mobility. Our mobility is dependent are spine. The spine is designed to distribute the weight across the entire spine. When muscles become fatigued they stiffen and may shift the weight that gets concentrated in just one spot.

The key to a natural treatment is getting the patient to not continue to put this concentration of force on the lumbar area. With the source of aggravation removed, then the treatment concentrates on regaining flexibility of the soft tissues of the spine. Massage chairs enable treatments such as the application of heat, traction systems and of course massage therapy.

There are quite a variety of treatments available in many massage chair models. Massage chairs have replicated many different massage techniques which are available at the touch of a button. Many massage chairs also have stretching of the lower body and the upper body. Also, you can find heating elements built into massage chairs for applying heat to muscles throughout the body.

Massage chairs are used to warm up the lower back muscles and to make them more flexible. This helps to improve range of motion of the spine. Massage chairs are used by chiropractors for their patients prior to spinal adjustments. This makes the adjustment easier when the muscles are not stiff. There are a number of positive treatments with massage chairs and they can also be used in the home for periodic relief of back aches and pain.