Cervicobrachial pain (CP) is described as pain that extends from the neck into the shoulder and upper arm. In a recent study, researchers found that patients treated with mobilization therapy, a form of treatment performed by doctors of chiropractic, for six weeks experienced improvements in both pain and function. The research team concludes, “Our findings…

Disks degenerate when they become dehydrated, lose height, and the vertebrae on either side develop bony growths called osteophytes, which can cause or exacerbate lower back pain. In this study, researchers compared data concerning 160,911 degenerative disk disease (DDD) patients and 315,225 healthy controls and identified the following risk factors for the condition: tobacco use,…

If you work in an office, taking breaks can cut your risk for developing nonspecific lower back pain (NSLBP). In the study, researchers monitored the behavior and health of 669 office workers over the course of a year and found that those who took more frequent breaks had a lower risk for NSLBP, especially in…

Want to reduce your risk for back pain? Work on getting sufficient, quality sleep. A new study involving 405 working adults found that those with sleep problems had an elevated risk for one or more episodes of low back pain during the following two years. Based on this finding, the study authors suggest that difficulty…

In a recent study, researchers randomly assigned 68 patients suffering from non-specific chronic low back pain to receive either five manipulative therapy treatments or five sham treatments over a one-month period. Following the conclusion of care, the investigators reported that the patients in the manipulative treatment group experienced significant improvements in pain and disability that…

A recent study investigated the effects of spinal manipulation of the lumbar and sacroiliac joints in twenty patients with lumbar disk herniation combined with lack of sacroiliac motion (hypomobility). The patients received five spinal manipulations over a two-week period, which led to significant improvements in back and leg pain that persisted up to one month…

Among a group of 38 young adults with no history of neck, shoulder, or back pain, researchers found that engaging in just ten minutes of static neck flexion (looking downward at a smartphone, for example) resulted in potentially harmful changes in cervical sensory motor control. More specifically, the research team observed that prolonged neck flexion…

Back pain is highly prevalent and associated with significant disability and work absenteeism worldwide. Investigators recently performed a systematic review and identified the following risk factors for both low back pain and sciatica: advancing age, poor general health, physical stress on spine, and psychological stress. With the exception of age, the other characteristics are potentially…

The majority of people will experience an episode of low back pain at some point in their life. The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends seeking treatment if you have the following symptoms: pain that radiates down your leg below your knee; leg, foot, or groin numbness; fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or weakness;…

According to a new study that involved 15,000 Korean adults, sitting for more than seven hours per day is significantly associated with an increased risk for chronic low back pain. Additionally, the researchers observed that participants with poor fitness had an even greater risk for low back pain in relation to the amount of time…