Low back pain is one of the most common complaints in patients who spend the majority of their days driving large commercial vehicles. The area of the spine affected the most in these situations is the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine, which act as shock absorbers for your entire spine. The lumbar spine experiences the greatest amount of force from gravity alone, and sitting creates the largest amount of load on the discs. When gravity combines with sustained axial pressure, such as sitting for long periods of time, the discs steadily become compressed and dehydrated in a process called Creep. The discs also undergo energy loss from the constant loading and unloading of pressure when going over bumps in the road, stopping and starting, and bouncing in large equipment in a process called Hysteresis. Creep combined with Hysteresis causes Buckling Syndrome where the discs become increasingly degenerated and no longer able to absorb shock as they should, causing pain.
How can Chiropractic help?
Flexion technique is a low force technique that focuses specifically on the intervertebral discs. By stretching and flexing the lumbar spine, it opens up the joint spaces and allows the discs to reuptake water and nutrients to promote health and strength of the intervertebral discs.