Release Your Pain: 2nd Edition - EBOOK. Dr. Brian James Abelson DC.

or more of the above questions, you may have a neck or back pain syndrome that can be resolved with a combination of Active Release Techniques and specially selected exercise protocols.

How Prevalent is Back Pain?

      Back pain can affect anyone from children, to adults and seniors. It is especially prevalent in individuals who lead sedentary lives. There is also an increased occurrence of back pain during the third to sixth decades of a person’s life. Back pain is usually recurrent, with subsequent episodes tending to increase in severity.

      In just the last 10 years, the costs for treating neck and back pain has risen by an incredible 65% to almost $85.9 billion within just the United States.(Compare this to the 2nd leading cause of death in the USA – Cancer – with total annual costs averaging $89 billion.) Despite the billions of dollars spent on the research and treatment of spinal conditions (including advancements in diagnostic technologies, new surgical procedures, and pharmaceutical treatments) the results have been astoundingly poor. In fact if we compare overall costs to outcome, we see that the costs have gone up, but the outcomes have not improved. ¹

      Back pain puts a huge burden on our health care system and is responsible for approximately 40% of all absences from the workplace. ² Conventional treatments have not been successful in resolving these conditions.

Is There a Solution?

      I believe that there is a viable solution to treating the many types of spinal conditions – one that combines common sense with a logical, integrated treatment approach. This approach could substantially decrease expenditures related to spinal disorders by as much as 50% to 75%. Imagine how that additional $42 -$64 billion could be used for education, infrastructure, health care, or social programs. And best of all, this system can take countless numbers of people out of the cycle of constant pain and suffering, restoring them to normal function, and returning them to the work force.

Customizing the Treatment for Back Pain

      I believe the ideal solution for effective spinal care should integrate a variety of treatment protocols, essentially providing a customized plan of action for each person.

      Why customized? Every individual possesses a unique genetic makeup, slightly different anatomical features, a varied life history, distinctive and unique physical restrictions throughout the body, and exposure to varied and unique psycho-social factors. Thus, it is only logical to assume that each of these individuals would respond differently to a single or uniform treatment plan.

      A customized treatment plan for the spine (head, neck, and back) should take into account these variables, and also address the unique nature of each patient’s requirements. I strongly believe that, within a multi-disciplinary armada of treatment protocols, Active Release Techniques, in combination with a carefully selected exercise plan, should be the first choice of treatment for the treatment and prevention of mechanical spinal conditions. ART is equally effective at preventing such conditions from occurring as it is in resolving these conditions once they have occurred.

      Today, ART is being used, on-site, at over 150 corporations to treat existing soft-tissue conditions and to prevent the future occurrence of job-related injuries. In these corporations, within one year, ART has reduced Workers’ Compensations claims by as much as 80% to 90%. This is an incredible return on both health and expenditure, resulting in happier, healthier employees with reduced downtime caused by illnesses and pain.

       RED FLAGS: Seek Immediate Medical Attention

      There are certain symptoms that could be indications for serious medical conditions that may require surgery (less than 1% of all spinal conditions). In such cases, patients should seek immediate medical attention. Some symptoms to watch for include:

       Sudden bladder or bowel incontinence.

       Loss of feeling and coordination in your arms and legs.

       Fever, drowsiness, severe headaches, nausea, or vomiting.

       Numbness, tingling, and weakness in your limbs that could be an indication of nerve damage.

       Progressive weakness in the legs which could be indicative of cauda equina syndrome. The cauda equina is a structure formed by nerve roots below the termination point of the spinal cord.

       A pulsating mass in the midline of the abdomen that is tender to touch. This could be an indication of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, a condition which must be checked for, and ruled out, before any kind of physical treatments can be applied.

       Blunt force trauma to the neck or head that could have resulted in cerebral bleeding.

       Ongoing neck or jaw pain that is accompanied by stiffness and fever, which could be indications of meningitis.

       Emergency situations such as cancers, infections, disc ruptures, or other neurological or vascular emergencies.

About Your Back

      Before we try to explain just how Active Release Techniques can address and resolve spinal conditions, we should first spend a little time understanding our spinal anatomy and how its unique kinetic chain relationships integrates the functions of the neck, shoulders, back, hip, and extremities.

      The human back is composed of a series of complex structures that work together to allow you to perform your daily activities. When functioning correctly, your spinal musculature is incredibly strong, supportive, and flexible through all the planes of motion.

      Unlike many muscles in your body, the muscles of your back are always active and in continuous use (except when sleeping). These muscles form an essential part of your core musculature and act to:

       Help you to maintain your posture in a neutral position so that your body can effectively distribute the daily stresses placed upon it.

       Hold your torso in an upright position.

       Form the fulcrum through which the force required to move your arms and legs is generated.

      A back that is not impeded in its movement, with strong flexible muscles, is essential for you to perform your normal daily tasks without adding numerous internal stresses to your body.

       What makes a person more susceptible to spinal pain?

       Abnormal motion patterns

       Chronic inflammatory conditions

       Excess weight

       History of trauma

       Infection

       Lack of core stability

       Medications

       Muscle imbalances

       Osteoarthritis

       Osteoporosis

       Poor musculature

       Pregnancy

       Repetitive motion

       Scar tissue

       Smoking

The Human S-Curve

      The design of the human back is unique in the way it is able to distribute weight and provide balance while maintaining an upright posture.

      Your back is aligned with three natural curves that form an S-shape when you are standing. The S-shaped curve of your spine oscillates during any activity (such as walking) and enables the spine to function as a shock absorber.

      The