Back Pain and Rib Cage Pain from Schmeg.com

   

Fast Facts About Back Pain and Rib Cage Pain:

• Most spinal pain results from muscle spasm and subsequent joint stiffness

• Spinal manipulation helps relieve muscle spasm and loosen hypo-mobile (stiff) joints.

• Massage and appropriate stretching exercise often enhance the effects of spinal manipulation.

• Medications and/or trigger point injections may sometimes enhance manipulation and massage.

• Light exercise and normal activity should be resumed (as tolerable) after manipulation/massage to aid in maintaining joint motion and preventing a return of spasm. For the same reasons, static sitting/standing should be avoided.

• Ice helps minimize inflammation and relieve pain, and should be used for the first 48 hours after injury.

• Heat helps relieve muscle spasm, in addition to increasing blood circulation, to speed healing AFTER inflammation has been controlled.