B-A-C-K-A-C-H-E spells trouble. because backache, no matter how infrequent, seemingly inconsequential or fleeting, is cause for serious consideration. If backache is frequent or of long duration, it is cause for deep concern and immediate action. In every instance, backache means trouble.

When Backache Strikes
The reason for backache or pain can be divided into four general categories, but we emphasize that seldom is there one reason and one reason alone for backache. That's why it is imperative that you consult your chiropractor, a specialist of the spine and nerves, when backache strikes.

Four Categories of Backache

1. Muscle Pain: Everyone knows that a strain or sprain of the spinal column causes back pain. In these cases, the structures of the spine has been altered due to a fall, a misstep, getting into or out of the car the wrong way, lifting the wrong way, an automobile accident or anything of an accidental nature. But more often than not, the patient complains of backache when nothing traumatic or accidental has happened.

   In such a case it may be that weak, flabby, under-exercised muscles may be causing subluxation in the spinal column. Since the body is supposed to be bilaterally symmetrical. equally balanced on both sides. if one side is significantly stronger or weaker than the other, muscles of the back may tug at a misalignment of the column.

   Another major reason for backache is muscle spasm, caused by over-exertion or over-use. In order to function smoothly and painlessly, muscles must have the opportunity to relax and return to their full length from time to time. But working or playing in the same position where the same muscles are subjected to the same stresses and strains day after day inevitably leads to back trouble.

   Often, emotional tension. allowing you to get and stay "tied up in knots". keep a muscle or group of muscles tense, shortened and tightened. This causes back pain.

   Poor posture due to weak or untrained muscles puts an enormous load on the spinal column and contributes to back pain and poor health. In order to relieve back pain caused by poor posture, you must find out what is wrong with your posture. Your doctor of chiropractic is qualified to advise you because they know that each individual has an inherent structural balance, which must be maintained. Being a specialist of the spine and nerves, they can help you find and maintain the correct posture for you.

2. Pinched (impinged) spinal nerves: Pinched nerves are the result of subluxations in the spinal column. When a spinal nerve is pinched, it is impossible for that nerve to carry normal impulses to the parts of the body it is supposed to serve, and disease is inevitable.

3. Pain from disease in the body: While the nervous system carries impulses from the brain to the various parts of the body, it also transmits impulses from the various parts back to the brain and other parts of the body.

   Irritation or pinching on a spinal nerve due to subluxation may cause pain anywhere along its distribution. This is called neuralgia. When a patient complains of pain in deep body tissue, he may or may not be experiencing pain in the back. If there is not pain in the back but pain elsewhere, the chiropractors special training and experience enables them to trace the pain from its beginning. along the course of the nerve. to the precise point in the spine where trouble originates.

4. Pain from diseases of the spine: Disease of the spine such as the various types of arthritis and tuberculosis account for less than 5% of back pain. These diseases are relatively serious and the doctor must have years of training and experience to either confirm or deny the presence of spinal disease. The doctor of chiropractic is fully qualified to make this determination.

Conclusion
We have seen that the underlying cause of back pain is an imbalance of the bony framework of the body, particularly the spinal column, which produces subluxations of one or more vertebrae of the spine. These subluxations (misalignment) cause the affected spinal bone to press on, pinch and impinge nerves. This impingement alters the normal nerve impulses to that part of the body served by the nerve. Without normal nerve function, good health is impossible.

The doctor of chiropractic studies the whole human being, using x-ray photographs of the spine, clinical laboratory examination, and special chiropractic spine and nerve tests before deciding what must be done. The objective is to adjust the spine so that the body will have the nerve supply necessary to heal itself.