Lower Back Pain
Lower Back Pain
About 85% of the population will experience disabling low back pain at least once in their lives. The estimated cost of this problem is over $50 billion per year. Low back pain often comes on suddenly and for no apparent reason.
The lumbar spine takes an enormous amount of stress in that it connects the upper half of your body to the lower half and is involved in twisting and bending motions between the two. The normal curve in the small of your lower back called the lumbar lordosis allows for structural stability. The common cultural activities of forward bending and long hours of sitting put adverse stress to this curve. Postural stresses and /or trauma commonly lead to a mechanical disturbance called subluxation (a spinal which loses its normal position and motion leading to nerve irritation). The subluxation leads to stiffness, inflammation, muscle tension/spasm and nerve irritation. Many times a subluxation is incorrectly diagnosed as a sprain or strain because of the muscular pain associated.
Muscle spasms in the spine are typically a protective mechanism protecting the more vital underlying problem. Long-term subluxation is typified by intermittent painful episodes, and can lead to disc herniations and degenerative arthritis because of progressive wear and tear from abnormal spinal mechanics. Unfortunately, low back pain is commonly addressed from a symptomatic approach (muscle relaxers, pain killers, massage, traction, ultrasound, corticosteroid injections, etc.) rather than addressing the cause by correcting the biomechanical disturbance and making lifestyle modifications.
Lower Back Pain and Gonstead Chiropractic
Even antagonists of chiropractic agree that chiropractic is the choice for low back pain. In 1994, after reviewing a wealth of large scale studies, the federal government made a definitive pronouncement that chiropractic is one of the preferred and most effective treatments for acute adult low back pain. Controlled, scientific studies that have been done by medical physicians comparing chiropractic with medical care and physical therapy non-surgical therapy for the back show that doctors of chiropractic relieve chronic and severe pain, both immediate and long term, in one half the time it takes medical physicians. Gonstead chiropractic aims to address the cause of low back pain rather than just suppress symptoms. The Gonstead adjustment is aimed at only the problem spinal joint rather than manipulating the entire region which is typical of many other chiropractic and osteopathic techniques.
Our Office
About the Team
At Holistic Health Solutions, we believe that at the root of every symptom there lies a cause. We aim not only to bring rapid relief, but understand that only treatments that address the actual cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression. Our unique approach assesses biomechanics, lifestyle, genetics and laboratory testing to custom tailor a treatment plan for optimized recovery.
About The Team
At Holistic Health Solutions, we believe that at the root of every symptom there lies a cause. We aim not only to bring rapid relief, but understand that only treatments that address the actual cause will have lasting benefit beyond symptom suppression. Our unique approach assesses biomechanics, lifestyle, genetics and laboratory testing to custom tailor a treatment plan for optimized recovery.
Meet Dr. Matt French
Upon graduating from graduate school, Dr. Matt French headed west and began practice in 1998 in the valley. It was after sustaining a neck fracture in a diving accident at the age of 20 that he first developed an interest in health care as a profession. His own experiences with pain and recovery gives him true understanding as to what his patients endure. In his over 20 years of practice, Dr. French has seen many thousands of patients including doctors, surgeons, celebrities and professional athletes. As a sought out health consultant he has appeared on FOX 10, Good Morning Arizona, 12 News NBC, ABC15, CBS 5 and talk radio. Often described as “the man with the magic hands”, Dr. French has an uncanny ability to pinpoint and relieve pain.
He and wife, Megan, have 2 daughters. Both he and his wife are avid cyclists and have both been Arizona state champions. Dr. French has played drums professionally, and regularly plays for his church. He is also an Adjunct Professor teaching both Anatomy & Physiology and Kinesiology to pre-med students.
Meet Dr. Matt French
Upon graduating from graduate school, Dr. Matt French headed west and began practice in 1998 in the valley. It was after sustaining a neck fracture in a diving accident at the age of 20 that he first developed an interest in health care as a profession. His own experiences with pain and recovery gives him true understanding as to what his patients endure. In his over 20 years of practice, Dr. French has seen many thousands of patients including doctors, surgeons, celebrities and professional athletes. As a sought out health consultant he has appeared on FOX 10, Good Morning Arizona, 12 News NBC, ABC15, CBS 5 and talk radio. Often described as “the man with the magic hands”, Dr. French has an uncanny ability to pinpoint and relieve pain.
He and wife, Megan, have 2 daughters. Both he and his wife are avid cyclists and have both been Arizona state champions. Dr. French has played drums professionally, and regularly plays for his church. He is also an Adjunct Professor teaching both Anatomy & Physiology and Kinesiology to pre-med students.
