Can Chiropractic Help With Back Pain?
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people consider chiropractic care. It can interfere with work, sleep, exercise, household activities, and even simple movements such as getting out of a chair. So, can chiropractic help with back pain? For many people, the answer is Yes!—particularly when the problem involves joints, muscles, movement, or other musculoskeletal factors.
However, back pain is a symptom, not a diagnosis. There are many possible reasons your back may hurt, which is why an appropriate evaluation should come before deciding how it should be treated.
Why does my back hurt?
Back pain can develop suddenly, such as after lifting something, twisting awkwardly, falling, or being involved in an auto accident. It can also develop gradually without one obvious injury.
Possible contributing factors may include:
- Joint restriction or irritation
- Muscle tension or strain
- Repetitive activities
- Prolonged sitting or standing
- Changes in movement patterns
- Physical stress from work, exercise, or daily activities
- Irritation of structures in or around the spine
- Previous injuries
More than one factor may be involved. Two people can experience pain in almost the same location while having different examination findings and different needs.
That is one reason we don’t believe back pain should automatically lead to the same treatment for everyone.
How may chiropractic help with back pain?
When back pain has a musculoskeletal component, chiropractic care may be one option for improving movement and function and reducing symptoms.
Chiropractic treatment commonly includes adjustments directed toward joints that appear to have altered or restricted movement. Depending on the individual and the examination findings, care may also incorporate soft-tissue techniques, mobility work, exercises, or other approaches.
At Quality Care Chiropractic, the goal isn’t to adjust as many areas as possible. More treatment isn’t necessarily better treatment. We focus on the areas that appear most relevant based on your history, examination findings, and response to care.
Do I need my entire spine adjusted?
Not necessarily.
Having back pain does not mean that every joint in your back needs to be adjusted. Likewise, an examination may identify contributing areas that aren’t exactly where you feel the pain.
Treatment should be based on what we find rather than simply adjusting the same areas at every visit.
We also recognize that people have different preferences and tolerances. Chiropractic care can be provided using different techniques and levels of force, and your treatment can be adapted accordingly.
What happens when I come in for back pain?
Your first visit starts with a conversation.
We want to understand where you hurt, when the problem began, what makes it better or worse, how it is affecting your activities, and what you hope to accomplish.
We then perform an examination that may include chiropractic, orthopedic, and neurological testing along with an evaluation of movement and function. The specific examination depends on your symptoms and history.
The purpose is not simply to confirm that your back hurts. It is to gather information about why it may be hurting and whether chiropractic care is appropriate for you.
If chiropractic care appears appropriate, we’ll explain what we found and how we propose approaching your care. If your findings suggest that another type of evaluation or care would be more appropriate, we’ll discuss that with you as well.
Will chiropractic completely eliminate my back pain?
No treatment can guarantee that.
How someone responds depends on many factors, including the cause and duration of the problem, previous injuries, general health, daily activities, and other contributing factors.
Some people notice improvement relatively quickly. Others require more time, and some conditions may not respond sufficiently to chiropractic care.
That is why we monitor your response rather than assuming that a treatment plan should continue regardless of what happens. Your care should make sense based on both your examination findings and how you are progressing.
What can I do at home for back pain?
For uncomplicated back pain, staying reasonably active is often preferable to spending prolonged periods in bed. Gentle movement and changing positions periodically may also be more comfortable than remaining in one position for long periods.
Depending on the situation, some people find temporary relief from heat or cold, gentle stretching, or modifying activities that aggravate their symptoms.
However, home care should be appropriate for your particular situation. Severe pain, significant trauma, progressive weakness or numbness, changes in bowel or bladder control, fever or unexplained illness accompanying back pain, or other unusual symptoms warrant appropriate medical evaluation rather than simply trying to manage the problem at home.
When should I have my back pain evaluated?
There isn’t a single amount of time that applies to everyone.
You may want to consider an evaluation when back pain isn’t improving as expected, keeps returning, limits your normal activities, interferes with work or sleep, or simply leaves you wondering what is causing it.
You also don’t have to wait until back pain becomes severe before having it evaluated.
At Quality Care Chiropractic, our first objective is to understand the problem. We’ll listen to what you’re experiencing, evaluate how you’re functioning, explain what we find, and discuss your options.
If back pain is interfering with your work, sleep, activities, or quality of life, schedule an examination. We’ll evaluate what may be contributing to your pain, explain what we find, and help you determine an appropriate next step.
Listen • Evaluate • Explain • Care.
