Brief overview
Back Pain
Back pain is a general term for discomfort along the spine and surrounding tissues. It ranges from short-lived muscular strain to persistent mechanical pain influenced by joints, discs, muscles, posture, and daily activity.
Back pain can arise from many factors, including joint irritation, muscle strain, disc involvement, posture, inactivity, repetitive stress, injury, or underlying medical conditions. Learn how individualized evaluation can help identify the likely contributors and guide appropriate care or referral.
Common causes
What may be driving it.
- Mechanical joint irritation
- Muscle strain or overuse
- Disc involvement
- Postural loading and prolonged sitting
- Prior injury or repetitive occupational stress
How chiropractic evaluation may help
A careful assessment first. Then a plan.
Every plan is individualized. A thorough consultation and evaluation is the foundation of appropriate care — or a referral, if that is the right next step.
Evaluation
- — Focused history of onset, aggravators, and prior injuries
- — Postural, range-of-motion, and orthopedic testing
- — Neurological screening when indicated
- — Referral for imaging when it will change the plan
How care may help
- — Individualized adjustments to address mechanical restrictions
- — Soft-tissue and movement work
- — Home exercise and posture recommendations
- — Progress checks to confirm you are moving in the right direction
Learn more about this
Understand it in plain language.
Chiropractic 101
What Is Corrective Chiropractic?
How corrective care differs from short-term pain relief, and why measurable progress matters.
4 min readRead articleBack, Neck & Spine
Back Pain: Common Contributing Factors
Back pain rarely has a single cause. Here are the factors most often involved and why individualized evaluation matters.
4 min readRead articleBack, Neck & Spine
What Is a Disc Injury?
How spinal discs work, how they can be affected, and why many disc-related presentations respond well to conservative care.
4 min readRead articleChiropractic 101
When Symptoms Require Medical Evaluation
A short list of signs and symptoms that should be evaluated by a physician promptly, regardless of any chiropractic care.
3 min readRead articleWorkplace Health
Back Pain From Sitting
Why long hours in a chair can leave the low back stiff or sore, and what tends to help during the workday.
4 min readRead articleReady to understand your back pain?
A thoughtful evaluation is the fastest path to clarity — and to the right next step for your body.
Go deeper
The research, and the practical steps.
Knowledge Center article
Low Back Pain Research Review
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide. Most episodes are non-specific and respond well to conservative, movement-based care.
Read the evidence reviewPatient guide
Posture & Movement Guide
Simple positional and movement habits that support the spine through a normal day.
Open the guideContinue exploring
Related conditions.
Related condition
Neck PainNeck discomfort may be associated with posture, prolonged screen use, joint restriction, muscle tension, injury, repetitive activity, or other conditions. A careful assessment helps determine which movement, neurological, or musculoskeletal factors may be involved.
Read Evidence review: Neck Pain Research ReviewRelated condition
SciaticaSciatica describes pain or neurological symptoms that travel along the path of the sciatic nerve. Because similar symptoms may have different causes, proper evaluation is essential before recommending care.
Read Evidence review: Sciatica Research ReviewRelated condition
Disc InjuriesSpinal discs can be affected by degeneration, repetitive strain, trauma, loading, and other factors. Symptoms may include local pain, stiffness, radiating discomfort, numbness, tingling, or weakness. Progressive neurological symptoms require timely medical evaluation.
Read Evidence review: Low Back Pain Research Review