Conditions & Concerns
Low Back Pain & Sciatica
Low back pain is common, but the place that hurts is not always where the problem is being driven from.
Low back and leg pain is one of the most common reasons people look for a chiropractor.
The place that hurts is often only part of the picture. How your spine is moving, how you are loading it day to day, and how your nervous system is managing stress and protective muscle tension can all play a role in what you are feeling.
Why this matters
Ongoing back pain can change how you move, sleep, work and exercise, often in ways that build on each other over time.
Chasing short-term relief without understanding what is actually driving the pain can mean the same problem keeps coming back. That is why the evaluation looks at the broader picture — movement, loading patterns and nervous-system function — rather than only the painful spot.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Pain is processed by the nervous system, not simply transmitted by tissue like a wire carrying a signal. Protective muscle patterns, movement habits and stress states can all influence how much pain a person notices and how long it lingers, which is why we look at nervous-system and movement function rather than only the painful area.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
We don't evaluate someone based on a single symptom or a single test. We look for patterns across several areas of function, and those patterns are what guide the care we recommend.
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
How we approach care
Evaluation comes before treatment. Foothills Chiropractic is a neurologically based office, which means we start with how your brain, nervous system and spine are functioning, and let those findings — not simply where you hurt — guide what we recommend.
Not everyone is adjusted the same way. Technique and force may vary with age, examination findings, health history, comfort and clinical judgment. Dr. Geran is trained in several chiropractic techniques and chooses based on findings rather than preference alone.
Chiropractic is one part of a broader health picture. When findings fall outside our scope, Dr. Geran may recommend referral or co-management, and progress is reassessed over time rather than judged only by how you feel on a particular day.
Dr. Mike Geran practices at Foothills Chiropractic in Travelers Rest, SC, and sees patients from across the Furman University area and the surrounding Upstate communities.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
Medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment or co-management may be needed when findings or symptoms warrant it, and Dr. Mike Geran will say so.
Evidence
What does the research say?
We separate two different kinds of evidence: research into the brain, the nervous system and healthy aging, and research on chiropractic or manual therapy itself. Each summary is labelled, and each links to the primary source rather than a secondary summary.
We are continuing to review published research relevant to this topic and will add sourced, linked studies here as that work is completed.
We periodically update this section as new research becomes available.
Explore this topic
Explore Low Back Pain & Sciatica
Articles and, over time, short videos on this topic. Anything still in draft is marked as such rather than presented as finished guidance.
What Is Causing Your Sciatic Pain? It's Not What You Think
Why the leg is rarely where the story starts.
Stress & RecoveryHow Stress in the Brain Could Be Contributing to Your Back Pain
The link between protective nervous-system states and pain.
Pain & MovementWhy It Often Takes More Than Stretching to Help Your Back Pain
Stretching addresses a symptom, not always the driver.
Specific concerns in this area
Related topics at Foothills Chiropractic
- Joint Pain & Staying Active — Shoulders, hips, knees, ankles — extremity function matters as much as the spine.
- Stress, Sleep & Nervous-System Regulation — How well you shift between stress and recovery is something we can measure with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
Common questions
- Do I need imaging first?
- Not always. Whether imaging is appropriate depends on your history and what the examination finds. If your presentation suggests imaging is warranted, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is evaluation-focused, so we understand how your spine, movement and nervous system are functioning before recommending care.
- How long does care take?
- There is no set timeline. Recommendations are individualized and made after the evaluation, and progress is checked along the way through re-examination rather than assumed.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Loss of bowel or bladder control, progressive weakness, or numbness in the saddle region are medical emergencies. Seek immediate medical care.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.