Spine, Back & Neck
Low Back Pain
Pain across the lower back that may stay local or refer into the hip, buttock or leg.
Also called: Lumbar pain, Lumbago.
Low back pain can come from the lumbar joints, the discs, the sacroiliac joints, surrounding muscle and ligament, or a combination. The place that hurts is not always where the problem is being driven from.
Some people have a single clear onset, such as a lift or a fall, while others notice it building gradually over weeks. The pattern of onset, along with what makes it better or worse, helps narrow down what is involved.
Why this matters
The lower back carries load in nearly everything you do, so even a modest restriction tends to show up in walking, lifting, sitting and sleep. People often adjust posture or activity without realizing it until the compensation itself becomes uncomfortable.
Low back pain that is left unaddressed for long periods can shift how a person moves generally, which sometimes shows up later as hip, knee or opposite-side symptoms.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
How the lumbar spine moves feeds information to the brain about position and load. When that information changes, coordination and protective muscle patterns often change with it.
The examination looks at movement quality, muscle timing and reflex response through the low back and legs, since these reflect how the nervous system is currently managing the area.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- 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.
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.
Common questions
- Is this something chiropractic care can help with?
- Often, yes, once we have evaluated what is involved. Some low back pain is well suited to chiropractic care; some needs medical imaging or referral first. We will tell you plainly which situation applies to you.
- Do I need an X-ray before you can start?
- Not always. Imaging is recommended when the history or exam findings suggest it is needed, not as a routine first step for every case.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Some symptoms need medical evaluation first. If anything in your history or examination suggests that, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Low Back Pain & Sciatica — Low back pain is common, but the place that hurts is not always where the problem is being driven from.
- Back Pain — One of the most common reasons people look for a chiropractor — and rarely as simple as one sore muscle.
- Cervical Disc Herniation — Disc change in the neck, sometimes with arm symptoms.
- Cervical Spondylosis — Age-related change in the neck joints and discs, often seen on imaging.
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.