Spine & Musculoskeletal Pain
This is the largest share of what we see, and the best-supported area of our practice. Most of these complaints are treated with chiropractic care, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise, often combined with acupuncture for pain relief.
What we treat
- Lower Back Pain & Sciatica
- Neck Pain & "Tech Neck"
- Herniated & Bulging Discs
- Joint Pain & Arthritis (Knees, Hips, Shoulders)
- Tension Headaches & Migraines
- Pinched Nerves & Nerve Root Irritation
- Sports Injuries & Repetitive Strain
What the evidence shows
A 2019 systematic review in The BMJ pooling 47 randomized trials found that spinal manipulative therapy produces small improvements in pain and function for chronic low back pain that are broadly comparable to other guideline-recommended treatments. A 2023 systematic review in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy reported a similar picture for non-specific neck pain.
An individual patient data meta-analysis of roughly 21,000 patients found acupuncture superior to both sham acupuncture and no-acupuncture control for chronic musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis, and headache, with most of the benefit sustained at twelve months. For migraine specifically, a 2024 updated meta-analysis concluded that the effect of spinal manipulation remains uncertain.
For disc-related symptoms, care should begin with a thorough examination and appropriate referral when indicated. Progressive weakness, bowel or bladder changes, saddle numbness, fever, unexplained weight loss, or significant trauma require prompt medical assessment rather than routine conservative treatment.
Selected peer-reviewed sources
- Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for chronic low back pain — BMJ, 2019
- Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for nonspecific neck pain — JOSPT, 2023
- Acupuncture for chronic pain: update of an individual patient data meta-analysis — The Journal of Pain, 2018
- Chiropractic spinal manipulation and lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy, 2022
- Durable effects of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: systematic review and meta-analysis, 2024
- Spinal manipulations for migraine: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis, 2024
This page is provided for general education. It is not medical advice, and it does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Individual results vary. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider about your specific condition.

