Understanding your care options
Do Chiropractors Help Back Pain?
Evaluation first. A plan that fits your needs.
Chiropractic care may be one option for some people with back pain. The starting point is understanding your symptoms, health history and goals—not assuming that everyone needs an adjustment.
The short answer
It Can Be One Part of Care
For some people with low-back pain, spinal manipulation may provide small improvements in pain and the ability to manage daily activities. Whether it is appropriate depends on your evaluation and preferences. It is not a guaranteed solution.
A care plan may also include exercise, activity guidance or care from another clinician. NIH NCCIH explains the evidence for spinal manipulation.
Why People Seek Chiropractic Care for Back Pain
People may seek help when back discomfort interferes with movement, work or everyday activities, or when symptoms keep returning. A muscle strain is one possible cause, but the source of pain is not always clear. Symptoms alone do not confirm a disc, joint or nerve problem.
What an Evaluation May Include
A discussion of when symptoms began, activities that affect them, your health history and functional limitations helps guide an examination. This may include checking movement, tenderness, strength and neurological function. Bring relevant records and a list of medications.
The findings help determine whether conservative care is reasonable or whether another clinician should assess you. Learn about the practice’s care pathways.
Symptoms in context
Movement, Muscle, Joint & Radiating Symptoms
Mechanical and activity-related concerns
Certain movements or everyday tasks may aggravate symptoms.
Strains and sprains may involve muscles or ligaments. Spasm may accompany an injury.
Joints and disc-related presentations
Joint-related pain, disc conditions or nerve irritation may contribute. Existing back problems can also be relevant.
Back pain has several possible causes, and disc changes can exist without symptoms.
Radiating leg / sciatica-type symptoms
Pain may travel into a leg. Numbness, tingling or weakness also need assessment rather than an assumption that they are ordinary soreness.
New tingling or weakness needs assessment; it does not by itself prove nerve damage or sciatica.
Treatment Options That May Be Considered
Depending on your symptoms and abilities, a plan may include exercise, activity guidance and hands-on care. Hands-on care should support, rather than replace, appropriate exercise and rehabilitation. Explore rehabilitation and movement care and the chiropractic adjustments guide.
Manipulation is optional. Discuss expected benefits, alternatives and risks before deciding. Temporary soreness or stiffness can occur; rare serious complications have been reported. Tell Dr. Goldstein about your health conditions and medications.
For information about traction, its limitations and how neck and low-back evidence differ, see the decompression and traction guide.
When Imaging or Referral May Be Appropriate
An X-ray or MRI is not automatically needed for back pain. Your symptoms and examination help determine whether further testing or another clinician’s assessment is appropriate. Imaging may be considered when the findings could change your care.
If symptoms persist or change, your care may need reassessment. Imaging is one part of an evaluation and does not always explain the pain.
Know when to seek help
When to Seek Urgent Medical Attention
Seek emergency care for back pain with:
- New bowel or bladder problems, including trouble urinating or loss of control.
- Loss of feeling around the genitals or anus.
- Pain, tingling, numbness or weakness in both legs.
- Chest pain along with back pain.
- Back pain that began after a serious accident.
Call 911 in an emergency. Do not wait for a routine office appointment.
Seek urgent medical assessment for sudden severe pain, pain that worsens quickly, or back pain with fever, chills or feeling generally unwell.
Back Pain After a Car Accident
If your symptoms followed a collision, visit the separate back pain after a car accident guide for that context. This article addresses broader back-pain questions.
Practical Next Steps
Think about which daily activities are difficult and what you would like help with. Discuss those concerns with Dr. Goldstein rather than choosing treatment from a symptom list alone. Our patient FAQs can help you prepare for a visit.
Medical Information & Sources
This article provides general education, not a diagnosis or individualized medical advice. Care depends on your circumstances and examination findings.
Talk with the office
Discuss Your Back-Pain Concerns
Contact Dr. Brett Goldstein’s office in Pompano Beach to discuss evaluation and appointment availability.
Online scheduling coming soon. Please call to confirm availability.