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Conditions we treat
Head to foot: each area below explains what usually causes the pain, what the first examination looks for, how it is treated here, and when a medical doctor should see you first. Tap a point on the body to jump to that section, and tap the neck or lower back to see where pain travels.
Neck pain, stiffness and text neck
The cervical spine is seven vertebrae stacked under a head that weighs about as much as a bowling ball. Tilt that head forward to look at a phone and the load on the neck multiplies. Most neck pain is mechanical: joints that have stiffened, muscles that have shortened to guard them, and a posture that keeps both in place.
What we look for. Range of motion in each direction, where the tenderness sits (joint, muscle or both), whether the pain spreads into the shoulder or arm, and any signs that a nerve root is involved. Whiplash injuries get a longer history and, when needed, imaging before anything is adjusted.
How it is treated. Specific adjustments to the stiff segments, soft-tissue work for the upper trapezius and levator scapulae, and a short list of mobility exercises to do at your desk. Headaches that start at the base of the skull often improve as the upper neck loosens.
When to see a medical doctor first. Neck pain with fever, after a fall or collision with any numbness or weakness, with trouble walking, or with the worst headache of your life.
Shoulders and upper back
The shoulder blade floats on the rib cage, held by muscles that attach to the neck and upper spine. That is why so many "shoulder" problems are really neck and upper-back problems: a knot between the blades, a shoulder that aches at night, or an arm that will not lift past the ear.
What we look for. Whether the shoulder joint itself is restricted (rotator cuff, frozen shoulder) or whether the restriction is coming from the thoracic spine and the way the blade moves. A quick overhead test usually tells us which.
How it is treated. Thoracic adjustments to restore extension, Active Release Technique for the pectorals and rotator cuff, and scapular control exercises. True rotator cuff tears are referred for imaging and an orthopedic opinion.
Mid back and rib pain
The thoracic spine is the stiffest part of the spine by design, because the ribs attach to it. When it stiffens further, usually from sitting, the neck and lower back have to move more to make up the difference, and they are the ones that end up hurting. A rib that has shifted at its joint with the spine can also cause a sharp, breath-catching pain that people often mistake for something worse.
How it is treated. Adjustments to the thoracic segments and rib joints, work on the muscles along the spine, and extension exercises over a foam roller. Mid-back pain with chest pain, shortness of breath or pain that does not change with movement needs a medical evaluation first.
Lower back pain
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and the most common reason people visit a chiropractor. Most episodes are mechanical and improve with movement, manual care and time. The job on the first visit is to work out which structure is driving the pain: a disc, a facet joint, the sacroiliac joint, or the muscles guarding all three.
What we look for. Whether bending forward or backward makes it worse, whether pain travels below the knee, how the hips move, and the strength and reflexes in the legs. That exam decides whether you are adjusted, treated with flexion-distraction on the table, or sent for imaging first.
How it is treated. Adjustments to the lumbar and pelvic joints, flexion-distraction for disc-related pain, decompression for some disc and stenosis cases, soft-tissue work, and a progressive set of core and hip exercises. The goal is a back that tolerates your life, not a back that depends on visits.
When to see a medical doctor first. Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, leg weakness that is getting worse, fever, unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer or osteoporosis with new back pain.
Sciatica and leg pain
Sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis: pain running from the lower back or buttock down the back of the leg, sometimes with tingling or numbness. The usual causes are a disc pressing on a nerve root, a narrowed canal (stenosis), or the piriformis muscle irritating the nerve as it passes through the buttock. Each is treated differently, so the exam matters.
How it is treated. Flexion-distraction and decompression for disc cases, directional exercises that centralize the pain back toward the spine, soft-tissue work for piriformis cases, and adjustments where joints are restricted. Progress is measured by where the pain is, not just how strong it is: pain that moves up out of the leg and into the back is improving.
Headaches from the neck
Two kinds of headache respond well to chiropractic care: cervicogenic headaches, which start in the upper neck and are felt in the back of the head, temple or behind one eye, and tension-type headaches tied to neck and jaw muscle tension. Migraines are different; some patients find neck treatment reduces their frequency, but it is not a migraine cure and we say so.
How it is treated. Gentle adjustments or mobilization of the upper cervical joints, release of the suboccipital muscles, posture correction for desk work, and tracking headache days in a diary so we both know whether it is working. A sudden severe headache, a headache with fever and stiff neck, or one with vision or speech changes needs emergency care.
Sports injuries and overuse
Runners, cyclists, lifters and weekend players make up a large share of the practice. Most injuries are either a strain from a single event or an overuse pattern that has been building for months: a hamstring that keeps pulling, a hip that locks up after long rides, a shoulder that complains at the top of a press.
How it is treated. Active Release Technique for the involved muscle and its neighbors, adjustments where joint restriction is changing how you move, and a return-to-play plan with loading that increases on a schedule. Suspected fractures, full tears and joint instability are referred for imaging.
Car accidents and whiplash
Whiplash is a sprain of the neck's ligaments and muscles from a rapid back-and-forth motion. Symptoms often appear a day or two after the collision: neck pain and stiffness, headaches, shoulder and upper-back pain, sometimes dizziness or difficulty concentrating. Early assessment matters both for recovery and for your records.
How it is treated. After any needed imaging, gentle mobilization progressing to adjustments as the tissues settle, soft-tissue work, and early controlled movement, which recovers faster than a collar and rest. The office documents findings and treatment for insurance and no-fault claims, and we accept workers' compensation cases.
Pregnancy and postpartum care
As the belly grows, the lower back arches more, the pelvis loosens under hormonal changes, and the sacroiliac joints take the strain. Low back and pelvic pain affect most pregnancies at some point. Chiropractic care during pregnancy uses tables and positions adapted for each trimester, with no pressure on the abdomen.
How it is treated. Gentle pelvic and lumbar adjustments, soft-tissue work for the hips and glutes, and stabilizing exercises that carry into the postpartum months. We coordinate with your obstetric provider and stop if anything in your pregnancy changes the plan.
Jaw pain, clenching and TMJ
The temporomandibular joint sits just in front of the ear, and jaw pain rarely travels alone: it comes with neck stiffness, headaches, clenching at night and sometimes ear fullness or clicking. The jaw muscles share nerve supply and posture with the upper neck, which is why a forward head position so often ends in a sore jaw.
How it is treated. Gentle work on the jaw muscles inside and outside the mouth, release of the suboccipital and upper-neck muscles, upper cervical mobilization and posture correction. Dental causes, such as a bite problem or grinding, are co-managed with a dentist, and a night guard is often part of the answer.
Elbow, forearm, wrist and hand pain, and numb fingers
Arm symptoms are the clearest example of why the whole chain is examined. Tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist sprains are real local injuries. But a pinched nerve root in the lower neck can produce an aching elbow, a burning forearm and tingling fingers with nothing wrong at any of those places. Which fingers tingle is the clue: thumb and first two fingers point to the median nerve or the C6 root; ring and little finger point to the ulnar nerve or the C8 root.
What we look for. Whether moving the neck changes the arm symptoms, reflexes and strength, nerve tension tests, and the specific tendon or tunnel tests for the elbow and wrist. The answer decides whether the neck or the arm gets treated first, and often it is both.
How it is treated. Active Release Technique for the forearm extensors, flexors and the tissue around the carpal tunnel; cervical adjustment or mobilization when the neck is the driver; cold laser and ultrasound for irritated tendons; and loading exercises so the tendon heals strong rather than stiff. Progressive weakness, muscle wasting in the hand or numbness that is constant are referred for nerve testing.
Hip and buttock pain
The hip is a deep ball-and-socket joint, and pain around it comes from several places: the joint itself (groin pinching, stiffness with arthritis), the sacroiliac joint at the back of the pelvis, the gluteal tendons at the side, or the piriformis muscle deep in the buttock irritating the sciatic nerve. Sitting shortens the hip flexors at the front, and a stiff hip hands its work to the lower back, which is why the two are always examined together.
How it is treated. Hip and sacroiliac mobilization or adjustment, Active Release for the hip flexors, glutes and piriformis, and a strength program for the muscles around the hip. True hip arthritis is co-managed, and a hip that locks, gives way or follows a fall is imaged first.
Knee pain
Knee pain in people who have not had a traumatic injury is usually a tracking or loading problem: the kneecap riding to one side, a tight iliotibial band, weak hips letting the knee fall inward, or simply more miles or more body weight than the joint is used to. Arthritis adds stiffness and swelling. The knee pays for what the hip and ankle do not do, so treating the knee alone rarely lasts.
How it is treated. Soft-tissue work on the quadriceps, iliotibial band and hamstrings, mobilization of the kneecap and the joint, hip strengthening, and a return-to-activity plan. Locking, giving way, a loud pop at injury or a knee that swells quickly are referred for imaging before treatment.
Foot, ankle and heel pain
Plantar fasciitis (sharp heel pain with the first steps of the morning), Achilles tendon stiffness, recurring ankle sprains and arch pain all come through the office, often in runners and people on their feet all day. The foot is also where sciatica arrives at the end of the line: a numb or tingling foot with no foot injury is traced back up to the lower back.
How it is treated. Ankle and foot joint mobilization, Active Release for the calf, plantar fascia and peroneals, cold laser and ultrasound for the tendons, calf stretching and foot strengthening, and advice on footwear and orthotics. Pain after a twisting injury with swelling or inability to bear weight is imaged to rule out a fracture.
Arthritis and worn joints
Osteoarthritis of the spine, hips and knees is wear in the joint cartilage and the bone around it. It cannot be reversed, but the stiffness and the muscle guarding around a worn joint can be reduced, which is often where most of the day-to-day pain comes from. Care is gentler and aimed at keeping joints moving and muscles working.
How it is treated. Mobilization rather than forceful adjustment where bone is fragile, soft-tissue work, heat, and a walking and strength plan. Inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid or ankylosing spondylitis is co-managed with a rheumatologist, and the upper neck is never adjusted in those cases without imaging.