What’s Really Causing Your Back Pain? The Surprising Truth
Your Back Pain May Not Start in Your Back
If you’re experiencing back pain, you’re certainly not alone—nearly every adult has dealt with this frustrating issue at some point in their lives. However, what might surprise you is that your back pain may not actually be starting in your back at all. At Johnstone Chiropractic, we often discover that the root cause of back pain lies elsewhere in the body, creating a chain reaction that eventually manifests as discomfort in your spine.
Understanding the true source of your back pain is crucial for effective treatment and long-term relief. When we only focus on where it hurts rather than why it hurts, we miss the opportunity to address the underlying cause and prevent future episodes of pain.
Hip Misalignment: The Hidden Culprit
Your hips play a crucial role in supporting your spine and maintaining proper posture throughout the day. When your hips become misaligned, they create an unstable foundation that forces your back muscles to work overtime to maintain balance. This compensation pattern often leads to muscle fatigue, tension, and eventually pain in your lower back.
Hip misalignment can develop from various daily habits including carrying heavy bags consistently on one side, wearing unsupportive shoes, maintaining poor posture, or having weak core and pelvic muscles. Even something as simple as always crossing the same leg when sitting can gradually pull your hips out of proper alignment over time.
Text Neck: The Modern Epidemic
In our technology-driven world, most of us spend significant time looking down at smartphones, tablets, or laptops. This constant downward head position, known as “text neck,” creates excessive strain on your cervical spine and the surrounding muscles. When your neck is consistently pulled forward and down, it disrupts your entire spinal alignment.
Your spine works as an interconnected system, so problems in your neck often create compensatory changes throughout your back. Teenagers and children face particularly high risks for developing text neck due to their frequent device use and still-developing spinal structures.
The Sitting Epidemic
Extended periods of sitting have become a hallmark of modern life, but your spine wasn’t designed for prolonged static positions. Sitting for hours compresses your spinal discs, weakens your core muscles, and creates imbalances that ripple throughout your entire musculoskeletal system. The pressure on your lower back increases significantly when sitting compared to standing or lying down.
Poor ergonomics compound the problem, forcing your body into unnatural positions that strain muscles, ligaments, and joints. Even with the best intentions, maintaining proper posture becomes increasingly difficult as fatigue sets in throughout the day.
How Johnstone Chiropractic Addresses the Root Cause
Rather than simply treating your symptoms, we focus on identifying and correcting the underlying causes of your back pain. Our comprehensive approach examines your entire musculoskeletal system to understand how different areas of your body might be contributing to your discomfort. This thorough assessment allows us to develop targeted treatment strategies that address the source of your pain.
- Comprehensive spinal and postural analysis to identify misalignments
- Hip and pelvic assessment to detect foundational imbalances
- Neck and cervical spine evaluation for text neck symptoms
- Movement pattern analysis to identify compensatory behaviors
- Ergonomic recommendations for your work and home environments
- Targeted exercises to strengthen weak areas and improve flexibility
Long-Term Relief Through Comprehensive Care
At Johnstone Chiropractic, we believe true healing involves more than temporary pain relief—it requires addressing the underlying dysfunction that created your problem in the first place. By correcting spinal misalignments, improving your posture, and teaching you better movement patterns, we help your body return to its natural, pain-free state.
Our goal is not just to help you feel better today, but to give you the tools and knowledge you need to prevent future episodes of back pain. Through chiropractic adjustments, lifestyle modifications, and ongoing support, we help you achieve lasting relief and optimal spinal health.
Schedule Your Appointment
Ready to discover what’s really causing your back pain and find lasting relief? Contact Johnstone Chiropractic today to schedule your comprehensive evaluation and take the first step toward a pain-free life.