Why your back still hurts

Most low back pain isn't caused by a single dramatic event. It's the result of accumulated stress on joints, discs, and muscles that have been asked to compensate for restrictions elsewhere in the body. A stiff hip, a locked thoracic spine, poor breathing mechanics — these upstream problems create downstream pain.

That's why treating the site of pain alone rarely creates lasting change. We look at the whole movement system to find what's actually driving your symptoms.

How we assess low back pain

Every visit starts with a thorough movement assessment. We test joint mobility, motor control, and functional capacity across the full chain — not just where it hurts. We're looking for the restrictions and compensations that explain your symptoms.

  • Joint-by-joint mobility screening (FRC principles)
  • Breathing and ribcage assessment (PRI principles)
  • Hip and thoracic spine function testing
  • Motor control and stability assessment
  • Bilateral force testing at the Performance Lab (if applicable)

How we treat it

Treatment is targeted to your findings — not a generic protocol. Depending on what we discover, your visit may include chiropractic adjustments, functional dry needling, myofascial release, and specific corrective exercises.

Every visit includes homework. The exercises you do between visits are as important as the hands-on work we do in the office. We're building lasting change, not temporary relief.

At the Performance Lab: For complex or chronic low back cases, our Northbrook location offers objective assessment tools including medical-grade dynamometry, surface EMG biofeedback, and markerless motion capture to identify asymmetries and guide treatment with data.

What to expect

Most patients notice improvement within the first few visits. But our goal isn't just pain relief — it's restoring the mechanical function that prevents the pain from coming back. Treatment length depends on how long the problem has been present, your activity level, and how consistently you follow through on your home program.

We reassess regularly and adjust your plan based on your actual progress. No predetermined visit packages. No pressure to keep coming back when you don't need to.