You’ve tried heating pads, stretching, over-the-counter pain meds, even that weird foam roll trick—but the discomfort persists. That nagging ache in your lower back, or the tightness that radiates down your leg—these aren’t just “normal aches.” There may be signs of chronic back pain.
But here’s the hopeful truth: you don’t have to accept this as your forever. With the right approach—one that addresses root causes—you can reclaim comfort, mobility, and confidence. Chiropractic care, especially at Back In Motion, gives you tools and treatment to go beyond mere symptom relief.In this article, I’ll guide you through how chiropractic care works for chronic back pain, what to expect, how to set yourself up for success, and who’s behind the care: Dr. Christopher Connolly.
Key Takeaways
- Chronic back pain (pain lasting 12 weeks or more) often persists due to misalignments, nerve irritation, and compensations in posture.
- A chiropractor can treat not just symptoms, but underlying structural causes, offering adjustments, spinal corrections, and lifestyle guidance.
- Relief is more sustainable when chiropractic care is paired with posture improvements, targeted exercise, ergonomic changes, and supportive habits.
Back In Motion, led by Dr. Christopher Connolly, offers a caring, evidence-informed path to long-term relief—beyond just temporary fixes.
What Is Chronic Back Pain?
Definition & Distinction
- Acute back pain typically lasts a few days to a few weeks and often stems from a specific injury or strain.
- Chronic back pain is pain that lasts 12 weeks or more, sometimes even when the original injury seems healed.
- It’s not just about duration; chronic pain often involves changes in tissue sensitivity, nerve irritation, and structural compensations that keep reigniting discomfort.
Causes & Contributing Factors
Chronic back pain rarely has one single cause. More often, multiple factors combine:
- Spinal misalignments / vertebral subluxations
- Disc degeneration or herniation
- Arthritis or facet joint wear
- Muscle imbalances and weakness
- Poor posture, especially from prolonged sitting, slouching, or “text neck” habits
- Previous injury or repetitive strain
- Lifestyle factors like lack of movement, obesity, stress, poor sleep
Why It Persists
Once pain becomes chronic, it changes how your nervous system responds. Even small irritations can amplify signals; tissues become sensitized; compensations in your posture or gait develop. In short, your body “learns” the pain—and unless you intervene at structural and neurological levels, that loop continues.
That’s where chiropractic care can intervene—by resetting structural alignment and easing nerve stress.
How Chiropractic Care Helps with Chronic Back Pain
Many people think chiropractic = “back crack.” But it’s far more nuanced. Here’s how chiropractors help with chronic back pain in a multi-layered way:
1. Spinal Realignment & Decompression
Vertebrae that are slightly shifted out of place can irritate nerves, stress joints, and tighten surrounding muscles. A skilled chiropractic adjustment restores proper alignment, relieving nerve pressure and allowing normal motion.
2. Reduction of Inflammation
When your spine is misaligned, tissues compensate—ligaments, muscles, and joints can become inflamed. By restoring mechanical balance, chiropractic care helps calm those inflamed structures. Over time, swelling, pain, and irritation decrease.
3. Improved Mobility & Range
Your spine and surrounding joints (hips, pelvis, knees) function in harmony. Restrictions in one area force compensations in another. Adjustments and mobilizations help restore normal movement, so stiffness and “locked” sensations fade.
4. Nervous System Re-Education
Chiropractic care targets the nervous system, not just bones. When alignment improves, signal flow between brain and body becomes more efficient. Your muscles relax more easily, pain modulation improves, and healing responses can kick in.
5. Lifestyle & Postural Guidance
Pain doesn’t live in a vacuum. Chiropractors often coach on posture, ergonomics, stretching, strengthening, and movement habits. This takes you beyond “appointments” and into daily life changes that prevent relapse.
6. Maintenance & Prevention
Once pain is under control, many patients transition into “maintenance” visits. These keep alignment in check and catch minor issues before they become full-blown flare-ups.
Why Back In Motion Stands Out
Not all chiropractic practices are created equal. At Back In Motion, the goal is not simply to “crack backs,” but to build lasting structural health. Here’s what distinguishes them:
- Comprehensive assessments: posture scans, movement analysis, diagnostic imaging (as needed)
- Tailored treatment plans: not cookie-cutter but adapted to your body, condition, and goals
- Adjunct therapies: soft tissue techniques, massage, stretching protocols, muscle activation
- Patient education: ergonomics, home exercises, posture awareness
- Holistic mindset: addressing not just your spine, but how your entire lifestyle supports or undermines healing
The team doesn’t stop at symptom suppression—they help you reclaim comfort, function, and resilience.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
Walking into a chiropractic office for chronic back pain can feel intimidating if you don’t know what to expect. Here’s a breakdown:
- You’ll share your pain patterns, past injuries, lifestyle, and daily habits.
- Postural & Movement Examination
The chiropractor observes how you stand, walk, reach, and bend. - Orthopedic / Neurological Tests
Reflexes, muscle strength, nerve sensitivity checks. - Diagnostic Imaging (if needed)
X-rays or MRIs help reveal disc issues, joint spacing, curvature. - Spinal Assessment
Checking alignment, joint stacking, muscle tone. - Treatment Plan & First Adjustment
Often, you’ll get a gentle adjustment or mobilization on first visit. - Home Exercise & Self-Care Guidance
Expect crisp instructions on posture, stretching, and movement to do between visits.
Some patients feel relief immediately. Others notice gradual improvement over the first few weeks. Consistency matters—this is not a “one and done” fix.
Supporting Your Recovery: Lifestyle & Habits
To maximize and sustain relief from chronic back pain, combine your chiropractic care with intentional habits:
Posture & Ergonomics
- Use a chair with lumbar support
- Keep your computer monitor at eye level
- Avoid slumping; keep ears aligned over shoulders
- Take micro-breaks: stand, stretch, walk every 30–45 minutes
Daily Movement & Exercise
- Low-impact cardio: walking, cycling, swimming
- Core stability work: planks, bridges
- Gentle spinal mobility: cat-cow, pelvic tilts
- Hip/glute activation: clamshells, lunges
Stretching & Flexibility
Tight hamstrings, hip flexors, and quads often pull on your pelvis, worsening back alignment. Stretch them regularly—ideally multiple times per day.
Sleep & Mattress Quality
Your mattress should support spinal alignment—not sag or force twist. Use pillows to maintain neutral neck posture.
Nutrition & Hydration
Inflammatory diets (excess sugar, processed foods) can hinder recovery. Focus on whole foods, lean proteins, colorful veggies. Drink plenty of water to nourish discs and tissues.
Stress & Sleep Management
Chronic stress and poor sleep weaken your body’s ability to heal. Incorporate mindfulness, gentle yoga, or breathing exercises into your day.
Common Conditions Linked to Chronic Back Pain
Chiropractors often encounter these conditions when treating chronic back pain. Understanding them helps you see where your own pain may be rooted:
- Sciatica / Radiating Leg Pain: nerve compression causing tingling, numbness, or sharp shooting pain
- Degenerative Disc Disease: wear-and-tear breakdown of spinal discs over time
- Facet Joint Syndrome: dysfunction in small joints at vertebral facets
- Scoliosis or Spinal Curvature: imbalanced alignment leading to compensatory muscle tension
- Muscle Spasms & Strain: often secondary to alignment issues
- Postural Imbalances & Pelvic Tilt: uneven hips or shoulders shifting spinal loading
Back In Motion’s approach is to identify which of these (or combination thereof) contribute to your chronic back pain—and tailor the treatment accordingly.
About Dr. Christopher Connolly
Let me introduce you to the person behind Back In Motion’s trusted care: Dr. Christopher Connolly.
His Background & Why He Became a Chiropractor
Dr. Connolly has been practicing in Virginia since 1995. His path into chiropractic care began with personal experience—he’d suffered back injuries over the years, relying on pain meds and muscle relaxants but never receiving a clear diagnosis. Then, in his late 20s, he discovered he had bilateral scoliosis and uneven hips, a revelation that reshaped his life.
The relief he felt from his first adjustment—combined with the epiphany that he wasn’t the only one misdiagnosed—prompted him to become a chiropractor himself. He was determined to offer clarity, care, and structural healing to those whose pain had gone unaddressed.
Innovation: The “Head’s Up” Patent
Dr. Connolly holds a design patent for a child neck support device called HEAD’S UP. He created this tool to address the drooping head/neck issues children often experience in car seats, strollers, or carriers—and to prevent early nervous system and postural stress.
His Philosophy & Approach
- Patient-first mindset: Dr. Connolly believes no one should “just live with pain.”
- Structural & neurological focus: Rather than masking symptoms, he aims to fix alignment and optimize nerve function.
- Family care: From toddlers to seniors, his practice offers care across the lifespan.
- Education & empowerment: He doesn’t just treat—you’ll learn why your body behaves the way it does and how to sustainably support it.
So when you walk into Back In Motion, you’re not just seeing “a chiropractor” — you’re entering into a care philosophy founded by someone who’s lived the
FAQs About Chronic Back Pain
What is the best treatment for chronic back pain?
There’s no one-size-fits-all. However, evidence supports a multimodal approach: chiropractic adjustments, strengthening and mobility exercises, posture correction, and ergonomic changes often produce the best long-term relief.
What is chronic back pain a symptom of?
It can be a sign of underlying structural issues—disc degeneration, facet joint wear, nerve compression, or longstanding postural imbalance. Chronic pain often signals that your body has adapted (in harmful ways) to these stresses.
How to know if back pain is serious?
Seek prompt evaluation if you experience:
- Numbness or tingling in legs
- Weakness in your feet or legs
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Severe pain that doesn’t ease with rest
- Pain following trauma (fall, accident)
What is the difference between back pain and chronic back pain?
Back pain may last days to weeks and often improves with rest or home remedies. Chronic back pain, by contrast, lingers beyond 12 weeks and often requires structural and neurological intervention to address its root causes.
How do you diagnose chronic back pain?
A chiropractor diagnoses by combining:
- Medical & injury history
- Physical exams (mobility, alignment, reflexes)
- Orthopedic and neurological tests
- Diagnostic imaging (X-rays, MRI, CT) when needed
- Posture and movement analysis
Steps You Can Take Now (Even Before Your First Visit)
You don’t need to wait to start supporting your back health. Here are actionable steps you can begin today:
- Micro-breaks during sitting: Stand, stretch, or walk every 30–45 minutes
- Stretch key muscle groups: Hamstrings, hip flexors, glutes
- Core activation: Pelvic tilts, dead bugs, bridges
- Posture awareness: Use reminders to check your alignment
- Ergonomic setup: Desk, chair, keyboard, screen height
- Sleep posture audit: Support your spine neutrally
- Keep a pain journal: Track what triggers flare-ups
By the time you meet your chiropractor, you’ll already be building momentum toward positive change.
A Sample 12-Week Care Plan (Illustrative)
| Phase | Focus | Typical Interventions |
| Weeks 1–4: Foundational Stabilization | Reduce pain and inflammation, begin realignment | Gentle adjustments, soft-tissue work, home stretches 2× daily |
| Weeks 5–8: Correction & Strengthening | Improve alignment, build core and stability | Deeper adjustments, posture drills, core rehab |
| Weeks 9–12: Transition & Maintenance | Solidify gains, prevent relapse | Less frequent adjustments, ongoing movement + posture habits |
| Beyond Week 12 | Maintenance & prevention | Monthly check-ins, “tune-up” adjustments, lifestyle vigilance |
Note: This is illustrative. Your chiropractor (especially at Back In Motion) will personalize pacing, frequency, and techniques to your body’s response.
Realistic Expectations & Patient Mindset
- Progress may be nonlinear. Some days you’ll feel leaps, others you’ll regress slightly—it’s part of the healing.
- Consistency wins. Skipping appointments or neglecting your at-home regimen slows results.
- You are a partner in your healing. Communicate honestly with your chiropractor, ask questions, and hold yourself responsible for movement habits.
- Relief is not always instantaneous, especially with longstanding chronic back pain—but many patients begin noticing reduced severity, greater mobility, and fewer “bad days” within weeks.
When Chiropractic Care May Not Be Sufficient (and What To Do)
While chiropractic is powerful, certain red-flag cases require medical collaboration:
- Severe neurological deficits (weakness, loss of bladder control)
- Spinal fracture or tumor
- Progressive deformities or disc herniations warranting surgical evaluation
- Inflammatory diseases (e.g. ankylosing spondylitis) needing medical management
Your chiropractor should refer or coordinate with medical specialists when needed. A good practice (like Back In Motion) will always prioritize patient safety.
Final Thoughts
Chronic back pain is frustrating—but it doesn’t have to be permanent. With a structural, patient-centered approach, chiropractic care offers more than temporary fixes—it offers a path to reclaim movement, comfort, and quality of life.
At Back In Motion, under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Connolly, you won’t just be another adjustment. You’ll be a person being guided, educated, and empowered toward sustainable relief.
If you’re ready to make a change—one that works from the root and respects your body—reach out to schedule your consultation. Let’s move beyond pain together.