Low Back Pain Treatment
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people miss work and limit their activity, and it rarely has a single cause. We evaluate the lumbar spine, pelvis, hips, and surrounding muscles to find what is actually driving your pain and build a care plan designed to address it at the source.
Full lumbar & pelvic evaluation
Not just where it hurts
The Basics
The lumbar spine is made up of five vertebrae that sit between the thoracic spine and the sacrum, supporting the majority of the body’s weight and allowing for the bending, twisting, and lifting movements we rely on every day. This region is also home to the discs, facet joints, ligaments, and muscles that work together to provide both mobility and stability. When any of these structures become irritated, compressed, or dysfunctional, the result is the pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility that most people recognize as low back pain.
Low back pain can develop from a single incident like lifting something heavy or making a sudden awkward movement, but it more commonly develops gradually from a combination of contributing factors. Prolonged sitting, poor posture, muscle imbalances, disc irritation, joint dysfunction, and accumulated physical stress over time are all common drivers of lumbar spine problems. In many cases patients have multiple contributing factors present simultaneously, which is why a thorough evaluation is essential to understanding exactly what is driving the problem before recommending treatment.
Low back pain is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, affecting people of all ages and activity levels. It is particularly common among office workers who sit for extended periods, manual laborers who perform repetitive lifting or bending, athletes who place high demands on the lumbar spine, and older adults experiencing age related changes in the spine. Left unaddressed, low back pain tends to become chronic, limiting daily activity, disrupting sleep, and affecting quality of life in ways that extend well beyond the physical pain itself.
Signs to Watch For
Low back pain can present in many ways and the severity of symptoms does not always reflect the severity of the underlying problem. These are the most common signs that warrant a thorough evaluation:
Dull, aching pain in the lower back that persists for more than a few days
Sharp or stabbing pain with specific movements like bending, lifting, or twisting
Pain that radiates into the hips, buttocks, or down one or both legs
Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs or feet
Stiffness or reduced range of motion in the morning or after prolonged sitting
Pain that improves with movement but returns after rest or inactivity
Muscle spasms or tightness along the sides of the lower back
Difficulty standing upright or maintaining an upright posture
Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting, standing, or walking
Low back pain accompanied by groin or pelvic discomfort
Our Approach
At Salt Family Chiropractic, every low back pain patient begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the lumbar spine, pelvis, hips, and surrounding musculature. We assess spinal alignment, joint mobility, disc health, muscle balance, and movement patterns to identify exactly what structures are involved and what is driving the pain. Because low back pain rarely has a single cause, this thorough evaluation is essential to building a care plan that addresses the full picture rather than targeting only the most obvious symptom.
Based on your evaluation findings, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments to restore proper motion to restricted lumbar and sacroiliac joints, soft tissue therapy to address muscle tightness and fascial restrictions contributing to pain and movement limitation, corrective exercises to rebuild core stability and improve movement mechanics, and mobility work designed to restore full range of motion in the lumbar spine and hips.
For Chronic Cases
For chronic low back pain, disc irritation, or significant inflammation, Class IV laser therapy accelerates tissue healing and reduces pain. For stubborn soft tissue or tendon related pain that has not responded to other care, shockwave therapy is also available to stimulate healing and improve circulation without injections or surgery.
The Salt Difference
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Low back pain is rarely caused by one thing. We evaluate the lumbar spine, pelvis, hips, discs, and surrounding musculature to build a complete picture of what is driving your pain before recommending any treatment. This thorough approach is what allows us to build care plans that address the actual cause rather than managing symptoms at the surface level.
— 02
Most low back pain patients need more than spinal adjustments alone. We combine chiropractic care with soft tissue therapy, corrective exercise, mobility work, and patient education to address every aspect of the condition and give patients the tools to maintain their progress between visits.
— 03
Salt Family Chiropractic has been evaluating and treating low back pain in the Chula Vista community since 1996. With three licensed chiropractors and decades of combined clinical experience, our team has the depth to manage everything from acute lumbar strain to complex chronic conditions that have not responded to other treatments.
Good to Know
Can chiropractic care help with chronic low back pain?
How long does low back pain take to resolve?
Can sitting too much cause low back pain?
How can low back pain be prevented?
What is the difference between low back pain and sciatica?
Should I rest or stay active with low back pain?
Explore More
Condition
Many cases of low back pain involve disc irritation or herniation. If your pain radiates into the legs or is accompanied by numbness or tingling, learn more about how we evaluate and treat disc related conditions specifically.
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Service
For patients with chronic low back pain or significant inflammation, laser therapy can be integrated into your care plan to accelerate tissue healing and reduce pain more efficiently alongside chiropractic adjustments.
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Condition
Acute low back pain from lifting or sudden movements often involves lumbar sprains and strains. Learn more about how we evaluate and treat soft tissue injuries in the lower back and surrounding structures.
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