Low back pain is one of the top reasons people see their physicians each year. Standard medical management of back pain often involves pain killers and muscle relaxers. There are many side effects with these medications and they don’t deal with the mechanical reason for the pain.

Evidence: A 1994 report from the federal government’s Agency for Health Care Policy and Research concluded that chiropractic is the safest, drug-free initial form of treatment for acute low back problems in adults. It recommended spinal manipulation be pursued before surgical intervention is considered.

Chiropractic is often the most effective approach to reducing pain and helping recovery. A thorough initial exam is performed to find the source of the problem. Treatment may include moist heat, ultrasound, or electrical muscle stimulation to relax the muscles before the spinal manipulation. By correcting the source of the problem, the body can heal naturally.