BACK PAIN
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care yet many never receive a clear explanation of why it happens.
While it's often dismissed as a normal part of aging or working life, pain is actually a neurological signal — a message from the body that something deeper is out of balance.
Rather than silencing the symptom, long-term healing begins by understanding what back pain reveals about your spine, nervous system, and movement patterns.
Understanding Back Pain & Why Not To Ignore It
Why Back Pain Happens
Most chronic or recurring back pain has roots in lifestyle and compensation patterns. Contributing factors include:
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Sedentary habits and prolonged sitting
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Imbalances between mobility and stability in the spine
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Weakness in supporting muscle groups like the core and glutes
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Poor breathing mechanics and intra-abdominal pressure
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Chronic stress and dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system
These factors often go unrecognized in conventional evaluations, yet they’re critical if the goal is true resolution, not just short-term relief.
Types of Back Pain
Understanding the type of back pain you’re experiencing is essential for choosing the right approach to healing. While most people assume it’s purely muscular or structural, back pain can come from multiple systems in the body — and often, more than one is involved at once.
Here are five primary types of back pain:
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Mechanical Pain
This is the most common type and involves joints, muscles, discs, or connective tissue. It often results from movement imbalances, poor posture, or sedentary habits. Pain tends to change with position and activity.
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Nerve Pain
Caused by compression or irritation of spinal nerves, this type includes conditions like sciatica or herniated discs. It may feel sharp, burning, radiating, or tingling — and often follows a predictable nerve path.
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Referred Pain from Organs
Sometimes, pain in the back is actually a sign of dysfunction in nearby internal organs — such as the kidneys, digestive system, or reproductive organs. This pain may be dull, deep, or non-specific and doesn’t change much with movement.
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Inflammatory Pain
Related to autoimmune or systemic inflammation (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis), this type often presents as morning stiffness that improves with movement. It may be accompanied by fatigue or other inflammatory symptoms.
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Psychosomatic Pain
Chronic stress, trauma, or unresolved emotional patterns can manifest physically as back pain. This doesn’t mean the pain is “in your head” — but that the nervous system is interpreting emotional load as physical tension or threat.
A skilled assessment can help determine which systems are involved and guide a more effective, individualized recovery plan.
How Chiropractic Care Addresses Back Pain
Chiropractic care is uniquely positioned to address both the mechanical and neurological components of back pain. This includes:
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Identifying and correcting joint restrictions or spinal misalignments
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Releasing chronic muscular tension and compensations
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Improving communication between the spine and brain via the nervous system
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Teaching proper movement mechanics and stability
When applied holistically, chiropractic work becomes much more than pain relief. It’s a way to restore integrity to the body’s foundational systems.
Dr. Marcin’s Perspective
Dr. Marcin’s approach integrates structural correction, functional neurology, and movement education. He combines:
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Full-body biomechanical assessments
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Precise, low-force adjustments
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Nervous system regulation and vagal tone work
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Corrective breathing and stability exercises
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Education to help patients understand their own bodies
The goal is not just to reduce pain, but to restore the body’s capacity to heal and self-regulate, creating lasting results that extend beyond the spine.
Respond to the Signal.
Healing your back pain holistically starts with taking the first step.
Good Health Society
Learn to understand and care for your back with expert-led programs designed to build lasting strength and resilience. Start with the Acute Back Pain Guide or go deeper through the full Good Back Academy.
Roots Health Clinic
Get hands-on support with care that addresses the root cause of your back pain. Book a visit with Dr. Marcin to begin recovery and restore long-term function through expert chiropractic and nervous system-based care.
Start a Conversation
Reach out to Dr. Marcin and his team directly for international care, speaking engagements, expert collaborations, corporate wellness, and other topics. Open to both virtual and in-person opportunities.
FAQ's
What are the most common causes of lower back pain?
Lower back pain is often caused by poor movement patterns, muscle imbalances, joint restrictions, prolonged sitting, or stress-related tension. It’s typically mechanical in nature, meaning it stems from how the body moves — not from disease or injury alone.
Can chiropractic care help chronic back pain?
Yes, chiropractic care can be highly effective for chronic back pain. By restoring proper joint movement, addressing nervous system stress, and improving movement patterns, many patients experience long-term relief without medication or surgery.
How do I know if my back pain is serious?
If your back pain is severe, constant, worsening, or accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider. However, most back pain is mechanical and can be improved with conservative care.
Is back pain always caused by poor posture?
Not always. While posture can play a role, back pain is often a result of how your body compensates over time. Breathing patterns, stress, movement habits, and past injuries all contribute.
What’s the fastest way to get rid of back pain?
The fastest and most effective way to resolve back pain is to identify the root cause — whether it’s joint stiffness, instability, poor core function, or nervous system tension — and address it with a personalized, systems-based approach.