Reviewed by Dr. Dean Younker, D.C. · Published 2026
Why the same complaint has different causes
Two people can describe low back pain in nearly identical words and have very different things going on. Joints, discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerves all sit within a few centimetres of one another, and pain from any of them can be felt across the same region of the back.
That is the reason a careful history comes before treatment. The useful information is rarely the number on a pain scale; it is the pattern, when it started, what you were doing, what position relieves it, and what it stops you doing.
Patterns that commonly show up
Some back pain follows a specific event: a lift done badly, a fall, a long drive over the pass, a weekend of work the body was not conditioned for. Some accumulates instead, through months of sitting, repetitive loading, or a job that keeps you on your feet on hard surfaces.
Symptoms that stay in the back behave differently from symptoms that travel into the buttock or leg. Pain that radiates raises different questions and is covered separately in the sciatica material.
What the examination is trying to establish
An exam looks at how you move, where motion is restricted, which positions reproduce your symptoms, and whether there are neurological signs that need attention. Health history matters just as much, previous injuries, surgeries, medications, and other conditions all shape what is appropriate.
If the history and exam suggest imaging would help pinpoint the issue, x-rays are recommended. Imaging is a tool for answering a specific question, not a routine step for every patient.
When to seek medical evaluation first
Back pain after significant trauma, back pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, progressive weakness or numbness, or any change in bladder or bowel control should be evaluated medically before chiropractic care is considered. If any of those apply, call your physician or go to an emergency department.
This article is general education and is not medical advice for your situation. To discuss what applies to you, request an appointment.