Lower Back Pain Relief in West Chester, OH
At Align Chiropractic in West Chester, OH, one of the most common conditions we help people with is lower back pain.
Up to 80% of people will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their life. It is also the #1 cause of disability in the United States.
Why is lower back pain so common?
Because your lumbar spine (lower back) supports your entire upper body and takes on the most stress throughout your lifetime. If left untreated, lower back pain can lead to degeneration and permanent damage. Many patients come to us 10 to 20 years after an old injury, only to find that their pain has worsened over time. That’s why diagnosing early is crucial—not just for pain relief, but to prevent long-term damage.
Acute vs. Chronic Lower Back Pain
• Acute Back Pain – This type of pain happens suddenly due to a trauma, injury, or accident. It usually appears within 72 hours of the incident.
• Chronic Back Pain – If back pain lasts longer than three months, it becomes chronic. Many chronic cases develop slowly over time, and the original cause may not be obvious.
At Align Chiropractic, we specialize in identifying the root cause of your pain— whether it’s a muscle strain, joint misalignment, disc issue, or ligament
damage. By pinpointing the exact source, we create a personalized care plan for lasting relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I be concerned about lower back pain?
If your back pain lasts more than a few days, radiates into your legs, or
worsens over time, seek professional care immediately.
Can a chiropractor help with lower back pain?
Yes! Chiropractic care is the most effective natural treatment for lower back
pain. At Align Chiropractic, we’ve helped hundreds of patients eliminate pain and restore mobility.
Is it better to see a chiropractor or get a massage for lower back pain?
Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of back pain, while massage
relieves muscle tension. For best results, we recommend combining both treatments.
What’s the best sleeping position for lower back pain?
✔ Sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees can reduce pressure on the spine.
✔ Sleeping on your side with a pillow between your knees for spinal
alignment.
❌ Avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this strains the lower back.
It’s important to know that sleep posture can very strongly depend on your unique situation and the state of your spine at any given time. We always begin with x-rays in our office to learn more about what is going on with your spine specifically! Everyone is different.
Align is different, it is a chiropractor’s office but more than that it is a professional group who truly care about their patients. You actually feel like you are with friends, people who’s really care about your health.
– Tom Irving
“Can Chiropractic Care Stop Lower Back Pain?”
The short answer: Yes!
Here are some of the ways that we address lower back pain in our office to help bring relief to our patients:
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
Effective treatment begins with a detailed consultation and examination.
Many of our patients tell us they’ve seen multiple doctors but haven’t felt
heard. At Align Chiropractic, we take the time to understand your pain, history, and lifestyle.
During your exam, we perform:
✔ Chiropractic assessments to evaluate spinal alignment
✔ Orthopedic testing to check joint function
✔ Neurological exams to assess nerve health
Pain is a warning signal—but it’s not always the root cause. That’s why finding the true source of your pain is essential for long-term healing.
Specific Chiropractic Adjustments
One of the most common causes of lower back pain is subluxation—a
misalignment of the spine. When vertebrae are misaligned or not moving properly, they:
⚠ Irritate nearby nerves
⚠ Cause muscle tension and inflammation
⚠ Lead to symptoms like sciatica, stiffness, or limited mobility
Our specific chiropractic adjustments:
✅ Restore normal spinal motion
✅ Remove pressure from nerves
✅ Allow the body to heal naturally
Most patients experience significant relief as their nervous system returns to proper function.
Custom Exercise Recommendations
Lower back pain is often caused by weak or imbalanced core muscles. At Align Chiropractic, we help create a custom exercise plan to strengthen the
core, pelvis, and lower back.
✔ We assess your movement patterns to identify imbalances
✔ We provide at-home exercises to maintain progress between visits
A strong, balanced core provides long-term protection against recurring lower back pain.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
If your lower back pain is caused by a bulging or herniated disc, spinal
decompression therapy is a game-changer. A herniated disc occurs when the soft inner core of a spinal disc pushes through its outer layer, pressing on nerves. This can cause intense pain, numbness, and even weakness in the legs (sometimes caused by sciatica).
Our non-surgical spinal decompression therapy:
✅ Gently stretches the spine to create negative pressure
✅ Helps move bulging discs back into place
✅ Relieves pressure on nerves
✅ Reduces inflammation and pain
When combined with chiropractic adjustments and core-strengthening
exercises, decompression therapy provides long-term relief from disc-related pain.
Shockwave Therapy (EPAT) for Faster Healing
For chronic lower back pain, we utilize EPAT Shockwave Therapy—a cutting-
edge, non-invasive treatment. Shockwave therapy sends high-energy acoustic waves into the affected area, which:
✔ Breaks up scar tissue
✔ Improves blood circulation
✔ Speeds up healing at the cellular level
Most patients report that shockwave therapy is painless, with a gentle
warming sensation during treatment. Sessions typically last about 15 minutes and deliver lasting relief.
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
1. Bulging or Herniated Discs
When the soft inner core of a spinal disc pushes outward, it can compress
nearby nerves, causing pain that may radiate into the legs (sciatica). Symptoms often include sharp pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the
legs.
2. Degenerative Disc Disease
Over time, spinal discs can lose hydration and shrink, reducing the space
between vertebrae. This can lead to nerve irritation, chronic stiffness, and limited mobility.
3. Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve—the largest nerve in the body—
becomes compressed. This results in radiating pain, numbness, or tingling down the leg.
4. Spinal Stenosis
A narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the spinal cord and
nerves. Symptoms may include pain, weakness, and difficulty walking.
5. SI Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the lower spine to the pelvis. Dysfunction in this joint can cause severe lower back and hip pain.
6. Facet Joint Dysfunction
Facet joints are small stabilizing joints in the spine that can become inflamed due to poor posture or repetitive movements. Pain is often worse when standing for long periods or leaning backward.
7. Muscle Strains & Postural Issues
Poor posture, sudden movements, or repetitive strain can lead to tight,
inflamed muscles in the lower back.
- If any of these resonate with you OR you don’t see what you are personally dealing with, click the button below and our team would be happy to assist you in finding relief for your lower back pain!
What To Expect
Our team has helped thousands of people transform their health and reach their full health potential.
We understand when you are experiencing pain, discomfort and other limitations poor health can place on your life, it can leave you feeling hopeless and frustrated, especially when your current care options just aren’t working. From the moment you arrive, you will feel heard, empowered and encouraged so you may experience true health and do what you love.
Pre Visit
Since chiropractic care involves a series of visits, with each one building on the ones before, it’s important for you to feel comfortable right from the start.
Once you book your appointment, whether online or over the phone with a team member, you’ll immediately be texted and emailed the new patient paperwork. Our doctors spend a great deal of time going through your paperwork together as a team before your visit, so we’re ready as soon as you arrive.
1st Visit
New patients often remark on how friendly the Align Chiropractic office is. Our office also employs the latest technologies: from digital X-rays to a computerized note tracking system. This is important because our goal is to offer state-of-the-art chiropractic care in a comfortable surrounding.
We Explain Everything First
The purpose of your consultation with the doctor is to discuss your health goals and see if chiropractic is likely to help you. If it looks promising, a thorough examination will help identify the cause of your problem. The examination will include orthopedic tests, Range of Motion, and a posture exam. Depending on the results of the exam X-rays will be taken to confirm your condition or diagnosis. Patients appreciate that we explain everything in advance!
2nd & 3rd Visits
After we study your health history and correlate our examination findings, we’ll make recommendations designed to help you get and keep your health. You doctor will then orally go over the findings and give you your first chiropractic adjustment. This is usually attended to on your second visit, which will be the following day.
Report of Findings
The following visit is called the Report of Findings or Doctors Report. This is where we will thoroughly educate and explain your problem and how chiropractic will help. Due to patient volume, the education part of the report is done in a group and the results and insurance financials are then gone over individually.
This is usually attended to on your third visit. This three-visit approach accomplishes several things:
- Reduces the length of your first visit
- Gives us time to correlate our findings
- Avoids overloading you with too much information
- Allows time to review any financial or care plan questions in detail
- In certain situations, and in the professional judgment of the doctors we sometimes make exceptions. It just depends on your unique situation.
Long Term
We focus on the nervous system, structural correction, and addressing the cause which allows the body to heal itself. We do believe life-time chiropractic is absolutely beneficial. The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported that “patients who went to DCs (doctors of chiropractic) as their primary care providers had 43% decreases in hospital admissions, 52% reductions in pharmaceutical costs and 43% fewer outpatient surgeries and procedures.” We have hundreds of patients who chose to continue getting adjusted year after year because they experience the benefits of strong immune systems, less sickness, better sleep, more energy, reduced symptoms, and overall better health. We also have patients who get adjusted for a specific issue, experience releif, and decide not to move forward with a wellness or maintenance plan. We high five, let them know we’re thankful to be part of their health journey, and make it clear we’re available with open arms should they ever need care again. We hope you forever take care of your nervous system and overall health, but ultimately, you are in charge of making your own health decisions. We always desire to be on your team and to encourage you along the way.