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Back pain is one of the most common reasons adults miss work or seek medical care. If you’ve tried rest, over-the-counter pain relief, or stretching on your own and still can’t fix back pain, there’s a reason for that.
Single-discipline care often misses half the problem. At RxWellness Spine & Health, our chiropractors and physical therapists work as a coordinated team. Their combined approach addresses both the structural and muscular causes driving your pain. This is how to fix back pain the right way and keep it from returning.
Why Does Back Pain Keep Coming Back?
Back pain recurs when only the symptoms are treated and not the root causes. To fix back pain long-term, you need spinal alignment and muscular support working together. Without both, the same structures keep getting stressed, and the cycle continues.
Two systems that feed the pain cycle
Most chronic back pain traces back to two overlapping problems:
- Spinal misalignment shifts pressure onto nerves, discs, and joints.
- Weak core muscles can’t stabilize the spine between visits.
- Poor movement habits repeat the same strain throughout the day.
- Untreated inflammation builds in spinal joints and connective tissue.
- Inactivity weakens the muscles that protect spinal structures most.
Fixing one without addressing the other often leads right back to square one.
Why single-discipline care falls short
- Chiropractic adjustments correct joint position but don’t retrain weak muscles.
- Physical therapy builds strength but can’t fully correct spinal misalignment on its own.
- Both disciplines together cover the full picture.
- Patients who receive coordinated care tend to recover faster and stay better longer.
- That’s the core reason why our multidisciplinary model works.
Your back shouldn’t hurt every single day. If you’ve tried managing on your own and it’s not working, our team is ready to help. Call the nearest RxWellness Spine & Health clinic or request an appointment online today. We’ll identify what’s driving your pain and build a plan around your specific condition. You don’t have to keep pushing through it.
What Does a Chiropractor Do to Fix Back Pain?
Chiropractors identify and correct spinal misalignments that create nerve pressure and restricted movement. They use hands-on adjustments and supportive therapies to fix back pain at its structural source. When the spine is properly aligned, the body responds better to rehabilitation and heals more efficiently.
Chiropractic techniques that fix back pain
- Spinal manipulation: Repositions vertebrae and reduces nerve and disc compression.
- Spinal decompression: Gently stretches the spine to relieve disc pressure.
- Active Release Technique: Breaks down soft tissue restrictions and scar buildup.
- Dry needling: Releases tight trigger points that refer pain into the back.
- Electrotherapy: Reduces muscle spasm and nerve irritation with low-level stimulation.
- IASTM: Instrument-assisted therapy that addresses fascia and connective tissue.
Related: What Is Causing Your Lower Back Pain?
What your chiropractor evaluates first
- Spinal curvature and range of motion
- Nerve involvement and disc health
- Postural imbalances and gait patterns
- Prior injuries or structural abnormalities
- Muscle tension and joint restriction patterns
The chiropractor’s role is to fix back pain structurally. Once alignment is restored, physical therapy builds on that foundation.
Related: 5 Natural Remedies for Back Pain
What Does a Physical Therapist Do to Fix Lower Back Pain?
A physical therapist restores strength, flexibility, and proper movement patterns. To fix lower back pain over time, the muscles around the spine need enough strength to maintain corrections between chiropractic visits. PT bridges the gap between pain relief and staying functional long-term.
PT methods used to fix lower back pain
- Core stabilization exercises: Target the deep muscles that support the lumbar spine directly.
- Stretching protocols: Reduce tension in the hips, hamstrings, and lower back.
- Postural retraining: Teaches you how to sit, stand, and move without adding strain.
- Neuromuscular re-education: Retrains movement patterns that have been feeding the pain.
- Manual therapy: Hands-on soft tissue and joint work to reduce tension and restriction.
- Progressive loading: Gradually increases demands to rebuild strength safely.
Related: How to Treat Back Pain After a Car Accident
Why PT alone may not fully fix lower back pain
- Strengthening muscles doesn’t correct spinal joint dysfunction.
- Exercises can reinforce poor movement if the spine isn’t aligned first.
- How to fix lower back pain successfully means treating both systems simultaneously.
- PT works best when chiropractic care has already addressed alignment.
- Together, these two disciplines cover everything a single approach misses.
Research found that multimodal musculoskeletal care produces consistently better outcomes than single-discipline treatment.
Back pain doesn’t have to be your new normal. Our chiropractors and physical therapists work as a team to help you fix back pain without relying on medication or surgery. Call the nearest RxWellness Spine & Health clinic or request an appointment online. The sooner you start, the sooner you get your life back.
How Do Chiropractors and Physical Therapists Work Together?
At RxWellness, chiropractors and physical therapists don’t operate in separate silos. They share patient information, coordinate treatment phases, and adjust care plans together. This is what allows us to fix back pain sustainably across every stage of recovery.
The three phases of collaborative care
- The focus is on reducing pain and inflammation fast.
- Chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, and electrotherapy are the primary tools.
- Patients reach a functional baseline before physical therapy begins.
- Physical therapy starts here.
- Core strengthening, manual therapy, and postural retraining take center stage.
- This is where the team focuses on how to fix lower back pain at its muscular roots.
- Periodic chiropractic checkups preserve spinal alignment.
- Home exercise programs keep supporting muscles strong between visits.
- This phase prevents regression and protects against future flare-ups.
How the team stays coordinated on your care
- Your chiropractor evaluates your spinal response at every visit.
- Your physical therapist tracks functional progress and strength milestones.
- Both providers communicate and adjust your plan as your condition improves.
- You always know which phase you’re in and what comes next.
- That shared accountability is precisely how we fix back pain for the long term.
Dr. Philip Golinsky was featured on Chiro Hustle Podcast Episode 700, recognized for scaling RxWellness into a leading multidisciplinary chiropractic organization and mentoring more than 500 chiropractors nationwide.
Related: Back Pain Relief Near Me
How to Fix Lower Back Pain From Sitting and Lifting
Two of the most common back pain triggers are prolonged sitting and improper lifting. Knowing how to fix lower back pain from sitting and how to fix lower back pain from lifting gives you daily tools to protect your spine between visits. These changes compound over time.
How to fix lower back pain from sitting
If you have a desk job, learning how to fix lower back pain from sitting is one of the most important things you can do:
- Sit with feet flat on the floor and hips at a 90-degree angle.
- Use lumbar support to maintain the natural curve in your lower spine.
- Stand and walk for two minutes every 30 to 45 minutes throughout your day.
- Keep your monitor at eye level to prevent forward head posture.
- Avoid crossing your legs, which creates uneven pelvic rotation over time.
- Do hip flexor stretches after long sitting sessions to release built-up tension.
Research found that prolonged sitting significantly increases lumbar disc pressure and overall musculoskeletal strain.
How to fix lower back pain from lifting
Knowing how to fix lower back pain from lifting protects you at work, at the gym, and at home:
- Bend at the hips and knees, not at the waist.
- Keep the load close to your torso throughout the entire movement.
- Brace your core before picking up anything heavy.
- Avoid twisting your spine while holding weight.
- Use your legs to drive the lift, not your lower back.
- Don’t rush, especially when picking something up from a low position.
How to fix upper back pain
Knowing how to fix upper back pain often starts with posture and shoulder mechanics:
- Stretch your chest and pectoral muscles regularly throughout the week.
- Strengthen the mid-back and scapular stabilizers to support posture.
- Reduce time spent in a forward-head position at screens.
- Get your thoracic spine evaluated by a chiropractor for joint restrictions.
- A combination of chiropractic and PT is the most effective way to know how to fix upper back pain caused by chronic posture strain.
Related: Who Do I See to Treat My Back Pain?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to fix back pain with chiropractic and PT combined?
Most patients begin noticing relief within the first few visits of relief care. The full corrective phase typically spans several weeks to a few months, depending on the severity and history of your condition. Maintenance care is ongoing and varies by patient.
Can I do chiropractic and physical therapy on the same day?
Yes, and many of our patients do exactly that. Receiving both in one visit is efficient and clinically effective because the spinal correction from chiropractic can enhance your body’s response to PT exercises. Our team schedules same-day care when it makes sense for your treatment plan.
How do I know if I need a chiropractor or a physical therapist first?
If your primary complaint is spinal joint pain, nerve symptoms, or limited mobility from misalignment, chiropractic is usually the first step. If weakness, poor movement patterns, and functional limitations are more prominent, PT may take priority. In most cases at RxWellness, you’ll receive a full evaluation and both disciplines will be involved from the start.
How to fix lower back pain from sitting when I work at a desk all day?
The key is to interrupt compression regularly and support your spine while seated. Set reminders to stand and move every 30 to 45 minutes, use a chair with proper lumbar support, and keep your screen at eye level. Adding hip flexor and glute stretches to your morning and evening routine also makes a significant difference.
Is it normal for back pain to feel worse before it gets better during treatment?
Some patients notice temporary soreness after their first few chiropractic adjustments or PT sessions, which is a normal response as the body adjusts. This typically resolves within 24 to 48 hours and is different from a new injury or worsening condition. Let your provider know if discomfort persists beyond that window so your plan can be adjusted.
How to fix upper back pain that doesn’t respond to stretching?
Stretching helps with muscle tension, but it doesn’t correct thoracic joint restrictions or postural imbalances driving the pain. A chiropractor can evaluate the mid-back and identify structural contributors that stretching can’t address alone. Combining thoracic adjustments with targeted PT exercises for the mid-back and shoulder girdle tends to produce the most durable results.
What’s the difference between how to fix lower back pain from lifting versus a pulled muscle?
A pulled muscle typically responds to rest, ice, and gentle mobility work within a few days. Lower back pain from lifting that doesn’t improve within a week, or that involves radiating symptoms, may signal disc involvement or joint injury. Getting evaluated by a chiropractor early helps identify what’s actually injured so your treatment targets the right structure.
Key Takeaways
- Back pain keeps coming back when treatment addresses symptoms only and not the structural and muscular causes behind them.
- Chiropractic care corrects spinal misalignment, while physical therapy rebuilds the muscle support needed to hold those corrections.
- To fix back pain long-term, both disciplines need to work together in a coordinated, phased approach.
- Knowing how to fix lower back pain from sitting includes using lumbar support, breaking up long sit sessions, and stretching the hip flexors daily.
- Knowing how to fix lower back pain from lifting means bending at the hips and knees, bracing your core, and keeping the load close to your body.
- Learning how to fix upper back pain often starts with posture correction and thoracic spine evaluation from a chiropractor.
- The three phases of care at RxWellness are relief, corrective, and maintenance, and each phase builds on the last to create lasting results.
- Physical therapy works best after chiropractic care establishes proper spinal alignment, not before or instead of it.
- How to fix back pain successfully depends on treating both the spine and the surrounding muscles as one interconnected system.
The Bottom Line: Chiropractic and PT Together Fix Back Pain Long-Term
So how do chiropractors and physical therapists work together to fix back pain? They split the job and cover it completely. Chiropractors restore spinal alignment and relieve nerve pressure. Physical therapists rebuild the muscle support that holds those corrections in place.
At RxWellness Spine & Health, that’s exactly how we approach every case. Whether you’re dealing with a new injury or a chronic issue that never fully resolved, we build a coordinated plan around your specific needs.
Our team knows how to fix back pain at every phase: from acute pain to long-term prevention. We also equip you with practical tools, including how to fix lower back pain from sitting and how to fix lower back pain from lifting, so you can protect your spine between visits. And if your symptoms extend upward, we know how to fix upper back pain using the same integrated model.
If you’re tired of temporary fixes, we’re ready to help you build something that lasts. At RxWellness Spine & Health, our chiropractors and physical therapists work together to fix back pain from every angle. Call the nearest RxWellness Spine & Health clinic or request an appointment online. Your first step toward long-term relief starts here.