January 2026 Healthy News from Connected Chiropractic: Safe, Beneficial Help for Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation
SAFETY OF CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR LUMBAR DISC CONDITIONS
Good news for back pain sufferers: chiropractic spinal manipulation, like Cox® Technic that we use here at Connected Chiropractic, proves itself to have a beneficial safety profile for patients with lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy, with remarkably low rates of serious concerning side-effects. A retrospective cohort study that analyzed over 168,000 adults with low back pain treated at US academic health centers found no cases of cauda equina syndrome as a result of chiropractic spinal manipulation, yielding an upper 95% confidence interval of 2.2 cases per 100,000 patients. (1) This is positive! More precisely, among patients with lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, or radiculopathy, the risk of cauda equina syndrome following chiropractic manipulation was estimated at 0.88 per 100,000 patients, which was statistically comparable to the risk associated with physical therapist-led exercise (0.44 per 100,000). (2) These results denote that spinal manipulation, when performed by trained chiropractors, has minimal risk even in vulnerable populations with significant spinal pathology. The evidence indicates that worry about complications from chiropractic care for these conditions may be overemphasized, supporting its consideration as a conservative treatment choice within appropriate clinical guidelines and patient selection criteria. (1,2) As a chiropractic patient at our Elgin clinic, you are in well-trained, well-experienced hands to manage your condition safely and successfully!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the gentle, safe, effective care of a disc herniation utilizing the protocols of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: A New Exercise Approach for Chronic Disc Pain Relief
If you're struggling with chronic disc pain, a fresh exercise approach called dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) might be the answer you've been looking for to add to your spine’s exercise routine. This method retrains your body's natural movement patterns—similar to how babies learn to steady their spine as they learn to walk. A recent study reported that patients doing DNS exercises experienced significant pain relief, better mobility, and stronger core muscles. What makes DNS different is that it doesn't just strengthen muscles; it teaches your body to move properly again by reinstating natural coordination and core stability, potentially giving lasting relief from chronic back pain. (3) Let’s talk at your next chiropractic visit about the appropriateness of this exercise for you and your spine before you add it to your exercise routine.
We wish you a happy 2026 and are so grateful for your making us a part of your spine’s healthcare team!
Schedule your Elgin chiropractic appointment with Connected Chiropractic today!