Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek a chiropractor. While we often look for one specific cause, like a pulled muscle or a “sleeping funny”, the reality is that low back pain is usually the result of accumulated stress on the body over time. These stressors come in the forms of physical, mental/emotional, and chemical/environmental—and they’re always acting on our bodies, even if we’re not feeling their effect yet.
Understanding this connection is key to both treating and preventing low back pain. And that’s where chiropractic care comes in: not just as a quick-fix for pain relief, but as a proactive strategy to keep the spine and nervous system functioning optimally.
Physical Stress: The Obvious (and Not-So-Obvious) Culprit
Physical stress is the most visible and commonly understood form of stress on the body. Some
examples you may be familiar with are:
- Poor posture (from sitting at a desk or looking down at devices)
- Repetitive movements or overuse
- Lifting improperly
- Car accidents or falls
- Sedentary lifestyle
All of these stressors can create restrictions in the spine, also known as subluxations, which can interfere with nerve function and lead to dysfunction, stiffness, and pain.
Even when you’re not feeling the pain yet, these spinal subluxations can build up tension and lead to more serious issues over time. That’s why addressing them early through chiropractic care is essential.
Mental and Emotional Stress: The Silent Stressor
Mental and emotional stress might not seem directly linked to low back pain, but it plays a major role. When you’re under chronic stress, your body responds with an increased sympathetic (flight or flight) response which wreaks havoc on your spine and nervous system. Your fight-or-flight response can become overactive, keeping your nervous system on high alert and making it harder for your body to relax and heal, which it is designed to do.
Chronic stress also raises cortisol levels, which can lead to inflammation and lower your pain threshold. This means small irritations that wouldn’t normally bother you can now contribute to pain and dysfunction.
Regular chiropractic adjustments help calm the nervous system, by putting it more in a parasympathetic (rest and digest) state. This helps release muscle tension, and bring the body back into balance, creating a more resilient response to emotional and mental stress.
Chemical and Environmental Stress: The Hidden Factor
We’re constantly exposed to chemical and environmental stressors that impact our health, often without realizing it. These include:
- Processed foods and artificial additives
- Poor air quality
- Household cleaning products and personal care items with harmful ingredients
- Exposure to other toxins
These stressors can trigger inflammation throughout the body and impact the nervous system’s ability to communicate clearly with the rest of the body. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can sensitize the nerves, leading to increased pain responses and a slower healing process.
A healthy spine supports a healthy nervous system, which plays a key role in regulating inflammation and helping the body adapt to environmental stressors. Chiropractic care removes interference, allowing your body to function more efficiently
From the Pawlovich Chiropractic Team