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ASCC, Acupuncture Science & Chiropractic Clinic, a division of Hua Health

Back pain

Can a chiropractor help with low back pain?

Many people with low back pain see a chiropractor, and Dr. Hua treats it more than anything else. At our Lisle clinic that usually means an exam, spinal adjustments, and often spinal decompression or acupuncture in the same visit.

Back pain has many causes, from a strained muscle after yard work to a disc problem that has built up over years. The first visit is about finding out which kind you have. Dr. Hua asks when it started, what makes it worse, and whether the pain stays in the back or travels.

If something in your history points to a problem that needs a medical doctor or imaging first, he will tell you and refer you.

Patients come to us from Lisle, Naperville, Wheaton, and Bolingbrook for back pain. Many have tried rest and over-the-counter pain relievers first.

Evidence

What the research says about back pain

Sources reviewed October 2026. This is general information, not medical advice.

Low back pain is the most studied condition in chiropractic research. Major medical guidelines now list spinal manipulation as a reasonable first option, alongside heat, massage, exercise, and acupuncture, before medication.

  1. 01

    Recommended by the American College of Physicians

    The 2017 ACP guideline advises that most people with acute or chronic low back pain start with non-drug treatments. Spinal manipulation is one of the options it lists. For chronic low back pain it also lists acupuncture and exercise. [1]

  2. 02

    Modest benefit for acute low back pain

    A 2017 review of 26 trials in JAMA found spinal manipulation was linked to modest improvements in pain and function for up to six weeks. Side effects were usually minor, such as short-lived soreness. [2]

  3. 03

    Similar to other recommended care for chronic pain

    A 2019 review in The BMJ of 47 trials found spinal manipulation gave results similar to other recommended treatments for chronic low back pain, such as exercise. [3]

Limits of the evidence

Benefits in studies are modest and vary from person to person. Most guidelines suggest combining manual care with staying active and exercise.

Sources

  1. 1.Qaseem A, et al. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2017;166(7):514-530.
  2. 2.Paige NM, et al. Association of spinal manipulative therapy with clinical benefit and harm for acute low back pain. JAMA. 2017;317(14):1451-1460.
  3. 3.Rubinstein SM, et al. Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain. The BMJ. 2019;364:l689.

Questions patients ask

When should I see a doctor instead of a chiropractor for back pain?
Go to a medical doctor or emergency room right away if back pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin, fever, a recent fall or accident, or weakness in a leg that is getting worse.
How soon can I be seen?
Call (630) 357-7320. We are open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10am to 7pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm.
Call to Schedule(630) 357-7320