Back & spine · Patient guide

Low Back Pain

Low back pain can interfere with sitting, sleeping, lifting, exercising and getting through the workday. It may begin suddenly or build gradually without one obvious injury.

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Medical illustration of low back pain treatment in Lehi Utah

The basics

What It Is & How Common It Is

Low back pain can interfere with sitting, sleeping, lifting, exercising and getting through the workday. It may begin suddenly or build gradually without one obvious injury.

Symptoms can involve muscles, joints, discs or nearby tissues and may remain in the lower back or spread toward the hip or leg. The location alone does not identify the cause, so the evaluation considers your health history, movement, strength, daily activities and nerve-related symptoms. An X-ray or MRI is not automatically needed unless the history or examination suggests that imaging would change the next step.

Health information source: NCCIH low-back pain overview ↗

Common questions

Low Back Pain FAQs

Can chiropractic care help with low back pain?

Spinal manipulation or mobilization is one of several nondrug options that may provide modest improvements in pain and function for some patients. Care depends on the examination, comfort and goals.

Should I rest or keep moving with back pain?

Prolonged bed rest is generally not recommended. Short walks, frequent position changes and gradual return to comfortable activity are often more useful.

Do I need an X-ray or MRI?

Not automatically. Imaging is more useful after significant trauma, with warning signs or progressive neurologic problems, or when symptoms are not improving as expected.

When is low back pain an emergency?

Seek urgent help for new bowel or bladder loss, saddle numbness, rapidly worsening leg weakness, severe pain after major trauma or back pain with fever and concerning illness symptoms.

Practical next steps

What You Can Do—and How We Can Help

At home

Start With Sensible Self-Care

Stay active within tolerable limits instead of prolonged bed rest
Use short walks and frequent position changes
Temporarily modify painful lifting
Resume activity gradually rather than waiting for zero pain

At our Lehi office

Care Built Around Your Findings

Review how symptoms affect work, sleep and activity
Assess low-back and hip motion, strength and nerve function when appropriate
Use individualized adjustment, mobilization or soft-tissue care when indicated
Build strength and confidence with progressive exercise

Safety first

When to Get Medical Help Quickly

Seek urgent evaluation for new loss of bowel or bladder control, difficulty beginning urination, saddle numbness, rapidly worsening leg weakness, fever, unexplained weight loss or severe pain after major trauma.

A clear plan starts with an evaluation

Ready to Talk About Your Low Back Pain?

We’ll listen, assess your movement and explain whether care at our office is a good fit.

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