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Understanding Back Pain and How Chiropractic Care Approaches It
An educational resource for people in Macomb County who want to understand what causes back pain, what the spine has to do with it, and how chiropractic care — a natural, non-surgical, drug-free profession — approaches the problem.
This site is informational. It does not diagnose, promise results, or guarantee outcomes. Every spine and every situation is different, and what happens for one person may not happen for another.
How people in Macomb describe back pain
“Back pain” is a single phrase covering a wide range of experiences. Below are patterns people commonly describe when they talk about their backs. None of these are diagnoses — they are simply the everyday language people use, and the starting point for any real conversation with a healthcare provider.
Dull, constant ache
A background soreness that never fully goes away, often described as worse after sitting or standing in one position for a long stretch.
Sharp or stabbing pain
A distinct, localized pain that people often notice when bending, lifting, twisting, or getting out of a chair or a car.
Stiffness and reduced motion
A back that feels tight or “locked up,” particularly first thing in the morning or after a long drive. Range of motion is one of the things chiropractors assess.
Pain that travels
Discomfort that does not stay in one place — radiating across the back, into the hips, or down a leg. Radiating patterns are worth discussing with a provider.
Numbness or tingling
Pins-and-needles sensations, or numbness in the legs, feet, arms, or hands. These sensations are associated with nerve involvement rather than muscle alone.
Disrupted sleep
Trouble finding a comfortable position, or waking up during the night. Sleep is one of the most common topics people raise when they describe back pain.
Big traumas, little traumas
Chiropractors generally sort the causes of back pain into two groups. The first is obvious. The second is the one most people never think about — and it is the one that shows up most often in a chiropractic office.
A term used at Macomb Township Chiropractic for the cumulative effect of repetitive daily activities that hold the spine in an unnatural position over long periods — sitting at a computer, looking down at a phone, standing for hours, bending, twisting, lifting. Unlike a major trauma, no single moment causes it. Chiropractors associate this pattern with spinal misalignment, which can place pressure on the nerves exiting the spine.
Major trauma
Car accidents, slips and falls, and sports injuries — a single event with a clear before and after.
Desk and screen work
Hours seated at a computer, or looking down at a phone, holding the spine in a fixed position.
Bending and lifting
Repeated bending, twisting, and lifting — at work, in the yard, or around the house.
Long hours standing
Standing in one place through a shift, common in trades, retail, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Posture
Forward head posture and lost spinal curves are central topics in Chiropractic Biophysics.
Disc changes
Bulging, herniated, or degenerating discs are commonly discussed in relation to back pain.
Structural conditions
Scoliosis, arthritis, and osteoporosis in the spine are all associated with back discomfort.
Overuse
Using the back harder than usual, or in a way it is not used to — including too much exercise.
How chiropractic care approaches back pain
Chiropractic care is a licensed, drug-free, non-surgical healthcare profession focused on the spine and the nervous system it protects. The general reasoning is straightforward: when vertebrae sit out of proper alignment, the nerves exiting the spine can be placed under pressure, and that pressure is associated with pain, irritation, and inflammation. Chiropractic care aims to reduce that pressure. Below is the sequence a first course of care typically follows — described in general terms, not as a prescription for any individual.
Assessment and imaging
A chiropractor starts with your history and goals, then examines posture and range of motion. Many chiropractic offices, including Macomb Township Chiropractic, take a full set of chiropractic x-rays so alignment can be measured rather than guessed at.
Spinal adjustments
Adjustments are the core tool of the profession. The intent is to correct misalignment and reduce irritation of the nerves involved — which is associated with less inflammation, less muscle tension, and improved nerve and blood flow.
Postural rehabilitation
Adjustments address alignment; postural rehabilitation works on why the spine drifted out of alignment in the first place. This is the emphasis of Chiropractic Biophysics, the technique Dr. McNeil is certified in, which uses objective measurement of posture and the spine’s natural curves.
Education and daily habits
Because little traumas happen outside the office, chiropractors spend real time on ergonomics, movement, sleep position, and the specific daily activities that put a given spine in an unnatural position.
Methods and equipment used in the office
Different chiropractic offices work with different tools. For reference, these are the methods and equipment available at Dr. McNeil’s office in Macomb. Which of them applies to any individual is a question for a consultation, not a website.
Manual spinal adjustments
Hands-on adjustments aimed at correcting specific misalignments in the spine.
Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP)
A measurement-based technique focused on posture and the spine’s natural curves. It has the most peer-reviewed research published of any chiropractic technique.
Postural rehabilitation
Corrective work intended to address the structural reasons a spine loses proper alignment.
Computerized disc decompression
A decompression table used in the Kennedy Disc Decompression Therapy technique, associated with bulging, herniated, and degenerated discs.
Postural traction
Non-manipulative traction, one of the components of Chiropractic Biophysics.
Pulsating adjustment instrument
An instrument-assisted method for delivering adjustments without manual force.
Electrical stimulation
A therapy commonly used in chiropractic and physical rehabilitation settings for muscle tension.
Massage beds, heat and ice
Supporting therapies used alongside adjustments during a visit.
Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C.
Dr. Chris McNeil is a Doctor of Chiropractic and the owner of Macomb Township Chiropractic at 48866 Hayes Road in Macomb, Michigan. He specializes in chiropractic rehabilitation and disc decompression therapy, and he was the first chiropractor in Michigan to be certified in the Chiropractic Biophysics technique of posture and spinal rehabilitation.
He grew up in Metro Detroit in a medical family — both his parents worked as registered nurses. After a severe auto accident in high school left him with multiple fractures, extensive surgeries, and a long course of physical therapy, he enrolled at Wayne State University intending to become a physical therapist. A high school friend attending Life University introduced him to chiropractic care, and he changed his major.
Dr. McNeil graduated from Life University in Marietta, Georgia in 2002 and has spent the two decades since practicing in Macomb County. For ongoing posts from the practice, visit the Macomb Township Chiropractic Facebook page.
Credentials & Certifications
- Doctor of Chiropractic — Life University, Marietta, Georgia (2002)
- First chiropractor in Michigan certified in Chiropractic Biophysics (CBP)
- Certified in Kennedy Disc Decompression Therapy
- Specializes in chiropractic rehabilitation and disc decompression
- Undergraduate studies at Wayne State University, Detroit
- 20+ years practicing in Macomb County, Michigan
No promises, no guarantees
Chiropractic care is one option among several for people dealing with back pain, and it is not right for everyone. No honest chiropractor can promise a specific result, a timeline, or a cure — and this site does not. Back pain has many possible sources, some of which need medical evaluation rather than chiropractic care.
What chiropractic care offers is a natural, non-surgical, drug-free approach focused on spinal alignment and nerve pressure. Whether it is a reasonable fit for your situation is a question for a conversation with a licensed provider who can actually examine you. Severe, sudden, or worsening back pain — and back pain with fever, weakness, or loss of bladder or bowel control — warrants prompt medical attention.
A back pain resource for Macomb County, Michigan
Macomb Township Chiropractic is located at 48866 Hayes Road in Macomb, Michigan 48044, and serves people throughout Macomb Township, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Clinton Township, Warren, Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, and the surrounding Metro Detroit area.
This site exists as an educational reference on back pain and chiropractic care for the Macomb County community. For questions about your own back, call the office at (586) 566-2273 — a consultation is a conversation, not a commitment.
Related resources
Low back pain in Macomb County Causes, symptoms, and how chiropractic care approaches the lumbar spine. Mid back pain in Macomb County The thoracic spine, rib cage, and the patterns people describe in the middle of the back. Complete back pain reference guide A full question-and-answer reference on back pain and chiropractic care. Spinal stenosis in Macomb County An educational resource on spinal narrowing and nerve pressure. Numbness and tingling in Macomb County An educational resource on numbness, tingling, and nerve-related symptoms.Common questions about back pain and chiropractic care
What causes most back pain?
Chiropractors typically describe two categories. Major traumas are single events — a car accident, a slip and fall, a sports injury. Little traumas are repetitive daily activities that hold the spine in an unnatural position over time: sitting at a computer, looking down at a phone, standing for long hours, bending, twisting, and lifting. Muscle strain, disc bulges and degeneration, scoliosis, arthritis, and osteoporosis in the spine are also commonly associated with back pain.
How does chiropractic care address back pain?
The chiropractic reasoning is that misaligned vertebrae can place pressure on the nerves exiting the spine, and that pressure is associated with pain, irritation, and inflammation. Adjustments aim to correct the misalignment and reduce that nerve pressure, which is associated with decreased inflammation and muscle tension and improved nerve and blood flow. Chiropractic care is drug-free and non-surgical. It is not a guaranteed outcome for anyone, and whether it suits your situation depends on an actual examination.
What is the difference between low back pain and mid back pain?
Low back pain involves the lumbar spine — five large vertebrae that carry most of the body’s load, which is part of why the low back is such a common site of complaint. Mid back pain involves the thoracic spine, twelve vertebrae anchored to the rib cage, which is more stable but where people often describe stiffness, tightness, and a band-like pressure. Both are covered in more detail on the low back pain page and the mid back pain page.
Will chiropractic care cure my back pain?
No chiropractor can honestly promise a cure, a specific result, or a timeline, and this site makes no such claim. Back pain has many possible sources and people respond differently. Chiropractic care is one natural, non-surgical option worth understanding; the only way to know whether it fits your situation is to be examined by a licensed provider.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor in Michigan?
No. In Michigan you can contact a chiropractic office directly to schedule a consultation without a referral from a medical doctor. To reach Macomb Township Chiropractic, call (586) 566-2273.
When should back pain be seen by a medical doctor instead?
Back pain that is severe, sudden, or steadily worsening should be evaluated medically, as should back pain accompanied by fever, significant weakness, unexplained weight loss, or any loss of bladder or bowel control. Back pain following a major accident also warrants medical evaluation. A chiropractor is one type of provider, not a substitute for emergency or medical care.
What is Chiropractic Biophysics?
Chiropractic Biophysics, or CBP, is a chiropractic technique built around objective measurement of posture and the spine’s natural curves, combining manual adjustments with postural rehabilitation. It has more peer-reviewed research published in medical and chiropractic journals than any other chiropractic technique. Dr. Chris McNeil was the first chiropractor in Michigan certified in it.
Where is Dr. McNeil’s office located?
Macomb Township Chiropractic is at 48866 Hayes Road, Macomb, Michigan 48044, serving Macomb Township and the surrounding Macomb County communities. The phone number is (586) 566-2273.
Have a question about your back?
If you would like to talk with a local chiropractor about back pain and whether a natural, non-surgical approach makes sense for your situation, Dr. McNeil takes calls from the Macomb County community. No referral needed.
Call (586) 566-2273Dr. Chris McNeil, D.C.
Macomb, MI 48044
Tue 2:30–3:30, 5–6
Wed 10–12, 3–6
Thu closed
Fri 10–12, 3–6
Sat–Sun closed