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Top 10 Conditions Chiropractors Treat (with Facts & Figures)

Chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between the spine, nervous system, and musculoskeletal health. For many common conditions, guidelines recommend conservative, non-drug options first—things like spinal manipulation, mobilization, exercise therapy, and patient education. Below are the ten diagnoses most frequently seen in chiropractic practices, what the evidence says, and how care is typically structured.

1) Low Back Pain (LBP)

Why it matters: Low back pain is the single largest cause of years lived with disability worldwide. Global estimates suggest 551–619 million people are affected, and the burden is still rising. The LancetWorld Health OrganizationPMC

What works: The American College of Physicians (ACP) guideline recommends starting with non-pharmacologic care—including spinal manipulation—before medications for acute, subacute, and chronic LBP. Systematic reviews find spinal manipulative therapy provides benefits comparable to other recommended therapies for chronic LBP and improves pain/function for acute LBP. ACP JournalsAmerican College of PhysiciansBMJJAMA Network

In practice: Expect an active plan mixing adjustments/manipulation, graded mobility and core work, brief self-management coaching, and return-to-movement guidance. Imaging is rarely needed early unless “red flags” are present (fever, trauma, progressive neurologic loss, cancer history), aligning with guideline-based care. AAFP

2) Neck Pain

Why it matters: One-year prevalence estimates for neck pain commonly range from about 10%–21%, and it’s a frequent driver of work limitation. Clinical guidelines support manual therapy combined with exercise. SpringerLink

What works: The 2017 JOSPT clinical practice guideline recommends cervical and thoracic manipulation/mobilization plus exercise to improve pain and function in mechanical neck pain. An earlier randomized trial in Annals of Internal Medicine reported that spinal manipulation outperformed medication for acute/subacute neck pain at 12 weeks. SpringerLinkOsteoarthritis Action Alliance

In practice: Care plans typically include cervical/thoracic adjustments, traction or mobilization as needed, deep neck flexor training, scapular motor control, ergonomic tweaks, and home drills.

3) Headaches (Cervicogenic & Tension-Type; Migraine as adjunct)

Why it matters: Headache disorders affect roughly half the global population annually; about 14% report migraine. Cervicogenic headache arises from neck joints and soft tissue referral—often responding to targeted manual care. PubMed

What works: Reviews show manual therapy (including spinal manipulation/mobilization) can reduce pain and disability in cervicogenic headache and can help some tension-type headache presentations; migraine evidence supports a multimodal approach (lifestyle, triggers, exercise), with manual therapy as an adjunct. New England Journal of MedicineThe Lancet

In practice: Expect cervical/thoracic manipulation/mobilization, postural and endurance training, trigger management (sleep, stress, hydration), and graded aerobic activity.

4) Sciatica (Lumbar Radiculopathy)

Why it matters: Sciatica has a lifetime incidence reported between ~10% and 40%, most often due to lumbar disc herniation. Symptoms can be severe but many cases improve without surgery. NCBIBMJ

What works: Conservative care emphasizing activity, directional preference exercises, neural mobilization, and spinal manipulation can aid symptoms. Surgical vs. non-surgical trials suggest surgery can speed relief for select patients, but long-term differences narrow, so shared decision-making is key. BMJ

In practice: Plans commonly use flexion-intolerant or extension-biased progressions, manipulation or mobilization where appropriate, anti-inflammatory lifestyle advice, and watchful monitoring for red flags (e.g., progressive motor loss).

5) Whiplash-Associated Disorders (WAD)

Why it matters: After motor-vehicle collisions, neck pain, headaches, and dizziness are common. Persistent symptoms create significant personal and economic costs. PubMed

What works: Contemporary guidelines (e.g., OPTIMa/Canadian and other international recommendations) support early education, reassurance, manual therapy as indicated, and graded exercise rather than prolonged rest or collars. PubMed

In practice: Short, frequent visits initially, gentle mobilization/manipulation as tolerated, sensorimotor retraining, and progressive activity exposure.

6) Shoulder Pain (Rotator Cuff–Related Shoulder Pain/Subacromial Pain)

Why it matters: Shoulder pain is among the most common musculoskeletal complaints. Recent guidance emphasizes active rehab first and generally advises against routine subacromial decompression for tendinopathy. PubMed+1

What works: Clinical practice guidelines recommend a structured exercise program (scapular and rotator cuff loading) with manual therapy as an adjunct for short-term pain and mobility gains. PubMed

In practice: Expect thoracic and shoulder joint mobilization/manipulation as appropriate, progressive loading, posture/ergonomics education, and return-to-work or sport planning.

7) Knee Osteoarthritis (OA)

Why it matters: About 32.5 million U.S. adults live with OA; knee OA drives pain, disability, and healthcare use. PMC

What works: In a randomized trial in NEJM, patients receiving physical therapy (manual therapy + exercise + education) had significantly better pain and function at 1 year than those receiving intra-articular glucocorticoid injections; PT was also cost-effective in follow-up analyses. New England Journal of MedicineJAMA Network

In practice: Joint mobilization, soft-tissue work, progressive strengthening, weight-management/lifestyle coaching, gait retraining, and activity modification.

8) Temporomandibular Disorders (TMD/TMJ)

Why it matters: NIDCR estimates 5%–10% of U.S. adults have TMDs, with a higher prevalence in women. TMDs are the second most common musculoskeletal pain condition after chronic low back pain. NIDCR

What works: For musculoskeletal-dominant TMD, conservative, reversible care is the standard: education, self-management, targeted jaw/neck exercises, and manual therapy to the cervical spine and masticatory muscles, often in coordination with dental providers. AAFP

In practice: Cervical and upper-thoracic mobilization/manipulation as indicated, soft-tissue techniques, relaxation/para-functional habit coaching, and graded mouth-opening exercises.

9) Plantar Fasciitis (Plantar Heel Pain)

Why it matters: Lifetime risk approaches 10%, and it’s a top cause of heel pain in adults. BioMed Central

What works: The 2023 APTA/JOSPT clinical practice guideline recommends manual therapy (foot/ankle and proximal), calf/plantar fascia stretching, taping, and foot orthoses; therapeutic laser may be considered as an adjunct in some cases. APTA

In practice: Manual therapy to foot/ankle/calf, progressive loading of the plantar fascia, mobility work, footwear/orthotic guidance, and activity modification.

10) Pregnancy-Related Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain

Why it matters: Roughly 1 in 5 pregnant people experience pelvic girdle pain, and many report back pain during pregnancy. Pharmacologic options are limited, so safe, conservative care is important. NCBI

What works: Evidence syntheses suggest that individualized exercise programs reduce pain and disability; manual therapy as part of a multimodal plan (education + exercise + support belts as needed) can help selected patients. Oxford AcademicCochrane

In practice: Gentle mobilization/manipulation where appropriate, pelvic floor and lumbopelvic stabilization drills, movement-confidence coaching, sleep and support-belt strategies, and coordinated care with OB providers.

What a Typical Chiropractic Care Plan Looks Like

  • Assessment: History, red-flag screening, neuro/orthopedic exams, functional testing; imaging only when indicated. AAFP

  • Active, not passive: Emphasis on restoring mobility and strength, self-management, and graded exposure to movement; manual therapy accelerates short-term change and supports exercise. ACP JournalsBMJ

  • Short trial, measurable goals: Reassess every 2–4 weeks. Continue if function, pain, or quality-of-life metrics are trending positively; adjust the plan if not.

Fast Facts—At a Glance

FAQs

Is spinal manipulation safe?
When performed by trained, licensed clinicians, serious adverse events are rare. Minor, temporary soreness or stiffness can occur after treatment. As with any procedure, your provider screens for risks and tailors care to you. (See ACP guidance and large systematic reviews.) American College of PhysiciansBMJ

How many visits will I need?
Most acute episodes respond within a few weeks. Chronic, recurrent problems often benefit from a short, goal-oriented trial of care paired with home exercise and periodic check-ins.

Do I need X-rays or an MRI?
Not usually. Imaging is reserved for red flags, trauma, or when results would change management. AAFP

Can I combine chiropractic with physical therapy or medical care?
Yes. Collaborative, multimodal care is common and supported by guidelines for many conditions.

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