Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek healthcare, but the source of the problem is rarely limited to the spine. The hips and pelvis serve as the foundation for your entire upper body; they play a major role in how you move, sit, and stand. Because these areas are so closely linked, a restriction in the hip often forces the lower back to overcompensate, leading to a cycle of pain and dysfunction across both regions.
How chiropractic care helps
Chiropractic care focuses on restoring proper movement and reducing nerve irritation in the spine, pelvis, and surrounding musculature. Rather than treating these areas in isolation, we view the spine and hips as a single functional unit. By correcting the root mechanical cause, chiropractic care aims to move you beyond temporary relief toward long-term stability and improved function.
Most common lower back & hip issues
Lumbar sprain or strain
This occurs when the muscles (strains) or ligaments (sprains) in the lower back are overstretched or torn, usually from a sudden twist, heavy lift, or fall.
- Symptoms: Sharp pain, muscle spasms, and localized swelling or tenderness.
Sciatica (pain down the legs)
Sciatica is a complex symptom rather than a single diagnosis. While people refer to any leg pain as “sciatica,” it can be caused by multiple factors including disc bulges, degenerative changes, Piriformis syndrome (a tight glute muscle), joint dysfunction, or inflammatory referral.
- Symptoms: Shooting pain, tingling, or “pins and needles” traveling from the back into the thigh or calf.
Joint dysfunction
This involves the facet joints or other spinal structures becoming restricted or “locked.” When these joints don’t move correctly, they can become irritated and cause the surrounding muscles to seize up.
- Symptoms: Focal pain in the spine that feels sharp with movement and dull or “stiff” at rest.
Degenerative changes (arthritis)
Commonly known as osteoarthritis or “wear and tear,” this involves the gradual thinning of spinal discs and the development of bone spurs over time.
- Symptoms: Chronic stiffness—especially in the morning—and a noticeable loss of flexibility in the lower back.
Hip & pelvic conditions (SIJ dysfunction)
The Sacroiliac (SI) joint connects the base of your spine to your pelvis. Dysfunction here is a leading cause of lower back pain, occurring when the joint becomes too stiff or moves too much.
- Symptoms: Pain in the upper buttock or groin that often feels worse when walking or climbing stairs.
Mechanical low back pain (overuse/postural pain)
This is pain caused by the way we move (or don’t move). Prolonged sitting, poor ergonomics, and repetitive “micro-traumas” overload the muscles and joints of the lower back.
- Symptoms: A persistent, heavy ache in the lower back that is often linked to long workdays or poor posture.
Did you know? – “Sciatica” isn’t always a nerve problem.
While many people use the term “sciatica” to describe any pain traveling down the leg, it doesn’t always involve the sciatic nerve itself. Leg pain can be caused by a variety of issues, including referred pain from restricted spinal joints, “locked” pelvic joints, or deep muscle tension in the glutes. Identifying the specific source is the first step toward effective relief.