Back Pain
 

Restore Comfortable Movement and Get Back to the Activities You Enjoy
 

Back pain can affect nearly every part of daily life—from sitting, sleeping, and working to lifting, skiing, cycling, golfing, and exercising. Symptoms may develop suddenly after an injury or gradually from repetitive strain, reduced mobility, prolonged positioning, or changes in how the body manages load.
 

At Performance and Recovery Clinic, we look beyond the painful area to evaluate how your spine, hips, muscles, and movement patterns may be contributing to the problem. Your care plan is then adapted to your symptoms, goals, activity demands, and response to treatment.
 

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Common Types of Back Pain

Back pain can occur in different regions and may present differently from one person to another.
 

Low Back Pain

Low back pain may involve the lumbar joints, discs, muscles, connective tissues, or surrounding nerves. Symptoms may remain localized or extend into the hips, buttocks, or legs.

Common aggravating activities include:

• Sitting or driving

• Bending and lifting

• Standing for long periods

• Running, skiing, cycling, or golf

• Squatting or strength training

• Rolling over or getting out of bed
   

Mid-Back Pain

Mid-back or thoracic pain may be associated with joint stiffness, muscular tension, posture, repetitive rotation, breathing mechanics, or irritation around the ribs.

It may be noticeable with prolonged sitting, reaching, twisting, golfing, lifting, or taking a deep breath.
 

Upper Back Pain

Upper back pain is commonly felt around the shoulder blades and the junction between the neck and upper thoracic spine. It may be influenced by prolonged computer work, muscle tension, shoulder mechanics, restricted thoracic movement, or previous injury.

Because pain in one area can be influenced by another, we assess the back as part of the larger movement system.
 

Common Symptoms

Back pain may include:

• Aching, stiffness, or muscle tightness

• Sharp pain with certain movements

• Reduced spinal mobility

• Pain with sitting, standing, bending, or lifting

• Muscle spasms

• Pain extending into the hip, buttock, or leg

• Numbness or tingling

• Reduced tolerance for work, exercise, or sport

Back pain can result from many different causes, so an appropriate assessment is important before deciding on treatment.
 

How We Evaluate Back Pain

Your evaluation may include:

• Health history and symptom review

• Spinal and hip mobility assessment

• Orthopedic and neurological testing

• Strength and muscle activation testing

• Posture and movement analysis

• Squat, hinge, lifting, or gait assessment

• Review of available imaging or medical records

Our goal is to identify the factors contributing to your symptoms, rule out concerns that may require referral, and determine which treatment approach is most appropriate.
 

Our Treatment Approach

Depending on your findings, back pain care may include a combination of the following:
 

Chiropractic Adjustments and Joint Mobilization

Adjustments or mobilization may be used to improve comfortable movement through the spine, pelvis, hips, and ribs. Treatment style and intensity are adapted to your symptoms and preferences.
 

Manual Therapy

Soft tissue techniques may help reduce protective muscle tension, improve mobility, and address irritated tissues surrounding the painful area.
 

Mechanical Traction

Mechanical traction may be considered for selected cases involving disc-related pain, nerve irritation, or spinal compression. It is used only when examination findings suggest it is appropriate.
 

Exercise Rehabilitation

Recovery often requires more than passive treatment. Progressive exercises help restore strength, coordination, mobility, and confidence.

Rehabilitation may include:

• Spinal and hip mobility exercises

• Core and trunk coordination

• Hip and gluteal strengthening

• Progressive loading

• Lifting and movement retraining

• Sport-specific progressions

• Personalized home exercises
   

Focused Shockwave Therapy

Focused shockwave therapy may be considered when persistent soft tissue or tendon-related problems around the hips, pelvis, or surrounding musculature are contributing to symptoms.

Shockwave is not used directly over every painful spinal condition and is recommended only when clinically appropriate.
 

Supportive Recovery Modalities

Laser therapy, PEMF, compression, and other recovery tools may be incorporated when appropriate. These services support the treatment plan but do not replace active rehabilitation and movement progression.
 

The Performance and Recovery Method

01 — Assess

We evaluate spinal mobility, neurological function, strength, movement quality, pain behavior, and the activities that aggravate your symptoms.

02 — Treat

We use appropriate chiropractic care, manual therapy, traction, and supportive treatments to reduce irritation and improve comfortable movement.

03 — Strengthen

Progressive rehabilitation helps rebuild strength, stability, coordination, and tolerance for daily activity and sport.

04 — Maintain

Home exercises, movement education, digital recovery resources, and periodic care help you maintain progress and better manage future flare-ups.
 

Returning to Work, Sport, and Daily Life

Our goal is not simply to provide temporary relief. We want to help you regain the capacity and confidence needed for the activities that matter to you.
 

Depending on your goals, care may focus on helping you:

• Sit or drive more comfortably

• Sleep and change positions with less difficulty

• Bend, lift, and carry

• Return to work

• Resume strength training

• Ski or snowboard

• Run, hike, or cycle

• Golf without recurring irritation

• Manage future flare-ups independently

Progression is based on your function, symptom response, strength, and confidence.
 

When Additional Evaluation May Be Needed

Seek prompt medical evaluation if back pain is accompanied by:

• New loss of bowel or bladder control

• Numbness around the groin or saddle region

• Rapidly progressing weakness

• Severe symptoms after significant trauma

• Fever or unexplained weight loss

• A history of cancer with new unexplained pain

• Inability to walk or bear weight

• Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms

We may recommend imaging or referral when the examination suggests that additional evaluation would affect your care plan.
 

Start With a Comprehensive Assessment

Back pain can arise from several different tissues, movement patterns, and activity demands. A thorough assessment helps determine what may be contributing to your symptoms and which combination of chiropractic care, rehabilitation, recovery services, or referral is appropriate.
 

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Performance and Recovery Clinic
100 Elk Run Drive, Unit 220
Basalt, Colorado 81621

Serving Basalt, Carbondale, Aspen, Snowmass Village, Glenwood Springs, and the Roaring Fork Valley.