Why the Area That Hurts Isn't the Source: Back Hurting-
Written by Doug - 'Doug's Daily Doses'
When you walk into a chiropractic clinic and say, "My back hurts," your first instinct is to point directly to the spot where you feel the ache. It makes sense: if your knee is scraped, that’s where the problem is. But when it comes to the complex machinery of your spine and nervous system, the "pain site" is often just the messenger, not the culprit.
The Body is a Kinetic Chain
Think of your body like a suspension bridge or a complex chain. If one link is weak or rusty, the links next to it has to work twice as hard to keep the bridge standing. Eventually, those overworked links start to fray and hurt.
The Kinetic Chain: Your body works as a unified system.
If you have a "stuck" joint in your mid-back or a tilted pelvis, your lower back might be doing the extra work to keep you upright. You feel the pain in your lower back, but the cause is higher up or lower down. This is why we look at your whole body, not just the part that is shouting at you today.
If you have a "stuck" joint in your mid-back or a tilted pelvis, your lower back might be doing the extra work to keep you upright. You feel the pain in your lower back, but the cause is higher up or lower down. This is why we look at your whole body, not just the part that is shouting at you today.
The "Check Engine" Light Problem
Pain is your body’s "check engine" light. By the time that light comes on, the underlying issue has usually been brewing for a long time.
Rarely does back pain happen because of one single movement (like picking up a pencil). Instead, it’s the culmination of years of lifestyle habits:
Hours spent slumping at a desk or looking down at a phone ("Tech Neck").
Old injuries that were never fully rehabilitated.
Repetitive movements from work or hobbies.
Poor sleeping positions.
Daily habits, like poor desk posture, create long-term strain that eventually leads to pain.
Referred Pain: Why Your Leg Hurts When Your Back is the Problem
Sometimes, the pain travels far from its source. This is called referred pain. Because your nerves all originate from your spinal cord, a "pinched" or irritated nerve in your spine can send pain signals all the way down to your foot (sciatica) or into your fingertips.
Referred Pain: Where you feel it isn't always where it starts.
What This Means for Your Recovery
If we only treated the spot that hurt, we would be like a mechanic who just puts a piece of tape over the "check engine" light. The light goes away for a bit, but the engine is still failing.
Our goal is to find the source. By improving your posture, restoring movement to "stuck" joints, and helping you adjust those daily lifestyle habits, we don't just stop the pain—we stop it from coming back.
Ready to find the source of your pain? Don't just wait for the light to turn off. Let’s get your body back in tune.
Doug’s posture tips..
Most people set up their home office around their computer, but ergonomically, you need to build the setup around your body.
The goal of ergonomics is to maintain the natural curves of your spine (the "S" shape) so your muscles don't have to work overtime just to keep you upright. When you slump or lean forward, your muscles fatigue, joints lock up, and that familiar back and neck ache sets in.
Here is how to tune your workspace from the ground up:
The 90-Degree Rule
To keep your spine neutral, aim for a series of 90-degree angles throughout your body.
Feet: Flat on the floor (or a footrest if you are short). Dangling feet pull on your lower back.
Knees: Bent at 90 degrees, slightly lower than or level with your hips. Leave a small gap between the back of your knees and the chair seat.
Elbows: Bent at 90 to 100 degrees, resting close to your body. Your desk or armrests should support your forearms so your shoulders can drop and relax.
Protect Your Neck: Monitor Height & Distance
Your head weighs roughly 10-12 pounds. For every inch you lean your head forward, the effective weight on your neck muscles doubles.
Eye Level: The top third of your computer screen should be dead level with your eyes. If you use a laptop, put it on a stand (or a stack of thick books) and use an external keyboard and mouse.
Distance: Position the screen about an arm's length away. If you have to lean forward to read, increase the font size instead of moving your head.
Lumbar Support
Your lower back has a natural inward curve. If your chair is flat or sags, you will inevitably slouch, which puts massive pressure on your lumbar discs.
If your chair doesn't have built-in lumbar support, roll up a small hand towel or use a small cushion and place it right at the beltline to keep that natural forward curve supported.
The "Micro-Break" Habit
The best posture is your next posture. Even with a perfect 2,000-pound ergonomic setup, the human body isn't designed to stay still for hours. Static muscle contraction reduces blood flow and causes fatigue.
The 20/20/20 Rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to rest your eye muscles and change your neck position.
Movement Breaks: Every 50 to 60 minutes, stand up, gently roll your shoulders backward, and squeeze your shoulder blades together to reverse the "slump."
Small adjustment, big impact: Try raising your monitor today. It's the single fastest way to take the literal weight off your neck.
Doug is available for discovery calls if you want to ask him any questions - he also hosts health talks for the community come along for the free talks!
Click here to book for all the opportunities that the tuning room host free of charge x
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