Back Pain Treatment in Winnipeg

Low back pain is rarely just a back problem. Stiff hips, a core that doesn't brace on time, or an old ankle injury changing how you load one side can all leave the lumbar spine absorbing forces it was never meant to. At Boreal Spine and Sport we assess the whole kinetic chain, not just the spot that hurts, so the plan addresses why the pain started and not only where you feel it.

How we assess it

Every low-back assessment starts with a movement-based exam, the Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), to find which links in the chain are stiff, which are unstable, and which patterns reproduce your pain. We screen the hips, pelvis, and thoracic spine alongside the lumbar segments, because dysfunction above or below the painful area is often the real driver.

How we treat it

The evidence points the same direction: stay active, load progressively, and use hands-on care to unlock movement so you can load. Current international guidelines recommend exercise and manual therapy, including spinal manipulation, over rest, imaging, or passive modalities for most non-specific low back pain [1][2][3]. A typical Boreal plan pairs spinal manipulative therapy and soft-tissue work to restore motion with a graded exercise progression that rebuilds capacity in the hips, core, and spine. There are no bad exercises, only too much too soon [4]: loading is the treatment, and our job is to dose it so tissue adapts instead of flaring.

What to expect

Most non-specific low back pain improves meaningfully within a few weeks of active care. You will leave the first visit understanding your diagnosis, the plan, and the home exercises that do the heavy lifting between appointments.

When to seek urgent care

Numbness in the groin or saddle area, loss of bladder or bowel control, progressive leg weakness, or pain after significant trauma warrant urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a chiropractic visit.

Learn more

Explore our chiropractic services, browse the exercise library, meet the team, or find our clinic. Have questions about your back pain? Book an assessment when it is convenient for you.

References

  1. Qaseem A, et al. Noninvasive treatments for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2017;166(7):514-530.
  2. Foster NE, et al. Prevention and treatment of low back pain: evidence, challenges, and promising directions. Lancet. 2018;391(10137):2368-2383.
  3. Rubinstein SM, et al. Benefits and harms of spinal manipulative therapy for the treatment of chronic low back pain: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2019;364:l689.
  4. Gabbett TJ. The training-injury prevention paradox: should athletes be training smarter and harder? Br J Sports Med. 2016;50(5):273-280.