Chris A.
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Postural Back Pain
SYMPTOM
Postural Back Pain
SITUATION
Chris, a 31-year-old Uber driver in Manhattan, came to KIRO with persistent back pain that had developed over the past year. He figured this pain was likely due to the long hours spent sitting behind the wheel, navigating traffic, and leaning forward to make his way through busy city streets. These consistent long days without breaks to stand, stretch, or shift position caused his shoulders and mid-back to slump forward, making it uncomfortable to sit or get out of the car.
He tried seat cushions for back support, stretching in parking lots, and over-the-counter pain medication, but the relief was temporary and didn’t address the underlying tension. Hoping to relieve discomfort, improve posture, and prevent back pain from interfering with work, Chris decided to seek chiropractic care at KIRO.
TREATMENT
Our doctors began Chris’s care with a comprehensive examination of his full spine. They weren’t surprised to find forward-leaning posture, tight paraspinal muscles through the mid- and lower-back, and limited thoracic and lumbar mobility, consistent with someone spending long periods driving. When our doctors performed his initial nervous system scan, the results confirmed elevated tension along the mid-back, matching Chris’s reported discomfort and the patterns observed during his exam.
Based on these findings, our doctors recommended starting with 3 months of care to correct the underlying issue causing Chris’s pain. The plan was designed to focus on restoring spinal mobility, reducing muscular tension, and strengthening the postural support system. Initial care began with full=spine chiropractic adjustments twice a week, along with some added low back muscular and ligamentous decompression with KIRO’s flexion distraction tables to encourage mobility.
After his first month of care, our doctors reassessed progress through repeated movement assessments like mid and low back range of motion and a follow-up nervous system scan. The results showed improved mobility, reduced mid-back tension, and a better aligned posture while seated. With these objective improvements, visits were reduced to once per week, and care shifted toward progressive strengthening and long-term postural stabilization. Additional exercises were incorporated to build endurance in the mid-back and core, ensuring Chris could maintain upright posture throughout long driving shifts. Our doctors recommended a few key exercises like thoracic foam rolling, dead bug variations, and diaphragmatic breathing to ensure proper support.
By the end of the three-month care plan, nervous system scans demonstrated normal tension throughout the thoracic and lumbar spine, and Chris exhibited improved posture, spinal mobility, and muscular endurance. Our doctors recommended he continue preventative care as needed since his job demands staying in poor posture positions for long periods of time.
RESULT
Chris experienced significant relief from postural back pain during his initial three months at KIRO. He was able to successfully complete shifts for Uber without his usual stiffness, get in and out of his car comfortably, and maintain better posture throughout his daily life. Chris maintains his results with continued work on his core stability, maintenance chiropractic care, and has even taken up lifting weights at his local Planet Fitness.
DURATION
4 months
