January 2026 Healthy News from Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers: Safe, Beneficial Help for Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation
SAFETY OF CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR LUMBAR DISC ISSUES
Good news for back pain sufferers: chiropractic spinal manipulation, like Cox® Technic that we use here at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers, proves itself to have a beneficial safety profile for patients with lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy, with really low rates of serious concerning side-effects. A retrospective cohort study that looked at over 168,000 adults with low back pain treated at US academic health centers revealed no cases of cauda equina syndrome as a result of chiropractic spinal manipulation, yielding an upper 95% confidence interval of 2.2 cases per 100,000 patients. (1) This is positive! More specifically, among patients with lumbar disc herniation, stenosis, or radiculopathy, the risk of cauda equina syndrome after chiropractic manipulation was estimated at 0.88 per 100,000 patients, which was statistically comparable to the risk associated with physical therapist-led exercise (0.44 per 100,000). (2) These results indicate that spinal manipulation, when performed by trained chiropractors, carries minimal risk even in vulnerable populations with significant spinal pathology. The evidence indicates that concerns about complications from chiropractic care for these conditions may be overdone, supporting its consideration as a conservative treatment option within appropriate clinical guidelines and patient selection criteria. (1,2) As a chiropractic patient at our Baton Rouge clinic, you are in well-trained, well-experienced hands to manage your condition safely and effectively!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the gentle, safe, effective treatment of a disc herniation utilizing the protocols of The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management.
CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: A Fresh Exercise Approach for Chronic Disc Pain Relief
If you're struggling with chronic disc pain, a fresh exercise approach called dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) might be the answer you've been searching for to add to your spine’s exercise routine. This method retrains your body's normal movement patterns—similar to how babies learn to steady their spine as they learn to walk. A recent study reported that patients doing DNS exercises experienced significant pain relief, better mobility, and stronger core muscles. What makes DNS different is that it doesn't just strengthen muscles; it teaches your body to move properly again by restoring natural coordination and core stability, potentially providing lasting relief from chronic back pain. (3) Let’s talk at your next chiropractic visit about the appropriateness of this exercise for you and your spine before you try this.
We wish you a happy 2026 and are so grateful for your making us a part of your spine’s healthcare team!