Back Pain Assessment and Management

What is Back Pain?

Back pain can occur in different regions of the spine. The spine is divided into three main sections: the cervical spine (neck), the thoracic spine (mid-back), and the lumbar spine (lower back). While this page focuses on back pain generally, lower back pain affecting the lumbar spine is the most common presentation.

The lumbar spine bears much of the body's weight and is heavily involved in movement, which is why lower back pain is so prevalent. Back pain can develop suddenly following an injury or heavy lift, or it can develop gradually over weeks or months as muscle strain accumulates, posture worsens, or degenerative changes occur in the spinal discs and joints.

Patients describe back pain in different ways — some experience a sharp, localised pain in a specific area, whilst others describe a generalised aching that is worse at the end of the day or after certain activities. Some patients notice that pain improves with rest, while others find that movement actually helps. All of these presentations are assessed carefully by Dr David Chapman (Chiropractor).

Common Causes of Back Pain in the Caboolture Community

Centrepoint Chiropractic Clinic serves a diverse community with many occupations and activities. Back pain commonly arises from:

• Prolonged sitting at a desk or computer. Many Caboolture South residents work in office environments or work from home, and prolonged static postures contribute to lower back strain and muscle weakness.
• Extended driving. The Caboolture area is a commuter region, with many residents travelling to Brisbane and other employment centres. Driving for long periods, particularly in heavy traffic, places significant stress on the lower back.
• Manual labour and trades work. The Morayfield and Caboolture region has a significant population of tradespeople, warehouse workers and labourers. Repetitive lifting, bending and carrying contribute to back strain.
• Lifting and moving heavy objects. Whether at work or at home, improper lifting technique or lifting loads that are too heavy can injure the back acutely.
• Gardening. Many Centrepoint patients enjoy gardening, and repetitive bending, digging and raking can strain the back.
• Sport and recreation. Golf, gym training, cricket, football and other sports place demands on the spine. Sudden twisting movements or overuse injuries can cause back pain.
• Age-related changes. As we age, the spinal discs lose water content and flexibility, and joint surfaces may develop degenerative changes. These changes can contribute to back pain and stiffness, particularly in the morning.

Techniques That May Be Used for Back Pain

Dr David Chapman (Chiropractor) uses a range of evidence-based techniques, each suited to different presentations:

• Diversified Spinal Adjusting. This is the most traditional chiropractic technique, using specific hand placement and controlled thrusts to restore movement to restricted joints.
• Activator Method. A low-force, instrument-assisted technique particularly valuable where high-force adjusting is not appropriate.
• Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT). A gentle technique using specific blocks and positioning to address dysfunction in the pelvis and lower back.
• Trigenics. A neuromuscular technique that engages muscle contraction while joints are gently moved, helping to restore muscle balance and joint function.
• Extremity Adjusting. If dysfunction in the pelvis, hips, knees or ankles is contributing to your back pain, these joints may be assessed and adjusted.

To learn more about these techniques, visit our Techniques page.

Who May Benefit from Chiropractic Assessment for Back Pain?

Back pain can affect anyone, at any age. Centrepoint Chiropractic Clinic welcomes patients across the full age spectrum:

• Working adults experiencing back pain from office work, driving, or manual labour.
• Tradespeople and labourers whose occupations place repetitive stress on the spine.
• Sports-active individuals recovering from sports-related back injury or managing pain from training.
• Sedentary workers whose desk-based roles have contributed to back pain and postural dysfunction.
• Older adults managing back pain related to age-related changes and reduced flexibility.
• People recovering from back injury who wish to restore function and prevent recurrence.

Dr David Chapman (Chiropractor) assesses each patient individually. Your age, occupation, fitness level and health history all inform the approach to your care.

Back Pain and Your Health Fund

Many Australians have private health insurance that includes coverage for chiropractic care. Centrepoint Chiropractic Clinic is recognised by most major health funds including Medibank. We are also approved for DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs) care and accept Medicare GPCCMP (General Practice Care Management Plan) referrals with no gap fee.

If you have DVA entitlements or a GPCCMP referral, please mention this when booking. To learn more, visit our DVA page or Medicare GPCCMP page.

Start Your Back Pain Assessment Today

If you are experiencing back pain and would like to discuss whether chiropractic assessment and care may help, the team at Centrepoint Chiropractic Clinic is here to help. Dr David Chapman (Chiropractor) takes time to understand your concerns and discusses all care options with you before beginning any treatment.

To book your appointment, call Judy on 07 5495 1763. Consultations are available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm. You can also book online through our contact page.