January 2026 Healthy News from Satterwhite Chiropractic: Safe, Beneficial Help for Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation

SAFETY OF CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR LUMBAR DISC CONDITIONS

Good news for back pain sufferers: chiropractic spinal manipulation, like Cox® Technic that we use here at Satterwhite Chiropractic, demonstrates a beneficial safety profile for patients with lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy, with remarkably low rates of serious adverse events. A retrospective cohort study that looked at over 168,000 adults with low back pain treated at US academic health centers found 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 good! More precisely, 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 denote 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, favoring its consideration as a conservative treatment option within appropriate clinical guidelines and patient selection criteria. (1,2) As a chiropractic patient at our Oxford 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 care of a disc herniation following 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 new exercise approach called dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) may well be the answer you've been looking for to add to your spinal 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 found that patients doing DNS exercises had significant pain relief, improved mobility, and stronger core muscles. What makes DNS different is that it doesn't just strengthen muscles; it teaches your body to move correctly again by reinstating natural coordination and core stability, potentially giving 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 add it to your exercise routine.

We wish you a happy 2026 and are so grateful for your including us as a member of your spine’s healthcare team!

Schedule your Oxford chiropractic appointment with Satterwhite Chiropractic today!