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Every move you make, whether bending, twisting, lifting, or simply standing tall, depends on a strong, healthy spine. From the base of your skull to your lower back, your spine is made up of vertebrae connected by soft tissues like ligaments and discs that absorb the impact of daily life.
But when your spine isn’t functioning properly, it can affect your mobility, comfort, and overall well-being. That’s why caring for your spine isn’t just about avoiding pain. It’s about keeping you active, strong, and doing the things you love. Schedule a consultation today with one of our expert sports chiropractic physicians at Hughes Health and take your first step toward relief!
About the Spine
The Foundation of Your Movement
Your spine does more than just keep you upright. It’s the foundation of your body’s movement and strength. Divided into three sections, the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back), and lumbar (lower back), your spinal column is designed to provide both stability and flexibility.
At the core of this design are interlocking vertebrae that allow you to bend, twist, and move freely. Between them, cartilage discs act as shock absorbers, protecting you from sudden jolts and impact.
Each disc has a tough outer shell and a soft, jelly-like center, working like built-in cushions to keep your spine moving smoothly and pain-free. When your spine is strong and healthy, so are you! There's no better feeling than freedom to move, work, and live without limits.
Common Causes of Spinal Pain
Understanding Why It Happens
If you’re experiencing neck or spine pain, you’re not alone. When pain strikes your neck or back, it can be frustrating and difficult to pinpoint the cause on your own. That’s why getting expert guidance is key. Pain can stem from overuse, injuries, or even underlying conditions with each requiring the right approach to treatment.
As sports chiropractors in Westerville, OH, we see it all the time. In fact, 20-70% of U.S. adults will deal with neck or spine pain at some point, and women are 1.5 times more likely to experience it. What’s more concerning? Up to 30% of cases become chronic, making it even more important to address the pain early.
Acute vs. Chronic Neck & Spinal Pain: What’s the Difference?
• Acute Pain happens suddenly, often due to an injury, car accident, or fall. The sooner you address it, the faster your recovery.
• Chronic Pain lasts more than 3 months and can be harder to treat because your body starts adapting to the discomfort. That’s why early intervention is key!
1) For many, repetitive movements or poor posture, like long hours at a desk or frequent heavy lifting, can strain the muscles and ligaments, leading to discomfort.
2) Inside the joints, conditions like arthritis can cause stiffness and limit movement, while spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal canal) can create pain and nerve-related symptoms.
3) Sometimes, pain comes from deeper issues, like herniated discs, fractures, or even non-musculoskeletal conditions that require medical attention.
4) Whether it’s a sprain, strain, or something more serious, identifying the root cause is the first step toward relief.
The good news? There are many treatment options available, and you don’t have to navigate the pain alone. Our expert sports chiropractors can help you find the right solution so you can get back to moving, working, and living without limits.
Common Conditions of the Neck & Spine
Your spine and joints work together to support your movement, strength, and stability. But when something goes wrong, whether from injury, inflammation, or wear and tear, it can lead to pain and mobility issues. Here’s a breakdown of some common conditions and what they mean for you.
Herniated Disc: When Cushioning Breaks Down
A herniated disc (also called a bulging or slipped disc) happens when the soft, shock-absorbing discs between your vertebrae become damaged. This condition most often affects the lower back or neck and can lead to pain, numbness, or weakness if it presses on a nerve.
Sciatica: Pain That Travels
Sciatica isn’t a true diagnosis. It’s a symptom of nerve compression in the lower back. It causes sharp, radiating pain that starts in the lower back and moves down the buttocks, legs, and even feet. The sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the body, gets irritated, often due to a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or other underlying conditions.
Scoliosis: A Curved Spine
Scoliosis is a spinal condition that causes an S-shaped or C-shaped curve in the spine. While it’s often diagnosed in adolescents, it can also develop in adulthood due to degeneration or imbalances. Some people experience no symptoms, while others notice uneven shoulders, hips, or posture changes.
Arthritis in the Spine: Wear and Tear Over Time
Like other joints in the body, the facet joints in the spine can wear down over time due to arthritis. When cartilage breaks down, it leads to inflammation, pain, and stiffness. In severe cases, bone spurs can form and press on nearby nerves, worsening discomfort and mobility issues.
Cervical Radiculopathy: When Neck Pain Travels
Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve in the neck (cervical spine) becomes compressed, leading to pain, numbness, or weakness that radiates into the shoulders, arms, or hands. It’s often caused by a herniated disc, degenerative changes, or arthritis.
Degenerative Disc Disease: Aging and the Spine
Over time, the discs in your spine lose hydration and shrink, which can lead to pain, stiffness, and reduced flexibility. This process, known as degenerative disc disease, is a natural part of aging but can also contribute to arthritis, herniated discs, or spinal stenosis.
Facet Joint Syndrome: Stiffness and Nerve Pain
Your facet joints help your spine move smoothly, but they can develop arthritis over time. When facet joints lose fluid and cartilage, they become inflamed, leading to pain, stiffness, and even nerve compression, a condition known as facet joint syndrome.
Sprains & Strains: Overuse and Injury
Sprains occur when ligaments (which connect bones) are stretched or torn.
Strains happen when muscles or tendons (which attach muscles to bones) are overstretched or torn.
These injuries can result from sudden movements, falls, or repetitive stress and often cause pain, swelling, and reduced flexibility. While minor cases heal with rest and care, severe injuries may require treatment.
Sacroiliitis & SI Joint Dysfunction: Inflammation at the Base of Your Spine to Your Pelvis
The sacroiliac (SI) joints connect the spine to the pelvis, playing a crucial role in stability and movement. When these joints become inflamed, a condition known as sacroiliitis, it can cause pain in the lower back, buttocks, and even legs.
Treatments for the Neck & Spine
Find Relief Once & For All
Before we are able to treat your neck or back pain at Hughes Health, we must perform a detailed consultation and examination. We start with a one-on-one consultation where our doctors truly listen. We want to understand how your neck or back pain is affecting your life, whether it's keeping you from working, exercising, or simply enjoying time with family. This conversation helps us gather key details that point us toward the root cause of your pain.
In the examination, we assess your movement, muscles, ligaments, and joints using chiropractic, orthopedic, and functional movement testing. Pain is your body’s way of signaling that something isn’t working right. Our job is to find out why. Once we pinpoint the cause, we create a personalized treatment plan to restore function and get you back to living pain-free without unnecessary medications or surgery.
Sports Chiropractic: More Than Just Adjustments
At Hughes Health, we believe true recovery goes beyond spinal adjustments and manipulation. While we are chiropractors, we don’t just focus on your joints. We take a whole-body approach through Sports Rehabilitation to target the muscles and tissues that support you. Your body is more than just bones and joints, and your care should reflect that. By addressing movement, strength, and stability, we help you heal faster, stay active, and prevent future injuries so you can get back to doing what you love without limitations.
PiezoWave Focused Shockwave Therapy: Break Through Stubborn Pain
For chronic neck and back pain, PiezoWave Shockwave Therapy uses focused and targeted sound waves to:
Break up scar tissue and adhesions
Increase blood flow for faster healing
Stimulate natural tissue repair—without surgery or downtime
Deep Tissue Class IV Laser Therapy: Heal from the Inside Out
Our Class IV Deep Tissue Laser uses light therapy to reduce pain and inflammation at the cellular level. This advanced treatment:
Boosts your body’s natural healing process
Reduces pain and inflammation in just 5-10 minutes
Feels like a gentle, warming sensation—no discomfort, just relief
Spinal Decompression: Relieve Pressure, Restore Function
If you’re struggling with a herniated or bulging disc, Spinal Decompression Therapy provides a gentle, sustained stretch to:
Reduce pressure on your spine and nerves
Guide discs back into proper position
Work alongside chiropractic care and corrective exercises to help you heal and prevent future injuries
Soft Tissue Manual Therapy: Digging Deep
At Hughes Health, we specialize in a wide variety of techniques to address the soft tissue causes of the pain.
Dry Needling: This targets tight or dysfunctional muscles by inserting small acupuncture needles into specific muscles and their trigger points to release tension and promote muscle recovery.
Fire Cupping: Using heated cups to create a suction effect on the skin helps increase blood flow to relieve muscle tightness and reduce pain. This warming effect has been shown to be more effective than the dry suction counterpart.
Graston Technique: Using specialized tools, we gently break up adhesions in your muscles and tendons, improving mobility and encouraging proper tissue healing.
Myofascial Release: Active Release Technique (ART), also known as manual trigger point release, takes your muscles through dynamic movement to release tension and alleviate pain at its source.
Sport Rehab and Custom Exercises: Build Strength, Prevent Injury
Pain relief is just the first step. Staying pain-free while moving and grooving is the goal. Our Custom Therapeutic Exercise Programs help you:
Strengthen muscles and improve mobility
Fix imbalances that cause recurring pain
Get back to doing what you love with confidence
The Right Care, Every Time
At Hughes Health, your recovery comes first. While we specialize in advanced chiropractic care and personalized treatment plans, we also know when you need more. If our exam reveals that additional care is necessary, we’ll connect you with our trusted network of physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and pain specialists. No guesswork, no wasted time—just the right care for the best results.
Your health is our priority. Let’s get you on the path to recovery today!
Why Choose
Hughes Health?
We take pride in providing evidence-based non-invasive approaches to healthcare. Our goal is to identify the root cause of your discomfort and pain to then provide effective and personalized treatment plans to help you achieve long-lasting results. If you're experiencing any of the conditions listed above, don't hesitate to contact us.