Back Pain Treatment in North Raleigh

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Most low back pain improves with conservative care. At Askeland Chiropractic, Dr. Askeland and Dr. Lintz combine hands-on care, including spinal manipulation when appropriate, with manual therapy, rehab and education. We focus on finding what's driving your pain, then build a plan to help you recover and reduce the chance it comes back. Call (919) 841-0081 to request a consult.

Back pain is the most commonly reported pain site among U.S. adults. In 2019, 39.0% of adults reported back pain in the previous three months, and women (40.6%) reported it more often than men (37.2%), according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

• Desk workers: stiffness and pain from long hours of sitting
• Moms and caregivers: pain from lifting, carrying and repetitive daily positions
• Athletes and weekend warriors: pain from training, lifting, running or recreational sports

• Guidelines: The American College of Physicians recommends starting with nonpharmacologic treatment for chronic low back pain. Exercise and spinal manipulation are both among the options.
• Chiropractic care: In a randomized trial of U.S. service members, adding chiropractic care to usual medical care lowered pain by about 1.1 points and disability by about 2.2 points at six weeks.
• Spinal manipulation: A review of 47 trials found modest improvements in pain and function for chronic low back pain, similar to other recommended conservative treatments.
• Exercise: A Cochrane review of 249 trials (24,486 participants) found exercise improves pain and function in chronic low back pain.

The takeaway: hands-on care can modestly reduce pain and help you move more comfortably, and exercise builds lasting results. That's why we use both.

1. History and exam. We start with your history and a hands-on examination to find your pain generator and work toward a proper diagnosis.
2. Imaging only if needed. We order X-rays only when they're clinically warranted, following American College of Radiology guidelines. See our X-rays page.
3. Treatment starts day one. If we find no red flags, treatment begins at your first visit and is customized to you and your condition.
4. A plan you can follow. You leave with clear goals and a home program, and we re-check your progress regularly.

• A thorough exam to find what's driving your pain
• Manual therapies, including spinal manipulation, joint mobilization, soft-tissue techniques and cupping, as appropriate 
• Radial shockwave therapy 
• Cold laser therapy
• Rehab: guided exercise and a home program built around your goals, such as lifting, sitting, sleeping or returning to sport
• Regular re-checks, and referral to another provider if you aren't improving

Seek urgent medical care for numbness in the groin or inner thighs, new loss of bladder or bowel control, fever with spinal pain, progressive leg weakness, or back pain after significant trauma.

Will chiropractic care help my back pain?
For many people with nonspecific low back pain, yes, modestly. Results vary, and we reassess regularly rather than continuing care without progress.

Is spinal manipulation safe?
Serious adverse events were uncommon in the trials reviewed, though safety reporting varied between studies. We screen every patient first.

Should I rest?
Usually not for long. Staying active within your comfort level generally supports recovery.

Chiropractor or physical therapist?
Either is a reasonable option. Research supports combining hands-on (passive) care with active care, such as exercise, and no single conservative treatment has consistently outperformed the others. The most important factor is finding a provider who listens and tailors the plan to you. If we believe a physical therapist is a better fit for your situation, we'll refer you to trusted PTs in the area.

Do you take my insurance?
We accept most major insurance plans. See which ones on our Insurance Accepted page.

Request your consult: (919) 841-0081  · Request Your Consult

Last updated: October 2026

Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, Data Brief No. 415 (2021) · Qaseem et al., Annals of Internal Medicine 2017 · Goertz et al., JAMA Network Open 2018 · Rubinstein et al., BMJ 2019 · Hayden et al., Cochrane 2021