should i see a chiropractor for a pulled back muscle?
By Chantal Joseph, Chiropractor
If you've pulled a muscle in your back, or at least think you have, you may be wondering where to turn for help. A chiropractor might not be your first thought, but seeing one could be the best next step in both diagnosing the issue and starting the right treatment plan. Chiropractors specialize in assessing, diagnosing, and treating musculoskeletal conditions which includes pulled muscles, joint problems, nerve irritation, and more using a hands-on, non-invasive, and drug-free approach.
A Pulled Muscle... or Something Else?
When you feel pain in your back, it’s easy to assume it’s a muscle strain. But pain in the back can stem from a number of underlying causes, not just pulled muscles. It could be coming from irritated nerves, joint dysfunction, a disc issue, or another structure entirely. That’s where a chiropractor’s expertise really comes in.
As chiropractors, we start with a thorough assessment to determine the root cause of your pain. We don’t just treat symptoms, we aim to understand the why behind the pain. With a full evaluation, we can help determine if what you're experiencing is truly a pulled muscle or if there's something more going on. If it turns out that your issue requires further imaging or medical intervention beyond chiropractic care, we can guide you to the appropriate healthcare provider.
Chiropractors are trained to treat not just the spine and joints, but also the muscles, soft tissues, and nerves that support everyday movement. If your back pain is musculoskeletal in origin, whether from a strained muscle, irritated joint, or another soft tissue issue, it likely falls within our scope of practice to treat effectively.
Once we’ve identified the problem, we develop a customized care plan to address it. This will most likely include both passive care (hands-on treatment) and active care (exercise-based rehabilitation), depending on your specific needs and preferences.
Passive care might involve:
Soft tissue therapy
Joint mobilizations or adjustments
Acupuncture or dry needling
Other manual techniques aimed at reducing pain and improving mobility
Active care focuses on:
Exercises to strengthen muscles and improve posture
Stretching and mobility routines
Education on movement patterns and ergonomics to prevent re-injury
By combining both passive and active approaches, we help not only relieve your current discomfort but also empower you to take control of your recovery and reduce the likelihood of similar injuries in the future.
Guidance Beyond the Pain
One of the most important aspects of chiropractic care is patient education. If it turns out you do have a pulled back muscle, we’ll discuss how and why it might have happened, whether it was from overuse, poor lifting technique, muscle imbalances, or something else. Understanding the cause is key to preventing it from happening again.
From there, we work with you to safely return to your normal daily activities, whether that’s playing sports, lifting your kids, or sitting comfortably at your desk. And once you're moving better and feeling stronger, we can shift the focus to injury prevention by increasing your strength, mobility, and movement awareness based on your lifestyle and goals.
When in Doubt, Get Checked Out
Back pain can be frustrating, confusing, and limiting, but you don’t have to go through it alone or guess your way through recovery. If you're experiencing pain and think it might be a pulled back muscle, seeing a chiropractor is a smart place to start. With the right assessment and treatment plan, you’ll hopefully feel better and gain valuable insight into how to stay feeling good long-term.
Whether you're dealing with a recent injury or a lingering ache, chiropractic care offers a comprehensive, evidence-based, and patient-centered approach to help you get back to doing what you love.
