January 2026 Healthy News from Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn: Safe, Beneficial Help for Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation
SAFETY OF CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR LUMBAR DISC CONDITIONS
Great news if you're suffering from back pain: chiropractic spinal manipulation, like Cox® Technic that we use here at Poulin Chiropractic of Herndon and Ashburn, proves itself to have a beneficial safety profile for patients with lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy, with remarkably low rates of serious concerning side-effects. A retrospective cohort study that analyzed over 168,000 adults with low back pain treated at US academic health centers revealed 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 positive! More specifically, 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 findings denote that spinal manipulation, when delivered by trained chiropractors, carries minimal risk even in vulnerable populations with significant spinal pathology. The evidence indicates that concern about complications from chiropractic care for these conditions may be overstated, favoring its consideration as a conservative treatment selection within appropriate clinical guidelines and patient selection criteria. (1,2) As a chiropractic patient at our Ashburn and Herndon clinic, you are in well-trained, well-skilled hands to handle your condition safely and successfully!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Brandon Skiles on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson about the gentle, safe, effective treatment 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 fresh exercise approach called dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) may well be the answer you've been looking for to add to your spine’s exercise routine. This method retrains your body's natural movement patterns—similar to how babies learn to stabilize their spine before walking. A recent study reported that patients doing DNS exercises got significant pain relief, more mobility, and stronger core muscles. What makes DNS different is that it does not just strengthen muscles; it teaches your body to move correctly again by restoring natural coordination and core stability, potentially giving lasting relief from chronic back pain. (3) Let’s chat at your next chiropractic visit about the appropriateness of this exercise for you and your spine before you try this.
We wish you a happy 2026 and are so grateful for your including us as a member of your spine’s healthcare team!