By Dr. Tonya Westerbeke, DC | Back To Health Chiropractic [Link to author bio page]
The Patient Who Finally Asked the Right Question
She had already done the rounds.
Primary care. An MRI. A referral to orthopedics. A round of muscle relaxers that made her feel like a stranger inside her own body. A physical therapist who gave her stretches she was too tired to do. A pain management appointment that ended with a prescription she didn't want to fill.
All of it for a low back that still hurt every time she picked up her toddler, every time she drove to work, every time she rolled over in bed at 2 a.m.
When she finally walked into our office, she said something I hear all the time: "I don't really even know what chiropractic is. I just know I've tried everything else, and nothing is working."
If you've ever said something close to that — out loud or silently to yourself at 3 a.m. — this post is for you. Because the truth is that most people in West Michigan have never had chiropractic care explained to them in a way that actually answers the question they're asking.
Here's what you'll learn:
- What chiropractic care actually is (and what it isn't)
- How it works on the nervous system — not just the bones
- What the current research says about effectiveness and safety
- When chiropractic is the right choice, and when it isn't
- What your first visit at Back To Health Chiropractic looks like
Updated for 2026, written by a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic, and grounded in peer-reviewed research — not marketing.
Let's dig in.
What Is Chiropractic Care? The Short Answer
Chiropractic care is a licensed, drug-free healthcare discipline focused on the relationship between the spine, the nervous system, and the body's ability to function and heal itself.
A Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) is trained — through a four-year graduate-level doctoral program, national board exams, and state licensure — to evaluate the spine and nervous system, identify areas of dysfunction, and use their hands (and sometimes instruments) to restore proper movement and function.
The word itself comes from two Greek roots: cheir (hand) and praktikos (done by). Chiropractic literally means "done by hand."
But that's the textbook definition. Here's the part most patients need to hear:
Chiropractic is not about "cracking backs." It's not a massage. It's not alternative medicine operating on the fringe. It is an evidence-informed, nervous-system-centered approach to musculoskeletal care — and in 2026, it is one of the most well-researched non-pharmacological treatments available for spinal pain.
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 619 million people globally live with low back pain, making it the single leading cause of disability worldwide. Chiropractic exists because bodies were not designed to live with that level of dysfunction — and because there are ways to address it that don't start with a pill or end with a surgery.
7 Things You Need to Know About Chiropractic Care (Updated for 2026)
1. Chiropractic Is Centered on the Nervous System — Not Just the Spine
Here's where a lot of patients get it wrong, and honestly, where a lot of providers fail to explain it clearly.
Your spine protects your spinal cord. Your spinal cord is the central information highway between your brain and every single organ, muscle, and tissue in your body. When a vertebra — say, a cervical segment like C5 or a lumbar segment like L4 — loses its normal range of motion or alignment, it can create mechanical stress on the surrounding joints, muscles, and, critically, the nerves that exit between those vertebrae.
That's called a vertebral subluxation or, in more modern clinical language, a spinal joint dysfunction. When that dysfunction goes unaddressed, it can contribute to:
- Local pain and muscle guarding
- Referred pain patterns (think: a lumbar issue causing hip, glute, or leg pain)
- Altered proprioception — your brain's sense of where your body is in space
- Changes in how your nervous system regulates pain, inflammation, and muscle tone
Chiropractors are trained to locate these areas of dysfunction and correct them through a precise, controlled force called an adjustment . The goal isn't just to "pop" the joint — it's to restore normal motion, decrease neurological irritation, and let the body do what bodies are designed to do: heal.
2. A Chiropractic Adjustment Is a Skilled, Specific, Controlled Movement
Let's demystify the adjustment itself.
An adjustment — technically called a high-velocity, low-amplitude (HVLA) thrust — is a carefully calibrated force applied to a specific joint in a specific direction. The doctor uses their hands, a table-assisted technique, or sometimes a small instrument (like an Activator) to deliver it.
The audible "pop" some people hear is called a cavitation. It's caused by gas bubbles being released from the synovial fluid inside the joint as the joint surfaces briefly separate. It is not bones cracking, bones grinding, or anything being forced out of place. Plenty of effective adjustments make no sound at all.
At Back To Health Chiropractic, our team uses a variety of techniques depending on the patient — because a 78-year-old grandmother with osteoporosis needs a very different approach than a 28-year-old CrossFit athlete, and both deserve care that's appropriate for their body.
3. Chiropractic Treats More Than Just Back Pain
When patients think "chiropractor," most imagine someone with back pain lying face-down on a table. And yes, low back pain is the number one reason people come see us. But chiropractic care is used to evaluate and treat a much wider range of issues, including:
- Neck pain and cervicogenic headaches (headaches that originate from dysfunction in the upper cervical spine — especially C1 and C2)
- Migraines and tension-type headaches
- Sciatica (pain, numbness, or weakness radiating down the leg due to nerve root irritation, often at L4-L5 or L5-S1)
- Disc-related conditions including bulges, herniations, and degenerative disc disease
- Thoracic outlet syndrome and rib dysfunction
- Postural issues — especially in desk workers, nursing moms, and teenagers with backpacks
- Pregnancy-related pelvic and low back pain
- Sports injuries and recovery support
- TMJ dysfunction in coordination with dental care
- Vertigo and dizziness of cervical origin
Our team at Back To Health has extensive experience working with families, athletes, expecting mothers, seniors, and wellness-focused individuals across Zeeland, Portage, and Muskegon. We focus on finding the underlying cause, not just masking the symptom.
4. The Research Is Stronger Than Most People Realize (Updated for 2026)
Chiropractic care is not a fringe practice. It is recognized and recommended by major health authorities, and its evidence base has grown substantially over the past decade.
What the research shows:
Qaseem et al. (2017). "Noninvasive Treatments for Acute, Subacute, and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Clinical Practice Guideline From the American College of Physicians." Annals of Internal Medicine. Finding: The ACP recommends spinal manipulation as a first-line, non-pharmacological treatment option for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain — before prescription medications.
Whedon et al. (2020). "Impact of Chiropractic Care on Use of Prescription Opioids in Patients with Spinal Pain." Pain Medicine, 21(12), 3567–3573. Finding: Patients with spinal pain who received chiropractic care had approximately half the risk of filling an opioid prescription compared to those who did not. The risk reduction was even greater when patients saw a chiropractor within 30 days of their diagnosis.
Whedon et al. (2022). "Association between chiropractic care and use of prescription opioids among older Medicare beneficiaries with spinal pain." Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. Finding: Among older Medicare beneficiaries with spinal pain, the adjusted risk of filling an opioid prescription within 365 days of initial visit was 56% lower among recipients of chiropractic care compared to non-recipients.
[CITATION NEEDED: Systematic review on spinal manipulative therapy vs. physical therapy for chronic low back pain — Bella verify on PubMed before publishing. Looking for a 2023–2025 review comparing outcomes on disability scores at 8–12 weeks.]
This matters because the conversation around pain care has changed. With opioid use still a national public health issue, the push for non-pharmacological options is not just a chiropractic talking point — it's a national priority.
5. Chiropractic Care Is Safe When Delivered by a Licensed Professional
Safety is almost always the first concern patients bring up, and it deserves a straight answer.
Chiropractic adjustments, when performed by a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic after a proper history and examination, have a strong safety profile. Serious adverse events are rare. The most common side effect is temporary muscle soreness — similar to what you'd feel after a workout — which usually resolves within 24 to 48 hours.
That said, chiropractic is not appropriate for every patient or every condition. A good chiropractor will:
- Take a full health history
- Perform a physical and neurological examination
- Order or review imaging when clinically indicated
- Screen for red-flag conditions (more on that below)
- Refer out to an MD, PT, or specialist when that's the right move
At Back To Health, we believe the best care is collaborative. If your issue isn't a chiropractic issue, we'll tell you — and we'll help you find the right provider.
6. What Your First Visit at Back To Health Chiropractic Actually Looks Like
Patients frequently tell us they avoided chiropractic for years because they didn't know what to expect. Let's fix that.
Step 1: The Consultation. You'll sit down with one of our doctors and talk. Really talk. About what's going on, how long it's been going on, what's made it better or worse, and what you've already tried. We want the whole story.
Step 2: The Examination. This includes orthopedic tests, neurological screening (reflexes, sensation, muscle strength), range of motion, posture assessment, and palpation of the spine and related structures.
Step 3: Imaging (When Indicated). If your history or exam suggests we need to see what's going on structurally, we may take X-rays or refer for an MRI. We don't image everyone — only when it's clinically appropriate.
Step 4: Report of Findings. We sit down with you and walk through what we found, what we think is going on, and what we recommend. You get a clear plan — not guesswork.
Step 5: Care. If you choose to move forward, care may include spinal adjustments, soft tissue work, corrective exercises, lifestyle recommendations, and nutritional support. Every plan is individualized.
7. Chiropractic Is Part of a Bigger Picture
Here's the honest truth nobody told that mom with the low back pain: no single provider, modality, or pill is going to fix everything.
Healing is rarely linear. Bodies are complex. What works for one person doesn't work for another. The most successful outcomes we see at Back To Health come from patients who view chiropractic as one powerful piece of a larger wellness picture — one that includes movement, sleep, nutrition, stress management, and community.
West Michigan is full of resources to support that. Whether it's the trails at Hemlock Crossing in West Olive, a strength class at a local gym in Zeeland, clean food from a farmers market in Portage, or a mental health provider in Muskegon — a real wellness plan has layers.
Chiropractic is one of those layers. A foundational one, for many people. But never the only one.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Chiropractic care is safe and effective for a wide range of musculoskeletal issues — but there are situations where you need to go to the emergency room or a medical doctor first , not your chiropractor.
Seek immediate medical care if you experience any of the following:
- Sudden loss of bowel or bladder control
- Progressive weakness or numbness in the legs
- Saddle anesthesia (numbness in the groin or inner thighs)
- Severe, unrelenting back pain that wakes you from sleep and doesn't change with position
- Back pain following significant trauma (car accident, fall from height)
- Fever, unexplained weight loss, or night sweats with back pain
- Sudden, severe headache described as "the worst of your life"
- Weakness, slurred speech, facial drooping, or vision changes
These can be signs of serious conditions — including cauda equina syndrome, vertebral fracture, infection, malignancy, or stroke — that require emergency evaluation. A licensed chiropractor will screen for these conditions during your initial visit, but if they come on suddenly, call 911 or go to the ER.
Trust your gut on this one. When in doubt, get checked out.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chiropractic Care
Is chiropractic care safe?
Yes, when delivered by a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic following a thorough history and exam. Serious adverse events are rare. The most common side effect is temporary muscle soreness, similar to post-workout soreness, which typically resolves within a day or two. Chiropractors are trained to screen for conditions that would make adjustment inappropriate and to refer out when needed.
Does a chiropractic adjustment hurt?
For most people, no. An adjustment is a quick, controlled movement that many patients describe as an immediate sense of release. You may feel some mild soreness afterward — again, similar to the soreness you'd feel after starting a new exercise routine. If you're nervous or have a condition like osteoporosis, your chiropractor will use gentler techniques (like instrument-assisted or drop-table adjustments) that are effective without the traditional "pop."
How many chiropractic visits will I need?
It depends entirely on your case. Acute issues — a muscle strain, a recent injury — may resolve in a handful of visits. Chronic or complex cases often take longer, with care frequency decreasing over time as the body stabilizes. At Back To Health, we give you an honest, individualized care plan after your report of findings — not a cookie-cutter package.
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor?
In Michigan, no. Doctors of Chiropractic are primary-contact providers, meaning you can schedule directly without a referral. Most major insurance plans cover chiropractic care, though benefits vary. Our team will verify your coverage before your first visit.
Can kids and pregnant women get chiropractic care?
Yes. Chiropractic care for children and during pregnancy uses very gentle, modified techniques. Our team at Back To Health has extensive experience with pediatric and prenatal patients. Many expecting mothers find chiropractic care helpful for managing the pelvic and low back discomfort that often comes with pregnancy.
The Bottom Line on Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care is a licensed, evidence-informed, drug-free approach to spine and nervous system health. It's not magic. It's not a replacement for every other form of medicine. And it's not just for back pain.
It is, however, one of the most effective non-pharmacological tools available for a huge range of musculoskeletal issues — and for a lot of patients in West Michigan, it's the missing piece that finally moves them out of the cycle of pills, tests, and frustration.
If you've been tired of symptom-chasing and you're ready to figure out what's actually going on in your body, we'd love to meet you.
Schedule online at bthclinics.com/locations — or call the office nearest you:
Back To Health Zeeland: 616.546.3500
Back To Health Portage: 269.345.2273
Back To Health Muskegon: 231.830.1111
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Free Download: Your First Chiropractic Visit Checklist
Not sure what to bring, what to wear, or what questions to ask on your first visit? Download our free guide:
" What to Expect at Your First Chiropractic Appointment: A Checklist for New Patients." It walks you through exactly what to prepare so you walk in feeling confident, not confused. [Opt-in: name + email]
Dr. Tonya Westerbeke, DC, is the founder of Back To Health Chiropractic, with locations in Zeeland, Portage, and Muskegon, Michigan. She and the Back To Health team are known for evidence-informed, whole-person care for families, athletes, and wellness-focused individuals across West Michigan.
Dr. Tonya Westerbeke
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