January 2026 Healthy News from Executive Chiropractic of Iowa: Safe, Beneficial Help for Low Back Pain due to Disc Herniation
SAFETY OF CHIROPRACTIC SPINAL MANIPULATION FOR LUMBAR DISC ISSUES
Great news if you're suffering from back pain: chiropractic spinal manipulation, like Cox® Technic that we use here at Executive Chiropractic of Iowa, proves itself to have a favorable safety profile for patients with lumbar disc herniation, lumbar spinal stenosis, and radiculopathy, with remarkably low rates of serious adverse events. A retrospective cohort study that looked at over 168,000 adults with low back pain treated at US academic health centers revealed no cases of cauda equina syndrome following chiropractic spinal manipulation, yielding an upper 95% confidence interval of 2.2 cases per 100,000 patients. (1) This is positive! More precisely, 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 linked with physical therapist-led exercise (0.44 per 100,000). (2) These findings denote that spinal manipulation, when delivered by trained chiropractors, has minimal risk even in vulnerable populations with significant spinal pathology. The evidence suggests that worry about complications from chiropractic care for these conditions may be overemphasized, supporting its consideration as a conservative treatment option within appropriate clinical guidelines and patient selection criteria. (1,2) As a chiropractic patient at our West Des Moines clinic, you are in well-trained, well-skilled hands to manage your condition safely and effectively!
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 New Exercise Approach for Chronic Disc Pain Relief
If you're struggling with chronic disc pain, a fresh exercise approach called dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) might be the answer you've been looking for to add to your spinal 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, better mobility, and stronger core muscles. What makes DNS different is that it doesn't just strengthen muscles; it teaches your body to move properly again by restoring natural coordination and core stability, potentially giving lasting relief from chronic back pain. (3) Let’s talk 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!
Schedule your West Des Moines chiropractic appointment with Executive Chiropractic of Iowa now!