What it feels like
Lower back stiffness. Sharp pain with bending. Pain radiating to the hips. Morning stiffness. Pain that worsens with sitting.
What’s actually causing it
Here's what I see every week: someone comes in with back pain, and they've been told it's a disc issue, or their core is weak, or they need to stretch more. Sometimes that's true. But more often, the back is just the place where the compensation pattern finally shows up. Your back is doing extra work because something else shut down — a glute that isn't firing, a hip flexor that's locked short, a core stabilizer that checked out after an old injury. I use muscle testing to find what's not doing its job, fix the actual problem, and your back stops screaming because it doesn't have to compensate anymore.
How I treat it
I test the muscles around the affected area individually, find which ones aren’t firing, and reset the connection using gentle techniques. No cracking, no popping.
How long it takes
Most patients feel a difference after one session. Chronic cases typically resolve in 4–6 sessions.
“I had been suffering for years and was unsuccessfully treated by others. In one visit, Dr. Ladd was able to find and address the real issue.”
Patient review · Back Pain patient
Techniques I use for back pain
Common questions
Why does my back pain keep coming back?
Because the weak muscle causing it hasn’t been found and reset. I treat the cause, not the symptom.
Will you crack my back?
Never. My techniques are gentle, precise, and comfortable. No high-velocity adjustments.
Ready to find real relief?
Book online in 30 seconds. No referral needed.