Conditions Commonly Managed by Chiropractors

1. Spine-Related Disorders

• Acute and chronic low back pain (mechanical, nonspecific)

• Cervical spine pain (acute, subacute, chronic)

• Thoracic spine pain

• Radiculopathy (cervical, thoracic, lumbar)

• Sciatica due to lumbar disc herniation or foraminal encroachment

• Degenerative disc disease (symptom management)

• Facet joint dysfunction/syndrome

• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

• Spinal stenosis (lumbar, cervical – conservative management)

• Spondylosis and spondylolisthesis (non-surgical management)

• Whiplash-associated disorders (WAD I–III)

• Scoliosis (conservative/functional management, not curative)

2. Headache and Craniofacial Disorders

• Cervicogenic headache

• Tension-type headache (episodic or chronic)

• Migraine (as part of multimodal management)

• Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (musculoskeletal contribution)

• Occipital neuralgia (mechanical/postural components)

3. Extremity and Peripheral Joint Conditions

• Shoulder disorders:

  • Rotator cuff tendinopathy/tear (conservative management)

  • Subacromial impingement syndrome

  • Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)

  • Glenohumeral joint dysfunction

  • AC joint sprain/degeneration

• Elbow and forearm disorders:

  • Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)

  • Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)

  • Radial tunnel syndrome (conservative management)

• Wrist and hand disorders:

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (mild-to-moderate, conservative care)

  • De Quervain’s tenosynovitis

  • Repetitive strain injuries

• Hip and pelvic disorders:

  • Femoroacetabular impingement (conservative management)

  • Hip osteoarthritis (symptom management)

  • Greater trochanteric pain syndrome

  • Piriformis syndrome

• Knee disorders:

  • Patellofemoral pain syndrome

  • Meniscal sprain/degeneration (non-surgical cases)

  • Knee osteoarthritis

  • Ligamentous sprains (grade I–II, conservative care)

• Ankle and foot disorders:

  • Lateral ankle sprain

  • Achilles tendinopathy

  • Plantar fasciitis

  • Functional foot/ankle instability

4. Soft Tissue & Myofascial Disorders

• Muscle strain and overuse syndromes

• Ligamentous sprains

• Myofascial pain syndrome

• Trigger point syndromes

• Tendinopathies (various sites)

5. Posture, Ergonomic & Occupational Conditions

• Postural syndrome (“upper crossed” and “lower crossed” patterns)

• Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs)

• Cumulative trauma/repetitive strain injuries

• Mechanical pain due to poor ergonomics (desk work, lifting injuries, etc.)

6. Chronic Pain and Multisystem Disorders (Conservative Management)

• Chronic musculoskeletal pain (spinal and extremity)

• Fibromyalgia (adjunctive, symptom-focused management)

• Osteoarthritis (spine and extremity joints)

• Rheumatologic disorders (supportive MSK care, not primary treatment)

7. Special Populations

• Pregnancy-related conditions:

  • Pelvic girdle pain

  • Symphysis pubis dysfunction

  • Low back pain in pregnancy

• Pediatrics/adolescents:

  • Postural issues (scoliosis, Scheuermann’s disease support)

  • Growing pains (differential diagnosis critical)

  • Non-specific musculoskeletal pain

• Geriatrics:

  • Degenerative joint and spine conditions

  • Balance and fall-prevention (via MSK optimization)

8. Sports Medicine & Performance

• Acute sports injuries (sprains, strains, contusions – conservative care)

• Overuse injuries (tendinopathy, stress reactions)

• Return-to-play management (conservative rehabilitation)

• Biomechanical assessment and correction

• Injury prevention strategies (mobility, joint stability, neuromuscular training)

9. Adjunctive/Supportive Care

• Post-surgical musculoskeletal rehabilitation (when appropriate)

• Functional mobility improvement

• Maintenance/wellness care for recurrent musculoskeletal issues

📚 Reference Frameworks commonly cited in chiropractic scope:

• World Health Organization (WHO) – Guidelines on Basic Training and Safety in Chiropractic

• European Spine Journal – evidence reviews on spinal manipulation for back/neck pain

• Cochrane Reviews on spinal manipulation/mobilization

• Clinical guidelines from NICE (UK), ACP (US), and CCGI (Canada)