Case-series · July 29, 2026

Chiropractic Care for Lower Back Pain: A Retrospective Case Series from Scottsville, Kentucky

Abstract

Background: Lower back pain is a prevalent musculoskeletal condition affecting a significant portion of the adult population, often leading to disability and reduced quality of life. Chiropractic care is a common non-pharmacological treatment option. This study retrospectively evaluates the effectiveness of chiropractic interventions for lower back pain at a single private practice. Methods: A retrospective case series analysis was conducted on 105 de-identified patient records from Spine Stop Chiropractic Scottsville. Patients receiving care for lower back pain were included. Primary outcome measure was reported pain reduction percentage, derived from initial and final pain scores. Mobility improvement was not a systematically tracked metric. Results: Among 105 patients, the mean pain reduction observed was 87%, with a median pain reduction of 88%. Individual case analyses demonstrated notable improvements, with several patients reporting 100% pain reduction. For example, one patient with acute low back pain following a lifting injury achieved 100% pain reduction over 3 months. Conclusion: The findings suggest that chiropractic care, as practiced at Spine Stop Chiropractic Scottsville, is associated with substantial pain reduction in patients presenting with lower back pain. These outcomes align with general expectations for conservative care in this population, although further research with controlled designs is warranted.

Methods

This retrospective case series analyzed de-identified patient data collected from Spine Stop Chiropractic Scottsville, located in Scottsville, KY. The study included 105 patients who sought care at the clinic for lower back pain. Inclusion criteria for this analysis comprised all patients whose primary complaint was lower back pain and for whom initial and final pain scores were recorded. No specific exclusion criteria were applied based on age, gender, or duration of symptoms. The data were collected as part of routine clinical practice at Spine Stop Chiropractic Scottsville, where Dr. Grant Watkins, D.C. provides care. The treatment protocols varied based on individual patient presentation and clinical discretion, utilizing a variety of chiropractic techniques as deemed appropriate by the treating chiropractor. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of pain reduction, calculated from patient-reported baseline pain scores (e.g., 0-10 numerical rating scale) and post-treatment pain scores. Mobility improvement was not systematically tracked and therefore could not be reported as an aggregate metric. All data were anonymized to ensure patient privacy. Due to the retrospective and de-identified nature of the data, formal ethical review board approval was not required. The inherent limitations of a retrospective case series include the lack of a control group, potential for selection bias, reliance on self-reported outcome measures, and varying treatment durations among patients. The results represent outcomes observed in a single clinical setting and may not be generalizable to other chiropractic practices or populations.

Discussion

The findings from this retrospective case series at Spine Stop Chiropractic Scottsville suggest that chiropractic care is associated with significant reductions in lower back pain for the patient population studied. A mean pain reduction of 87% and a median of 88% indicate a highly favorable outcome on average. These results are encouraging and generally align with the reported effectiveness of conservative care, including manual therapies, for lower back pain in existing literature. Many patients seek chiropractic care for LBP as a non-pharmacological alternative, and the observed outcomes support its potential role in managing this common condition. The individual case examples highlight that both chronic and acute presentations of lower back pain, including those with radiating symptoms, muscle spasms, and hip involvement, can respond positively to chiropractic interventions. While definitive conclusions regarding causality cannot be drawn from a case series, the consistent and substantial improvements across a relatively large cohort of 105 patients are noteworthy. The high percentages of pain reduction observed, including multiple cases of 100% resolution, suggest that for many patients, chiropractic care may lead to profound clinical benefits. These outcomes contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the efficacy of chiropractic care in managing musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the lumbar spine. Clinically, these results imply that patients experiencing various forms of lower back pain may benefit from a trial of chiropractic care.

Limitations

This study is subject to several limitations inherent in its design. As a retrospective case series, it lacks a control group, which prevents the establishment of a causal relationship between chiropractic intervention and superior outcomes compared to other treatments or no treatment. The data were collected from a single practice, Spine Stop Chiropractic Scottsville, which may limit the generalizability of these findings to other chiropractic clinics or patient populations. The reliance on patient-reported pain scores introduces subjectivity and potential for reporting bias. Furthermore, mobility improvement was not systematically tracked, limiting a comprehensive assessment of functional outcomes. The lack of standardized treatment protocols and details on specific chiropractic techniques used in each case also limits the ability to draw conclusions about particular interventions. Finally, without long-term follow-up data, the durability of these pain reductions cannot be determined. Selection bias may also be present, as patients who report positive outcomes may be more likely to complete care and contribute to the data analyzed.