Chiropractor for Back Pain: Risks and Benefits Explained

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Peebles, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Core Balance Training, takes a balanced look at chiropractic care: its potential benefits, limitations, and risks. Sharing his personal experience of both healing and harm through chiropractic adjustments, he explains when spinal manipulation can help and when it can actually make things worse. You’ll learn how to identify which parts of the spine are safe to adjust, why hypermobility and degeneration should not be manipulated, and how to set boundaries with your chiropractor to avoid unnecessary damage. Dr. Ryan also discusses how to safely apply chiropractic principles to your own body, the biomechanics behind “stiff vs. loose” joints, and the importance of core stabilization to protect an unstable spine. This episode covers: The difference between helpful and harmful chiropractic adjustments Ryan’s personal story: how one spinal manipulation caused years of instability Why thrusting or “cracking” degenerated joints can worsen damage The biomechanics of hypermobility vs. stiffness in the spine When adjustments are appropriate, and when they’re not How to identify the safest areas for spinal manipulation Setting boundaries and communicating clearly with your chiropractor Why core strength is your best natural brace for an unstable back The predictable pattern of stiffness above/below hypermobile joints The risks of neck adjustments and why Dr. Ryan avoids cervical thrusts Q&A: herniated discs, vibration machines, running with spinal stenosis The Core Balance approach: movement quality and self-awareness over dependency Watch the free Core Balance Masterclass and start your 7-day free trial to experience the Back Anchor lesson firsthand and begin retraining your movement patterns from the inside out: https://www.corebalancetraining.com/masterclass Disclaimer: All content is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any exercise or rehabilitation program. Episode Chapters: 00:00:00 – What this episode is about: chiropractic benefits and risks 00:02:00 – Ryan’s personal story: when a lumbar adjustment went wrong 00:07:30 – The aftermath: years of instability at L5–S1 00:09:30 – Why degenerated discs should not be adjusted 00:11:00 – Friction, repetitive trauma, and the root cause of degeneration 00:13:30 – When manipulation helps: stiff vs. hypermobile joints 00:16:00 – How to use chiropractic safely and set clear boundaries 00:18:00 – Understanding the hypermobile–stiff–hypermobile pattern 00:21:00 – Applying this principle to the neck and thoracic spine 00:25:00 – Finding the right chiropractor (and what to tell them to avoid) 00:27:30 – Q&A: herniated discs and chiropractic-induced injury 00:31:00 – Q&A: running with spinal stenosis, is it safe? 00:33:30 – Q&A: vibration machines and degenerative discs