Low back pain: what upper cervical research has looked at

It seems strange to look at the top of the neck for a problem in the low back. Then again, the usual places to look haven't given you an answer.

How we approach low back pain →

Illustration: a clear model of the human body with the spine and the top of the neck shown in blue

Upper cervical care starts from the idea that the position of the head and neck affects posture and nerve function all the way down. Only a little published research has measured low back symptoms in people receiving upper cervical care. This page gathers what there is.

2 studies on this page

Designs: Prospective cohort study, case report
Published: 1998 to 2011

Where these studies sit, by design and year

2 studies, published 1998 to 2011. Strongest design: cohort, pilot or before-and-after study.

the studies

What each study looked at

Strongest study design first. The dots show the design, from a single case (one dot) to a controlled trial (four). How to read this library

Prospective cohort study2011Several upper cervical techniques

1,090 new patients at 83 upper cervical offices: early changes and reactions

Who and how many: 1,090 consecutive new patients at the offices of 83 upper cervical chiropractors.
What was measured: Neck disability, low back disability (Oswestry), 0 to 10 pain ratings for the neck, headache, mid back and low back, satisfaction, and any new or worse symptom within 24 hours of a visit. Measured at the start and after about two weeks: an average of 4.5 visits and 2.4 corrections over 17 days.
What was found: Neck pain and disability, headache, mid-back pain, and low back pain and disability all improved significantly, with an average satisfaction of 9.1 out of 10. About 31% of patients had a short-lived reaction (a new or worse symptom within 24 hours), and 5.1% rated it intense. No serious adverse events were reported.
Limits: No control group and about two weeks of follow-up. The authors say randomized studies are needed before risks and benefits can be weighed definitively.

Read the abstract on PubMed → Source 1

Case report1998Grostic, by hand

A 34-year-old man with a herniated disc in his neck

Who and how many: One man, 34, with a year of severe neck, low back and arm pain after care from several medical specialists. MRI showed a disc herniation at C6-C7, and nerve testing confirmed nerve root involvement. X-rays showed the atlas and axis were misaligned.
What was measured: Re-examinations of his symptoms and findings during care with the Grostic procedure, an upper cervical method delivered by hand. X-rays were analyzed by template and by computer.
What was found: Re-examinations after about a month showed marked improvement in his symptoms and findings. At more than a year of follow-up he had not needed surgery.
Limits: One person and no comparison. A single case can't separate care from natural change over time.

Read the abstract on PubMed → Source 2

before you draw conclusions

What this research does and doesn't tell you

The cohort measured low back pain and disability over about two weeks with no comparison group. The case report describes one man whose main problem was in his neck. That is thin evidence for the low back specifically, and we say so.

Published research can't predict what will happen for any one person, including you. Studies report averages and single stories; your nervous system is your own. That is why The Lazar Method^™ starts with measurement, not with a promise.

We measure first, so the answer is about you, not an average.

Before any correction we measure how your nervous system is regulating your body: heart rate variability, thermal and muscle tone scans, PostureIQ™, and digital X-ray of the upper neck. QSM3, the method used at our office, is a progression of NUCCA. Dr. Jonathan Lazar, D.C., or someone personally trained by him, will go over your scans and images with you.

If we can help, we'll tell you. If we can't, we'll help you find someone who can.

Talk it through on a 15-minute Clarity Call →

This page is educational and is not medical advice. Keep the doctors who know you in the loop.

citations

Sources

Eriksen K, Rochester RP, Hurwitz EL. 2011. Symptomatic reactions, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction associated with upper cervical chiropractic care: a prospective, multicenter, cohort study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 12:219. PubMed 21974915 · DOI 10.1186/1471-2474-12-219 · free full text
Eriksen K. 1998. Management of cervical disc herniation with upper cervical chiropractic care. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 21(1):51-6. PubMed 9467101

Titles are quoted exactly as published. Sources checked 2026-11-03.

keep reading

When nothing else has worked, start with clarity.

In about 4 minutes, you'll see whether your symptoms point to nervous system dysfunction, and exactly what to do next. Free. Your answers stay private. No spam, ever.

Start My Screening →

Prefer to talk first?

Book a 15-minute Clarity Call

or call 734.274.5107 · ready to come in? Book your complimentary consultation

Screening adapted from the autonomic dysfunction screening developed by Bruce Bell, MD.

A member of our team will reach out within one business day.