Chiropractic services focus on the musculoskeletal system, including the joints, muscles, connective tissues, and structures of the spine. Care commonly uses manual techniques intended to improve joint motion, reduce physical discomfort, and support everyday function. At Rainbow Hill Recovery, chiropractic services may be incorporated into a broader outpatient plan for adults experiencing back pain, neck discomfort, headaches, joint pain, muscle tension, or posture-related concerns. Chiropractic care complements our mental health and substance use services but does not replace psychotherapy, psychiatric treatment, medical care, withdrawal management, or emergency services.
Chiropractic is a licensed healthcare profession that frequently uses manual therapy, including spinal manipulation and joint mobilization. Treatment methods can range from stretching and sustained pressure to specific adjustments involving a controlled movement or gentle thrust. Although treatment frequently focuses on the spine, chiropractors may also evaluate and address other joints and surrounding musculoskeletal structures. The purpose of these techniques is generally to support joint motion, physical function, and symptom management rather than treat every health condition through spinal care.
A chiropractic adjustment is only one possible part of a visit. Depending on the person’s condition and the chiropractor’s scope of practice, care may also involve movement recommendations, rehabilitative exercises, posture education, or guidance about daily activities. The appropriate approach depends on symptoms, medical history, medications, previous injuries, and the findings of a physical evaluation. Clients should understand what technique is being recommended, why it is being used, and what reasonable outcomes and limitations they can expect.
Pain is common and can interfere with far more than physical comfort. CDC data show that 24.3% of American adults experienced chronic pain in 2023, while 8.5% experienced high-impact chronic pain that frequently limited life or work activities. Chronic pain is associated with reduced quality of life, anxiety, depression, opioid misuse, and unmet mental health needs. These connections help explain why physical symptoms should be considered when creating a coordinated behavioral health or recovery plan.
Low back pain creates a particularly large health burden. The World Health Organization estimated that 619 million people experienced low back pain worldwide in 2020 and projected that the number could reach 843 million by 2050. Low back pain is the leading cause of disability globally and can limit movement, employment, family participation, and overall well-being. Approximately 90% of cases are considered nonspecific, meaning that a single disease or structural explanation cannot be identified.
Back or neck discomfort can develop after lifting, repetitive activity, prolonged sitting, sudden movement, sports participation, a fall, or a vehicle accident. It may also occur gradually as muscles and joints respond to changing activity levels, sleep positions, workplace demands, or physical deconditioning. Stress can increase muscle guarding and make existing discomfort feel more difficult to manage, although emotional stress should not be presented as the sole cause of physical pain. In many cases of low back pain, a precise structural source is not identified, which is why treatment often focuses on function, movement, education, and symptom management.
Pain may also be influenced by several factors at the same time. Someone in early recovery may have reduced activity, poor sleep, nutritional disruption, muscle tension, previous injuries, or a history of physically demanding work. Another client may have relied on alcohol, opioids, sedatives, or other substances while attempting to manage pain or sleep problems. Chiropractic care may support selected musculoskeletal concerns, but substance use, withdrawal, medication decisions, and chronic pain should remain coordinated with qualified medical and behavioral health providers.
Rainbow Hill Recovery identifies back pain, neck pain, headaches, joint pain, muscle tension, and posture concerns among the issues its chiropractic services may address. These concerns can make it difficult to sit through therapy, sleep comfortably, exercise, complete household tasks, or participate fully in daily routines. Chiropractic care is not automatically appropriate for every type of pain, and the source of symptoms should be evaluated before treatment begins. The clinical goal should be improved comfort and function rather than an unsupported promise that an adjustment will correct every physical or emotional concern.
Possible signs that a musculoskeletal evaluation may be useful include:
These symptoms may have several possible explanations and should not be self-diagnosed. Muscle strain, joint irritation, prolonged positioning, reduced activity, previous injuries, work demands, and age-related changes may contribute to discomfort. Symptoms can also result from medical conditions that require evaluation by another healthcare professional. A responsible chiropractic assessment considers whether manual care is appropriate or whether the client should be referred for medical testing or another type of treatment.
Physical discomfort can make behavioral health treatment more complicated. Pain may interfere with concentration during group sessions, increase irritability, interrupt sleep, reduce motivation, or make movement feel intimidating. Someone may also become more isolated when sitting, driving, exercising, or social activities repeatedly cause discomfort. Addressing appropriate musculoskeletal concerns can help remove one practical barrier to participating in therapy and maintaining a structured routine.
Chiropractic care does not directly treat depression, anxiety, trauma, or substance use disorder. It may instead serve as a complementary physical-health service within a broader program that includes psychotherapy, psychiatric support, relapse prevention, and case management. This distinction is important because temporary relief from muscle or joint discomfort is not the same as treating an underlying behavioral health diagnosis. At Rainbow Hill Recovery, chiropractic services can be coordinated with other approaches so the client’s physical concerns are considered without replacing necessary clinical treatment.
Some headaches may be associated with the muscles and joints of the neck, while others involve migraine, medication effects, infection, neurological conditions, stress, sleep disruption, or additional causes. A 2020 review of seven studies involving 601 participants found that spinal manipulation may reduce the frequency and intensity of cervicogenic headaches, which originate from a problem involving the neck. Evidence concerning migraine was described as preliminary because of limitations within the available studies. Persistent, severe, sudden, or changing headaches require an appropriate medical evaluation rather than an assumption that the spine is responsible.
A chiropractor should ask about the location, severity, timing, and pattern of headaches before recommending care. Symptoms such as sudden severe headache, speech changes, weakness, vision changes, loss of balance, or confusion may indicate an urgent neurological concern. Manual treatment should not delay emergency assessment when warning signs are present. Coordinated care allows musculoskeletal causes to be considered while protecting clients from having a more serious condition overlooked.
Research indicates that spinal manipulation may provide small or modest improvements for some people with low back pain. A 2017 analysis involving 15 studies and 1,699 participants found moderate-quality evidence of modest pain improvement among adults with acute low back pain. The same report reviewed 12 studies involving 1,381 participants and found a modest improvement in back-related function. These findings support spinal manipulation as one possible nondrug option rather than a guaranteed or superior solution for everyone.
For chronic low back pain, a 2019 review examined 47 studies involving 9,211 participants. Short-term pain relief from manipulation or mobilization was similar to results produced by other recommended therapies, while functional outcomes were slightly better in some comparisons. The evidence was considered moderate in quality because study results were not completely consistent. Current guidance therefore supports realistic expectations and shared decision-making rather than promises of permanent correction or immediate recovery.
Research on neck pain is more limited and variable. An analysis of six studies involving 446 participants found that spinal manipulation, alone or combined with other treatment, may reduce acute neck pain, but reviewers advised caution because the available evidence was limited. A review of 47 trials involving 4,460 participants found that manipulation or mobilization may reduce pain and improve function for chronic neck pain, although the evidence was rated low to moderate. Care decisions should account for the person’s symptoms, medical history, preferences, and potential risks.
Spinal manipulation is generally associated with temporary mild-to-moderate effects such as soreness, stiffness, increased discomfort, or headache. A review covering 250 scientific publications found that these reactions commonly resolved within approximately 24 hours. Serious spinal, neurological, or vascular complications have been reported but are considered very rare, and precise estimates of their frequency are not available. A thorough assessment is especially important when someone has a health condition that may increase the risk of injury.
Neck manipulation has been associated with rare tears in the walls of cervical arteries, which can potentially lead to stroke. Evidence suggests that the incidence is low, and researchers continue to debate whether manipulation directly causes these events in every reported case. Patients should still be informed about the potential risk before cervical manipulation is performed. A client should also disclose anticoagulant use, osteoporosis, recent injury, neurological symptoms, surgery, pregnancy, and other relevant health information before receiving care.
Chiropractic treatment is not a substitute for emergency medical evaluation. New loss of bowel or bladder control, progressive weakness, significant numbness, unexplained fever, unexplained weight loss, or major changes in balance may point to a more serious condition. Severe symptoms following a fall, collision, or other traumatic injury also require prompt assessment. Clients experiencing these warning signs should seek appropriate medical care before scheduling routine manual treatment.
Chiropractic care is also not intended to manage intoxication, overdose, active withdrawal, untreated psychosis, or another behavioral health emergency. A person who cannot participate safely may first need emergency, inpatient, medical, or psychiatric stabilization. Once the urgent concern has been addressed, musculoskeletal symptoms can be evaluated as part of continuing care. Matching each service to the problem it can reasonably address protects clients from delays in receiving necessary treatment.
A chiropractic visit should begin with a review of the client’s symptoms, health history, injuries, medications, current treatment, and goals. The chiropractor may ask when the discomfort began, which movements improve or worsen it, and how it affects sleep, work, exercise, or everyday activities. A physical evaluation may examine posture, mobility, joint motion, muscle tension, strength, or neurological responses when appropriate. The findings help determine whether chiropractic care is suitable or whether another healthcare provider should evaluate the symptoms first.
The recommended technique should reflect the client’s condition rather than following the same routine for everyone. Some people may receive a specific joint adjustment, while others may be better suited to gentler mobilization, stretching, or movement guidance. Clients should communicate immediately if a position or technique produces pain, dizziness, numbness, panic, or discomfort. Consent is an ongoing process, and treatment can be modified, paused, or declined.
Rainbow Hill Recovery offers chiropractic services within a larger collection of therapy and wellness approaches. Our website identifies hands-on adjustments and care for back pain, neck pain, headaches, joint discomfort, muscle tension, and posture-related concerns as part of this service. Chiropractic care may be coordinated with experiential therapy, EMDR and trauma-informed care, DBT, integrative therapies, and relapse-prevention services when these approaches are included in the client’s plan. This coordinated model allows physical discomfort to be considered alongside emotional health, substance use recovery, and daily functioning.
Our outpatient continuum includes Partial Hospitalization, Intensive Outpatient, and Outpatient programming. PHP provides the greatest degree of structure, while IOP combines regular treatment with more independence outside scheduled hours. OP can offer flexible services for clients who need fewer hours or are transitioning from a more structured program. Chiropractic care does not determine program placement, because placement is based on behavioral health symptoms, safety, medical stability, functioning, and treatment needs.
The benefits of musculoskeletal care are more meaningful when clients can maintain healthy movement and daily routines outside appointments. A chiropractor may help a client understand which positions, activities, or habits appear to increase discomfort and which changes support better function. Clients may also need guidance from medical providers, physical therapists, fitness professionals, or other qualified professionals depending on the source and severity of their symptoms. Coordinated recommendations can reduce confusion and help clients avoid relying on one treatment for every physical concern.
Aftercare can help clients continue the broader routines that support recovery. Ongoing therapy, support groups, clinical check-ins, relapse-prevention education, and practical resources may help clients respond when pain, stress, sleep disruption, or cravings increase. Physical discomfort should be discussed openly because it can affect motivation, emotional stability, and substance-related decisions. Continuing care allows the treatment plan to be adjusted as the client’s health, responsibilities, and recovery needs change.
Rainbow Hill Recovery provides chiropractic services within a coordinated outpatient environment rather than presenting adjustments as a cure for mental health or substance use concerns. Our approach allows clients to address appropriate physical discomfort while remaining connected to therapy, psychiatric support, relapse prevention, case management, and other services included in their treatment plans. Care can be personalized according to symptoms, medical history, physical comfort, treatment goals, and current level of stability. This structure helps ensure that chiropractic services have a clear role within the client’s broader recovery and wellness plan.
Someone does not need to ignore recurring back pain, neck tension, headaches, or joint discomfort while working on emotional health or substance use recovery. An assessment can clarify whether chiropractic care may be appropriate, whether modifications are needed, or whether a different medical service should come first. Rainbow Hill Recovery offers multiple outpatient programs and complementary therapy approaches in one Los Angeles setting, making coordination more practical for eligible clients. Call (310) 341-4887 to speak with our team about chiropractic services and the next appropriate step.
Joie Gyondla serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Clinical Support Coordinator, bringing compassion, empathy, and a genuine commitment to supporting every client who walks through our doors. With a background in recovery support, Joie understands the importance of creating a welcoming, organized, and affirming environment where individuals feel seen, valued, and supported throughout their treatment journey.
Working closely with both clients and the clinical team, Joie helps ensure that each person’s experience is as seamless as possible, providing encouragement, guidance, and practical support every step of the way. Her calm presence and dedication to helping others foster a sense of safety and connection that allows clients to focus on what matters most: their recovery.
Joie believes that healing begins with compassion and that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting difference. She is proud to be part of the Rainbow Hill Recovery team, helping create a community where every individual is empowered to build a healthier, more authentic future.
Co-Founder of the LGBTQ+ Association for Addiction and Mental Health Professionals Clinical Outreach Specialist for Rainbow Hill Recovery LGBTQ Sensitivity Training Consultant
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Steven Buffin-Stewart is the Program and Case Manager at Rainbow Hill Recovery, with over five years of experience in substance use and mental health treatment. A CADC ll professional in recovery themselves, Steven combines clinical knowledge with lived experience to provide compassionate, coordinated care and foster inclusive, affirming spaces where clients feel supported, empowered, and hopeful in their healing journey.
Janae Borrego serves as Rainbow Hill Recovery’s Cross-Cultural Relations Officer and Outpatient Therapist, where she combines her clinical expertise with a deep commitment to fostering an inclusive, culturally responsive environment for every client. Her ability to understand, appreciate, and navigate diverse cultural perspectives has made her an invaluable leader as Rainbow Hill continues to grow and evolve.
In her role, Janae works to strengthen cultural understanding throughout the organization, ensuring that clients, families, and staff feel respected, heard, and represented. She provides ongoing guidance on cultural sensitivity and inclusive practices while helping shape programs that honor the unique identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences of those we serve.
As an Outpatient Therapist, Janae is dedicated to helping clients navigate recovery, mental health, and life’s challenges with compassion, authenticity, and evidence-based care. She believes that meaningful healing begins when individuals feel safe to show up as their authentic selves and receive support that acknowledges the whole person.
Janae is passionate about creating spaces where diversity is celebrated, connection is strengthened, and every individual has the opportunity to heal and thrive. Her leadership continues to advance Rainbow Hill Recovery’s mission of providing affirming, trauma-informed care that meets the evolving needs of the communities we serve.
With over a decade of experience in addiction recovery, Andrew is passionate about helping individuals reclaim their lives and find lasting healing. As Co-founder and Director of Rainbow Hill Recovery, he is dedicated to creating a supportive environment that fosters hope, resilience, and transformation.
Joey Bachrach is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rainbow Hill Recovery, an LGBTQ-affirming mental health and substance use treatment center in Los Angeles. Drawing from both professional leadership and lived recovery experience, Joey is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces where individuals are fully seen, affirmed, and supported on their healing journey.