Pain…Why Do We Experience It? And What’s a Chiropractor’s Role?

Most people first visit a chiropractic clinic for one reason—they’re in pain. But pain is often the final warning sign, not the first. In many cases, the body has been compensating for underlying issues for weeks, months, or even years. Once those compensations can no longer keep up with demand, we experience pain—signaling that the body has reached its limit.

My main principle as a chiropractor is simple: the better your body can handle physical load, the less likely you are to get injured. Whether you’re an elite athlete or spend most of your day at a desk, your body is constantly managing forces from gravity, movement, posture, and the daily wear and tear of life.

The key to preventing or reducing pain lies in your biomechanical capacity—your ability to absorb, adapt to, and recover from physical load. When muscles, joints, and connective tissues are strong, flexible, well-nourished, and moving efficiently, they share and absorb the load evenly. But if an area underperforms—a stiff joint, a weak muscle—your body is forced to adapt and find ways to compensate. Over time, these adaptations chip away at your biomechanical

capacity until, eventually, an area becomes overloaded to the point of injury and then pain appears.

How do we Build Biomechanical Capacity?

• Strength Training – Balanced, strong muscles protect joints, reduce tendon and ligament strain, and increase bone density.

• Mobility & Stretching – Good range of motion prevents restriction and compensation.

• Hydration – Water supports nutrient delivery, joint lubrication, and tissue elasticity. Even mild dehydration can affect recovery.

• Nutrition – Quality protein, omega-3s, antioxidants, and collagen-boosting nutrients help repair and protect tissues.

• Neuromuscular Control – Adding balance or instability training helps your nervous system become more effective during co-ordination and stability demands.

• Recovery – Sleep and rest are non-negotiable for tissue repair and performance. (See my blog “Could Your Training Be the Cause of Your Injuries?” for more info)

  
  

A Chiropractor’s Role

Our first goal is to restore optimal movement and function by freeing up restricted joints, easing tight muscles, and prescribing targeted rehab to strengthen weak areas.. In my experience once function is restored pain will reduce, that’s why I measure every patient’s range of motion before treatment.

Once we get you to optimal function and pain has reduced, we focus on maintenance—keeping you performing at your best. Many patients start a maintence treatment feeling like they dont need to be there only to say after treatment, “Wow, I didn’t realise how restricted I was!” this is because restrictions and tightness can develop very slowly, so you often don’t notice them.

Maintenance = Peak Performance

Your body adapts to what you do consistently. Just as you brush your teeth daily to prevent decay, your joints, muscles, and connective tissues need regular attention to stay healthy. Daily movement, mobility drills, strength work, hydration, and good nutrition aren’t just injury prevention—they’re performance enhancers or what I call the 1 percenters, because they feel like they don't do much at the time but added up over time they really do!

Final Thoughts from the Adjusting Table

Injury prevention isn’t about avoiding stress—it’s about preparing your body to handle them better. The greater your biomechanical capacity, the less likely any one structure—your back, shoulder, or knee—will take on more than it should and become injured.

If you’re unsure where to start, keep it simple: move daily, stretch intentionally, hydrate often, and get professional support early. Prevention will always be more powerful than cure.