Low back pain assessment and care in downtown Calgary
Back pain can make sitting at work, lifting, training and everyday movement difficult. At Endurance on 8th Health Centre, you can book a chiropractic assessment to discuss your symptoms, understand your options and plan a return to the activities that matter to you.
Our clinic is at Suite 260, 607–8th Avenue SW, on the +15 level of Plains Midstream Plaza. You do not need a physician referral to book a chiropractic assessment.
When should you book an assessment?
An assessment may be helpful when low back pain keeps returning, limits work or exercise, or leaves you unsure what activity is appropriate. Tell your chiropractor about pain travelling into the buttock or leg, tingling, numbness or weakness. These symptoms need assessment; they do not establish a diagnosis by themselves.
When to seek urgent medical care: Seek emergency care for back pain with new difficulty controlling or emptying your bladder, loss of bowel control, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or severe or worsening weakness in both legs. Back pain following a serious accident also needs urgent medical attention. Do not wait for a routine clinic appointment.
What happens at your first visit?
Your chiropractor will ask when the pain started, what changes it, how it affects your daily life and what you want to get back to doing. Relevant health history, previous injuries, treatments and any existing test results help guide the assessment.
The examination is tailored to your symptoms and may include movement, strength and neurological checks. Your chiropractor will explain the findings, discuss whether chiropractic care is appropriate and recommend further medical assessment or referral when indicated. Imaging is not routinely needed for every episode of low back pain.
Before treatment, you can discuss expected benefits, relevant risks, alternatives and your preferences. An assessment does not commit you to an adjustment or a predetermined schedule of visits.
How treatment and exercise fit together
Your plan depends on the assessment, your goals and how you respond. Options may include:
- Education about your symptoms and practical ways to modify aggravating activities.
- Individualized movement and exercise guidance, progressed according to your tolerance.
- Joint mobilization, spinal manipulation or soft-tissue techniques when appropriate and with your consent.
- Support for returning to work, recreational activity or training.
- Referral or coordination with another healthcare professional when your needs require it.
Hands-on treatment is one possible part of care. NICE guidance recommends considering manual therapy for low back pain as part of a package that includes exercise. No single treatment suits everyone, and improvement and recovery timelines vary.
Explore our chiropractic care and active rehabilitation services for more information.
Who can you see at Endurance on 8th?
Our chiropractic team includes:
- Dr. Kevin Ashby, a Doctor of Chiropractic and clinic co-director, who completed his chiropractic degree at Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and his Bachelor of Science at the University of Calgary.
- Dr. Wendy Carvalho-Ashby, a Doctor of Chiropractic and clinic co-director, whose qualifications include a chiropractic degree from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College and a Master of Science from the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine, specializing in Joint Injury and Arthritis.
- Dr. Glen Hawkins, a Doctor of Chiropractic who graduated from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 2004 and whose approach includes manual therapies and functional or restorative exercise.
Read the linked practitioner profiles to learn about their backgrounds.
Common questions about low back pain care
Can you help if sitting at my desk or training aggravates my back?
We can assess your symptoms, activity demands and goals, then discuss suitable care and changes to your routine. The aim is to find a manageable way forward rather than assume that one posture or exercise explains every case.
Will I need an adjustment?
Not necessarily. Your chiropractor will discuss appropriate options after assessing you. You can ask about approaches that do not involve spinal manipulation.
How many appointments will I need?
That depends on your assessment, goals and response. Ask how progress will be reviewed and when the plan should change. We cannot determine an appropriate number of visits from a webpage.
What are the fees, appointment length and insurance arrangements?
Check the relevant booking calendar or contact our team for current fees and appointment lengths. Insurance coverage and direct billing depend on your plan and the service, so confirm them before your visit.
Book a low back pain assessment in downtown Calgary
Book with Dr. Kevin Ashby or Dr. Wendy Carvalho-Ashby through the Endurance on 8th calendar.
Book with Dr. Glen Hawkins through his separate Hawkins Health calendar.
For help choosing an appointment, call (403) 265-8383 or contact our team. Find us at Suite 260, 607–8th Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2P 0A7, on the +15 level beside the Globe Theatre. The clinic is +15 connected to the City of Calgary Centennial Parkade; street parking is also available.
Further reading
NICE: Low back pain and sciatica assessment and management
NHS: Back pain, self-care and when to seek medical help