6 Doctor-Recommended Remedies for Back Pain

Physical Therapy or Chiropractic Treatment

Try it when: No matter what else you do, your backaches persist. “A professional can provide relief from chronically inflamed muscles that home remedies can’t,” says Sinett.

How it works: A misaligned spine can cause muscle tension (read: pain). Both physical therapy and chiropractic treatment improve spinal alignment. Physical therapists strategically stretch and strengthen the muscles that help hold the spine in place. Chiropractors manipulate the spine to relieve areas of tension on the muscles. Consult your primary-care doctor for a referral.

Good to know: “You should experience relief within six weeks,” says Sinett. If you don’t, you may need an MRI, which can determine whether the pain stems from something more serious, such as a herniated disk.