Muscles cause movement across a joint and stabilize those joints during movement. You must have the strength to not only perform your normal activities of daily living and demands of employment but the endurance to be able to perform them throughout the day. When weakness develops in the spinal muscles, there is a breakdown in this ability. We then develop improper movement patterns and a loss of stabilization of the spine. Other muscles take over to compensate for this weakness, which allows you to continue to perform your normal activities, but performing those normal activities will overload this weak area and cause pain. This may manifest anywhere from pain with activity to a loss of the ability to perform normal activities of daily living. To help you withstand these stresses and strains placed on the body on a daily basis, you need to have optimal strength in the spinal musculature. During one of your first few visits, we will usually test your spinal strength to determine how weak your muscles are compared to age-matched norms (other men or women your age and weight). We can then predict not only if you are going to respond to our treatment but have a better idea of how long it will take to return you to your normal strength. Once we return you to your normal strength, your spine should be able to withstand the stresses and strains placed on it by your daily activities and demands of employment.