From Nagging Pain to Real Relief: Why Chronic Pain Doesn’t Have to Be Your New Normal

Living with Chronic Pain: More Common Than You Think

If you’ve been living with daily pain, you’re not alone. According to the CDC, more than 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experience chronic pain that lasts longer than three months. Whether it’s your back, neck, shoulder, or knees, ongoing pain can start to feel like a new normal—but it doesn’t have to be.

At Vector Spine and Sport, we specialize in helping patients in the Murray and Salt Lake area find real, lasting relief—without surgery or long-term medications. Our approach combines chiropractic care, deep tissue laser, and shockwave therapy to address pain at its source and help your body heal naturally.


Why Traditional Pain Management Falls Short

Many patients come to us after trying everything—pain pills, injections, even multiple rounds of physical therapy—with little success. The problem is that most of these treatments only mask symptoms rather than addressing the root cause.

Pain medications like opioids or NSAIDs may dull discomfort temporarily, but they don’t fix the mechanical issues, inflammation, or scar tissue that keep pain coming back. Over time, this can lead to dependence, tolerance, or even worsening pain sensitivity.

That’s where chiropractic and regenerative technologies like Shockwave Therapy step in—treating the source of pain, not just the symptoms.


Chiropractic Care: Restoring Alignment, Restoring Function

Chiropractic care is more than just spinal adjustments—it’s about restoring movement, improving function, and relieving pressure on the nervous system.

Dr. Jacob Reesor uses gentle, targeted adjustments to correct joint dysfunctions that cause pain and stiffness. When your spine and joints move properly, inflammation decreases, circulation improves, and the body can heal more efficiently.

Research from the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics shows that chiropractic adjustments can improve mobility, reduce pain, and even enhance the body’s proprioception—its sense of position and balance. For chronic pain sufferers, this often means fewer flare-ups, better posture, and less day-to-day discomfort.


Shockwave Therapy: Science-Backed Pain Relief

If your pain has lingered for months or years, Shockwave Therapy (EPAT) may be the missing piece. This non-invasive treatment uses acoustic pressure waves to stimulate your body’s natural repair process, increasing blood flow, breaking down scar tissue, and accelerating tissue regeneration.

Clinical studies consistently support its effectiveness. A 2023 review in Frontiers in Immunology found that Shockwave Therapy significantly reduces pain and improves function in chronic tendon and soft tissue injuries (PMC10468604).

At Vector Spine and Sport, we use both focused and radial shockwave technology, allowing us to treat everything from deep-seated tendon injuries to surface-level inflammation. Patients often notice improvement after just a few sessions—with no downtime and no side effects.


Conditions We Commonly Treat

Our integrated approach is especially effective for chronic conditions such as:

  • Low back and neck pain
  • Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries
  • Tennis and golfer’s elbow
  • Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Hip and knee pain
  • Muscle trigger points and scar tissue buildup

Whether your pain stems from overuse, poor posture, or an old injury that never healed right, we’ll tailor a plan that helps you move and feel better.


What to Expect at Vector Spine and Sport

When you visit Vector Spine and Sport, you’re not getting a cookie-cutter treatment. Dr. Reesor begins each new patient visit with a thorough consultation and exam, discussing your history, lifestyle, and goals. From there, he creates a customized treatment plan using a combination of chiropractic adjustments, shockwave therapy, laser therapy, and therapeutic exercises.

Our goal is to help you move better, feel better, and get back to doing what you love—without relying on pills or surgery.


Your Path to Pain-Free Living Starts Here

Chronic pain doesn’t have to define your life. Whether you’ve been struggling for months or years, there’s hope—and we’d love to help you find it.

If you’re ready to finally get to the root of your pain, schedule a consultation with Vector Spine and Sport today. Let’s get you back to moving freely, sleeping better, and enjoying life again.

Back-to-School, Back to Pain? Preventing Back and Neck Issues for Students and Parents

Backpack pain

Why Back-to-School Season Can Be Hard on Your Back

Back-to-school season is a time of new beginnings — fresh notebooks, sports practices, and a return to routine. But for many students (and their parents), it can also mean new or worsening back and neck pain.

Between carrying heavy backpacks, spending hours seated at desks or in front of screens, and jumping back into sports, it’s no wonder we see a spike in musculoskeletal issues at Vector Spine and Sport during the fall.

But the good news? Back-to-school pain is preventable with a few simple changes and proactive care.


Common Causes of Back & Neck Pain in Students

  1. Heavy or Poorly Worn Backpacks
    • According to the American Chiropractic Association, backpacks should weigh no more than 10–15% of a child’s body weight (ACA Backpack Safety).
    • Wearing them over one shoulder or letting them hang too low increases strain on the spine and shoulders.
  2. Poor Desk Posture & Screen Time
    • Slouching forward, looking down at phones, or sitting at desks that aren’t ergonomically correct leads to forward head posture and tight upper back muscles.
  3. Sports & Overuse Injuries
    • Fall sports like football, soccer, and cross-country can cause repetitive stress on joints and soft tissues, leading to shin splints, knee pain, and shoulder strains.
  4. Stress & Lack of Movement
    • Mental stress can cause muscle tension, while long periods of sitting without breaks lead to stiffness and pain.

Tips to Prevent Back-to-School Pain

1. Choose the Right Backpack

  • Look for wide, padded straps, a padded back, and a waist or chest strap for better weight distribution.
  • Encourage kids to use both straps and tighten them so the pack sits high on the back.

2. Teach Desk & Screen Ergonomics

  • Screen top should be at eye level.
  • Feet flat on the ground, knees and hips at 90 degrees.
  • Take movement breaks every 30–45 minutes.

3. Warm Up Before Sports

  • Gentle dynamic stretches (leg swings, arm circles, light jogging) before practice reduce risk of strains.
  • Post-practice cool-down stretching keeps muscles flexible.

4. Stay Active as a Family

  • Evening walks, bike rides, or stretches together help keep everyone’s spines moving and healthy.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

At Vector Spine and Sport, we focus on evidence-based care to correct spinal misalignments, improve joint function, and relieve pain naturally.

Chiropractic adjustments help:

  • Improve posture and mobility
  • Reduce nerve irritation from restricted joints
  • Restore balance to overused muscles

Regular chiropractic care can even help prevent small aches from turning into bigger problems — keeping students focused on schoolwork and parents on their busy schedules.


Shockwave Therapy for Sports Injuries

For student-athletes or active parents struggling with chronic tendon pain — think shin splints, jumper’s knee, or shoulder tendonitisShockwave Therapy (EPAT) is one of the most advanced, non-invasive treatments available.

  • Stimulates blood flow & collagen production
  • Speeds up healing of microtears and chronic injuries
  • FDA-cleared and research-backed (Study on ESWT Effectiveness)

This means faster recovery and fewer missed practices or games.


What to Expect at Vector Spine and Sport

When you come in for a back-to-school check-up:

  1. Comprehensive Exam: We evaluate posture, mobility, and muscle balance.
  2. Personalized Care Plan: Could include chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, home exercises, or Shockwave Therapy if needed.
  3. Education: We teach proper ergonomics and stretches to keep you or your child pain-free.

Take Action Today

Don’t wait until pain disrupts your school year. Book a back-to-school posture and pain prevention visit at Vector Spine and Sport today.

📞 Call Us: 801-456-0352

💻 Schedule Online