The Rocks in Your Backpack

Many years ago, Dr James Chestnut used a simple image that has stayed with me ever since: rocks in a backpack.

It’s not flashy. It doesn’t promise quick fixes. But it is one of the clearest ways I know to help people understand why back pain, neck pain, headaches, and ongoing tension so often show up — and why they sometimes linger.

Imagine you’re given a backpack at birth.At first, it’s light. Easy to carry. You move freely.

Then, over time, rocks get added.

A fall.A car accident.Long hours at a desk.Poor sleep.Emotional stress.Pressure at work.The responsibility of caring for others.

Each rock on its own doesn’t seem like much. You adapt. You cope. You carry on.

That’s what the human body is designed to do.

Adaptation Is a Strength — Until It Isn’t

One of the great truths of health is that your body is incredibly adaptable. It can handle stress, change, and challenge far better than we often give it credit for.

But adaptation has a cost.

If you keep adding rocks to the backpack without ever taking any out, the load slowly becomes heavier. Posture changes. Muscles tighten. Breathing becomes shallower. Movement becomes guarded.

And then one day, you bend down to pick up something simple — a sock, a box, a child — and that’s when the pain shows up.

It feels sudden.But it rarely is.

The final rock wasn’t the problem.It was just the last one.

This is where many people feel confused or frustrated:

“Why has my back gone now?”“I didn’t do anything dramatic.”“It just came out of nowhere.”

From a chiropractic perspective, this makes complete sense.

Pain Isn’t the Enemy — It’s Information

Pain is not a failure.It’s not your body betraying you.It’s not weakness.

Pain is your nervous system saying: “This load is too much for me right now.”

Your nervous system is the master system that coordinates everything — movement, posture, balance, recovery, and resilience. When it’s under constant pressure, the body prioritises protection over performance.

That’s when people notice:

• Back pain that keeps returning

• Neck pain and shoulder tension

• Headaches that feel stress-related

• A sense of being “stuck” or tight rather than injured

So… Do We Just Remove the Rocks?

Here’s where the analogy becomes really important.

Chiropractic care is not about magically removing every rock from your life. Stress, work, family, and responsibility are part of being human — especially if you’re driven, caring, and capable.

Instead, chiropractic focuses on how well your body carries the load.

Think of it like this:

• Is the backpack sitting evenly?

• Are the straps adjusted properly?

• Is the weight being distributed efficiently?

When the nervous system functions better, the body becomes more adaptable again. People often describe feeling:

• Lighter

• More at ease

• More mobile

• Better able to cope with daily demands

Not because life suddenly got easier — but because they became more resilient.

Why This Matters for Real Life

For the busy professional, this often means staying productive without constantly “pushing through” discomfort.

For the busy parent, it means having more energy and patience rather than feeling worn down and tense.

For many people, it’s the shift from asking:

“How do I get rid of this pain?”

to:

“How do I support my body so it handles life better?”

That change in thinking is powerful.

A Gentle Invitation

If the idea of the backpack resonates — if it feels like you’ve been carrying a lot for a long time — a Discovery Session can be a simple first step.

It’s not about treatment or commitment.It’s about conversation, understanding, and seeing whether chiropractic care might support you in carrying life’s load a little more easily.

The content of this blog is for educational purposes and is not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it.