Lynne’s Story - Neck, Low back & hip pain

Before Align

I’ve always enjoyed staying active—walking, hiking, bike riding, and especially spending time with and playing with my grandkids.

Looking back, I didn’t realize I was dealing with chronic pain. I thought my neck tightness and occasional low back pain were just part of life and getting older.

My traps would get very tight, which limited my mobility, and if I did too much activity, I would end up with low back pain. Over time, I started holding myself back. I wasn’t doing things to my full ability because I was afraid I might injure myself.

I had been seeing a chiropractor every 2–3 months for about 30 years. It would help in the moment, but nothing ever lasted. I was often told this was just part of aging, maybe arthritis, and something I would have to live with.

I felt like I always had to be careful not to overdo it, especially to avoid triggering low back pain. And even with adjustments, the tightness in my neck wasn’t improving.

Coming to Align

My daughter had such a great experience with Align and was so confident they could help me that I decided to give it a try.

Before that, I had tried chiropractic care, occasional massage, and yoga. While those helped temporarily, nothing gave me lasting results.

When I started, I was eager—but also new to the idea of having a personal coach guiding me through an exercise program online.

The Journey

One of the first signs that things were working was when I was given exercises that actually helped relieve my back and neck symptoms—and I didn’t feel like I needed to run to the chiropractor for an adjustment.

The tightness in my neck started improving, which was a huge change for me.

What I appreciate most is that now, when I feel tightness or discomfort, I have specific action steps I can take right away—before it turns into real pain. I still see a chiropractor occasionally, but now the adjustments actually hold because of the strength and stability I’ve built.

I’ve learned so much about my body along the way. One of the biggest things was realizing how much footwear matters—how traditional shoes can affect the way your body moves, and how changing that can impact things like hip pain when walking.

Another major shift for me was understanding that when you’re in pain, the worst thing you can do is stop moving. I had always been told to rest and take it easy, especially with low back pain. Learning that movement is actually part of the solution was a huge mindset change.

There were definitely times during my journey when I felt fearful—especially when trying new movements or lifting more weight. I didn’t want to end up back in pain. But I learned that I had to let go of that fear and trust the process.

Once I did that, everything started to change. I became stronger and more stable than I thought possible.

Life Now

I’ve become more mobile, more stable, and stronger than I ever expected at this stage of life.

I can now go on long walks, ride my bike, and stay active without setbacks or fear.

I can spend multiple days with my grandchildren without ending up with back or neck pain afterward. I can walk longer distances without low back pain.

And if I do feel any discomfort, I’m confident I can resolve it using the exercises and stretches that are specific to my body.

I no longer feel like I have to hold back. I feel capable, confident, and able to fully enjoy my life.

Pass It On: What would you say to someone who is considering starting their Align journey?

Trust the process—because in time, you will see results.

Movement is medicine. Rest is not the answer when it comes to chronic or intermittent low back pain.

Stick with a plan that’s designed specifically for you, stay consistent, and trust your coach. Don’t give up.

Notes from Coach Andrea's Perspective

When Lynne first started working with me, she carried a lot of fear—fear that she’d hurt herself. She had been going to her chiropractor on and off for years. Her pelvis was unstable, her hips were immobile, and she would experience low back pain for weeks at a time. The chiropractor would help in the moment, but her hips couldn’t hold the adjustment.

Her TFL was overloaded, very tight, and overactive. She couldn’t go on walks without feeling pain and tightness stemming from it. We switched her out of Brooks and into Altras, strengthened her glute medius, and she was able to walk longer distances without pain.

She listened to a lot of the educational pieces on the website and started to hear and understand the same things I had been telling her. She was finally able to let go of fear and begin trusting the process. This was the point at which she was ready to make gains and improve her strength—no longer afraid to pick up heavier dumbbells because she knew her body was ready and capable.