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Lower Back Pain
Most lower back pain has no single identifiable structure at fault, which is why it is often called non-specific. That sounds unsatisfying, but it is genuinely good news: it means nothing is damaged in a way that needs fixing, and the outlook is strong. The evidence is consistent that staying active beats resting, and that scans early on tend to make things worse rather than better.
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Does this sound like you?
Most people have several of these, not all of them.
- Pain across the lower back, often to one side
- Difficulty straightening up after sitting or bending
- Muscle spasm that grips when you move a certain way
- Pain easing with gentle walking and worsening with stillness
- Stiffness that is worst in the morning and loosens within the hour
Why it happens
- An awkward lift, twist or sustained bend — often something unremarkable
- A sudden increase in physical work the back was not conditioned for
- Long periods sitting, particularly with a sustained slump
- Weak or deconditioned trunk and hip muscles
- Poor sleep, stress and low mood, all of which measurably increase pain
- A previous episode — the single strongest predictor of another
What we would do about it
Roughly in this order — each step waits for the one before it.
- A clear explanation of what is and is not happening, which measurably reduces pain on its own
- Manual therapy to settle the pain enough to let you move
- Graded movement started early — bed rest makes recovery slower, not faster
- Hip and trunk strengthening built up in stages
- Practical advice on lifting, sitting and pacing
- Screening for the small number of presentations that do need a doctor
See a doctor first if
- Your pain followed a significant injury
- It is getting worse rather than settling
- It comes with numbness, weakness or unexplained weight loss
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Symptoms overlap between conditions, so the right treatment depends on an assessment.
Most backs get better faster with a plan
You do not need a scan and you do not need a referral. You need to know what is safe to do and what to build back up, in what order. That is a single appointment. Ask a question first, or call us on 0403 907 587.
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Other back conditions we treat
Related reading: when the pain travels down the leg, disc-related back pain and back pain that has not settled.
General information only, not advice about your own problem — nothing here replaces an assessment. Source: Low Back Pain on Physiopedia.
