Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy. It ranges from acute lumbar strain following a specific incident to chronic, persistent pain with no single identifiable cause. The good news is that physiotherapy has a strong evidence base for back pain at every stage — acute, sub-acute, and chronic — and the large majority of patients make a full recovery without surgery.
Symptoms
- —Localised pain in the lower, mid, or upper back
- —Pain that radiates into the buttock or leg (may indicate nerve involvement)
- —Stiffness on waking that eases with movement
- —Pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or standing
- —Muscle spasm alongside the spine
- —Reduced ability to bend forward or rotate
Causes
- —Muscle and ligament strain from lifting, twisting, or sudden movement
- —Disc bulge or herniation pressing on a nerve root
- —Degenerative disc disease associated with age
- —Facet joint arthropathy
- —Spondylolisthesis (slippage of a vertebra)
- —Poor posture and prolonged desk-based work
- —Sedentary lifestyle and reduced core strength
How we treat it
- —Comprehensive spinal assessment to identify the pain generator
- —Manual therapy — joint mobilisation and manipulation where indicated
- —Targeted exercise programme: core stability, hip mobility, flexibility
- —Dry needling for associated muscle spasm and trigger points
- —Postural correction and ergonomic review for desk workers
- —Graded exposure to feared movements — essential for chronic pain
- —Education on pain science and self-management strategies
Recovery expectations
Acute back pain typically resolves within 4–8 weeks with appropriate physiotherapy. Sub-acute presentations (6 weeks to 3 months) may require 8–12 sessions. Chronic back pain requires a longer, multi-modal approach — most patients report significant functional improvement within 12–16 sessions, with ongoing self-management thereafter.
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Our therapists will diagnose the exact cause of your condition and design a treatment plan specific to your presentation.
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