Low Back Pain
Understanding low back pain
Low back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek healthcare and can affect people of all ages and activity levels. It may develop suddenly following an injury, gradually over time, or recur in episodes throughout life.
While symptoms are often felt in the lower back, the source of pain is not always straightforward. The lumbar spine is made up of joints, discs, muscles, ligaments, connective tissue, and nerves, all of which work together to support movement and absorb load. Pain can arise from one or several of these structures, and is often influenced by how the rest of the body is functioning.
A detailed assessment aims to determine not only where your pain is coming from, but why it has developed and what may be contributing to its persistence.
Common low back conditions
Low back pain can present in many different forms. Some of the more common presentations include:
Mechanical low back pain resulting from joint, muscle, or connective tissue dysfunction.
Disc-related pain, including disc bulges, protrusions, or herniations that may or may not involve nerve irritation.
Sciatica, where irritation of the sciatic nerve causes pain, tingling, or altered sensation into the buttock or leg.
Facet joint irritation, which can produce local back pain, stiffness, and pain with certain movements such as extension or rotation.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction, where altered movement through the pelvis contributes to pain around the lower back or buttock.
Persistent or recurrent low back pain, where symptoms continue beyond normal healing or repeatedly flare despite previous treatment.
Each presentation requires a different approach, making an accurate assessment an important first step.
Why does low back pain develop?
There is rarely a single cause of low back pain. More commonly, symptoms develop from the interaction of multiple contributing factors.
These may include:
Reduced movement through the lumbar spine, pelvis, or hips
Disc or nerve irritation
Previous back or lower limb injuries
Repetitive bending, lifting, or prolonged sitting
Changes in physical activity or training load
Muscle weakness or altered movement strategies
Stress, sleep, and recovery affecting pain sensitivity
The challenge is not simply identifying what hurts, but understanding why that area has become overloaded in the first place.
What does assessment involve?
Assessment is focused on understanding the presentation as a whole rather than simply identifying a painful structure.
This may include assessing:
Lumbar spine movement and joint function
Disc and nerve involvement
Hip and pelvic mechanics
Sacroiliac joint function
Upper back tension
Movement patterns during bending, lifting, walking, and other functional tasks
Previous injuries and imaging findings where relevant
Lifestyle, occupational, sporting, and training demands
Our goal
Our goal is to understand the factors contributing to your low back pain, restore efficient movement throughout the body, and help you return to daily activities with greater confidence and reduced pain.
Related Conditions
Low back pain has many potential causes. Depending on your symptoms, you may also wish to read about:
Book an appointment
Whether your back pain began yesterday or has been recurring for years, understanding what is driving your symptoms is the first step towards effective management. A detailed assessment can help identify the contributing factors and develop a treatment plan tailored to your presentation.