Back Pain
Back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal conditions, affecting people of all ages and activity levels. It can cause stiffness, aching, sharp pain, or limited movement that interferes with work, exercise, and daily life. Conservative, non-invasive care such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and massage therapy can effectively reduce pain, improve mobility, and address the underlying cause of your back pain.
What Is Back Pain?
Back pain refers to discomfort or dysfunction affecting the muscles, joints, discs, ligaments, or nerves of the spine. It can occur anywhere along the back, but is most commonly felt in the lower back (lumbar spine) or upper back (thoracic spine).
Back pain affects office workers, manual laborers, athletes, and individuals with sedentary lifestyles alike. It often develops gradually due to posture or overuse, or suddenly following an injury or accident.
Back pain may be:
- Acute: Lasting days to weeks, often following strain or injury
- Chronic: Persisting longer than 3 months
- Mechanical: Related to movement, posture, or load
- Nerve-related: Involving irritation or compression of spinal nerves
Common Back Pain Symptoms
Symptoms can vary depending on the cause and severity, and may include:
- Dull aching or sharp pain in the back
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Pain that worsens with sitting, standing, or bending
- Muscle tightness or spasms
- Tingling, numbness, or weakness (in nerve-related cases)
- Pain radiating into the hips, buttocks, or legs
Causes of Back Pain
Back pain often results from a combination of physical, lifestyle, and biomechanical factors, including:
- Poor posture or prolonged sitting
- Repetitive bending, lifting, or twisting
- Muscle strain or ligament sprain
- Sports or exercise-related injuries
- Motor vehicle or workplace accidents
- Disc irritation or degeneration
- Weak core or poor movement mechanics
- Stress and muscle tension
Our team focuses on identifying the root cause of your pain so treatment is effective and long-lasting.
Back Pain Treatment
Physiotherapy plays a key role in recovery and may include:
- Detailed movement and functional assessment
- Exercise-based rehabilitation tailored to your condition
- Improving mobility, strength, and core stability
- Neuromuscular control and movement retraining
Chiropractic care may help address pain, including:
- Comprehensive spinal and joint assessment
- Spinal or joint manipulation and mobilization
- Improving joint mechanics and nervous system function
- Postural and biomechanical correction
- Advice on ergonomics and activity modification
Massage therapy supports recovery by targeting soft tissue restrictions and muscle tension:
- Reduction of muscle tension and trigger points
- Improved circulation to affected tissues
- Pain relief and relaxation
- Support recovery between physiotherapy or chiropractic sessions
- Stress reduction that can contribute to muscle tightness
- Supporting pain relief and relaxation
When Should You Seek Treatment?
You should consider seeking treatment if you experience:
- Back pain lasting longer than 1–2 weeks
Pain that interferes with work, exercise, or sleep
Recurring or worsening symptoms
Pain following an injury, fall, or accident
Radiating pain, numbness, or weakness
Frequently asked questions
Can back pain go away on its own?
Some mild cases may resolve, but recurring or persistent pain often benefits from professional treatment to address the root cause and prevent future episodes.
Is treatment painful?
Treatment is tailored to your comfort level. Some techniques may cause mild soreness, but care is always adjusted to ensure safety and tolerance.
Can I continue exercising?
In most cases, yes. We help guide safe activity and modify exercises to support healing rather than aggravate symptoms.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is required to receive physiotherapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy services at Pursuit Physiotherapy.