Lower back pain

Understanding lower back pain

Whether it came on suddenly lifting something, crept in over months of sitting, or has been with you for years, lower back pain rarely has just one cause. Muscles, joints, discs and nerves all play a role — and effective care starts with working out which ones are involved in your case.

Common signs & symptoms

A dull ache or stiffness across the lower back
Sharp pain with bending, lifting or twisting
Pain that's worse after sitting or first thing in the morning
Difficulty standing up straight after being seated
Pain that occasionally spreads into the buttock or thigh

When to seek urgent care: Seek prompt medical care if your back pain follows significant trauma, is accompanied by fever, unexplained weight loss, numbness in the groin, or changes to bladder or bowel control.

Common causes

Muscle and ligament strain

Overload from lifting, sudden movements or prolonged poor positioning — the most common culprit.

Joint dysfunction

The small facet joints of the spine and the sacroiliac joints can become restricted and irritated.

Disc-related issues

Discs can bulge or irritate nearby nerves, sometimes referring pain into the leg.

Sedentary load

Long hours of sitting deconditions the muscles that support your spine.

How we help

Your care starts with a thorough consultation and physical assessment to identify what's driving your symptoms. From there, we build a plan around you — which may include chiropractic adjustments (traditional or low-force), soft tissue therapy, targeted home exercises, and practical advice for your daily routine. We review your progress regularly, explain everything in plain language, and refer you for imaging or to other practitioners whenever that's the better path.

Good to know

Lower back pain: your questions answered

Should I rest or keep moving with lower back pain?

For most lower back pain, gentle movement helps more than bed rest. Complete rest for more than a day or two can actually slow recovery. We'll show you which movements to keep doing and which to modify while you heal.

How many sessions will I need?

It depends on the cause, how long you've had it, and how your body responds. After your initial assessment we'll give you a clear, honest recommendation — and we review progress regularly rather than locking you into open-ended plans.

Do I need a scan before seeing a chiropractor?

Usually not. Most lower back pain can be assessed thoroughly in the clinic. If your history or examination suggests imaging would change your care, we'll refer you — X-ray and MRI aren't routine, they're used when clinically justified.