Lower back pain is the most common reason people come to see us. Around four in five adults have an episode at some point. The reassuring part is that most back pain is mechanical — coming from joints, discs and muscles rather than from anything sinister — and most of it improves.

What it feels like

• Ache or stiffness across the lower back, sometimes into the buttocks
• Worse after sitting, driving, or first thing in the morning
• Sharp catches with bending, lifting or twisting
• Difficulty straightening up after being bent over
• Pain that eases when you move around, then returns when you stop

Common causes

• Muscle or ligament strain from lifting, a sudden movement, or an unaccustomed activity
• Disc irritation or herniation, which may also send pain into the leg — see our page on sciatica
• Facet joint irritation in the small joints at the back of the spine
• Degenerative changes, which are common on imaging and often not the source of pain
• Deconditioning — long periods of sitting and reduced activity

How physiotherapy helps

Current guidelines put movement and exercise ahead of rest for most back pain. Your physiotherapist works out which movements settle your symptoms and which aggravate them, then uses that to shape treatment:

• Manual therapy — joint mobilisation and soft tissue work to restore movement
• Graded exercise for the deep trunk, back and hip muscles
• Movement retraining for the things that hurt — bending, lifting, getting out of a chair
• Workstation and lifting advice, which for desk-based work often makes the largest difference
• Laser therapy, the Super Inductive System or electrotherapy to help manage pain while you get moving again
• Massage therapy where muscle tension is a significant part of the picture

How long does it take?

A straightforward episode often eases substantially within two to six weeks. Longstanding or recurrent back pain usually takes longer and responds best to a progressive exercise programme rather than passive treatment alone. Your physiotherapist will give you a realistic timeframe after assessing you, and will revise it as things change.

When to see a doctor instead

Seek urgent medical attention for numbness around the groin, loss of bladder or bowel control, or severe weakness in both legs. See your physician if back pain follows a significant fall or accident, or comes with fever, night sweats or unexplained weight loss.

Booking an appointment

You do not need a doctor’s referral to see a physiotherapist in Ontario. Some extended health plans ask for one before they will reimburse you, so it is worth checking your policy.

We are at 2600 Skymark Avenue, Building 3, Unit 102, Mississauga, open Monday to Friday 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, with free parking. See our fees or call 647-998-4727.

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This page is general information, not medical advice. An assessment with a registered physiotherapist is the way to find out what is causing your symptoms and what will help.