Lower back pain has a way of making itself the centre of everything. Sitting becomes uncomfortable. Picking things up requires a strategy. Training gets shelved. If you have been managing it with heat packs, painkillers, or just waiting for it to pass, you are not alone, but you probably already know those are not fixing the problem.
How we approach lower back pain
You may have had imaging done that showed disc bulges, degeneration, or something that sounded alarming. Imaging findings are common even in people without any pain at all. We do not ignore imaging, but we do not treat it as the whole story either. We assess how your back moves under load, how your hips and thoracic spine contribute to the movement pattern, and what demands your work or training are placing on it. The back is rarely the only thing involved. We build a picture that accounts for the full pattern.
What treatment looks like
Treatment is progressive and exercise-based. We identify the movement patterns that are loading the back beyond its current capacity and build strength around them. That might involve hip and core strengthening to share the load, thoracic mobility work if stiffness above is forcing the lower back to compensate, and progressive loading through movements relevant to your daily life or sport. We adjust as your capacity improves.
Who can help
Any of our physiotherapists can assess and treat lower back pain. If yours is specifically connected to lifting or gym training, TJ Chen can assess how your squat, deadlift, and overhead mechanics are loading the spine. If your lower back pain has been persistent and has not responded to general treatment, Ivan Tam brings a mechanical diagnosis approach to spinal assessment and can identify directional patterns that guide loading. If your back pain is connected to grappling, contact sport, or combat training, Daniel Ng understands the spinal loading those disciplines demand.