Understanding Lower Back Pain: Causes and Real Solutions

Lower back pain affects around 80% of adults at some point. The good news: the overwhelming majority of cases are mechanical, meaning they come from how the spine is loaded rather than from permanent damage.

Common drivers include prolonged sitting, weak deep core and gluteal muscles, poor lifting mechanics, and sudden increases in activity. Imaging findings such as mild disc bulges are extremely common in pain-free people, which is why assessment matters more than scans.

A physiotherapy assessment maps which movements provoke and which relieve your pain. Treatment then combines manual therapy for immediate relief with a progressive loading programme that rebuilds tolerance.

Red flags that need urgent medical review include unexplained weight loss, fever, loss of bladder or bowel control, and progressive leg weakness. Everything else usually responds well to structured conservative care.