What Is Lower Back Pain?
Lower back pain — also called lumbar pain or lumbago — describes any discomfort felt between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the legs. It is the leading cause of disability in Australia and the world's single most burdensome musculoskeletal condition.
Pain can be acute (sudden onset, lasting under 6 weeks), subacute (6–12 weeks), or chronic (persisting beyond 3 months). Understanding which category you're in shapes the treatment approach significantly.
The lumbar spine (L1–L5) bears the full weight of the upper body. Even small structural changes here can have significant consequences.
Recognising the Symptoms
Lower back pain presents differently in each person. Some experience a dull background ache; others feel sharp, debilitating pain with movement. Common signs include:
- Sharp or aching pain in the lower back
- Stiffness after sitting or first thing in the morning
- Pain that radiates into the buttocks or legs
- Muscle spasms or tightness across the lower back
- Difficulty standing, bending, or lifting
- Pain that worsens after long periods of sitting or driving
When to seek urgent help: If your back pain is accompanied by loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or progressive leg weakness, seek emergency care immediately — these may indicate cauda equina syndrome.
Common Causes
Lower back pain rarely has a single cause. Most cases involve a combination of structural, lifestyle, and postural factors. Understanding yours is the first step to lasting recovery.
Disc Herniation
A bulging or ruptured spinal disc puts pressure on nearby nerves, causing localised or radiating pain.
Muscle Strain
Overuse, sudden movement, or poor lifting technique tears muscle fibres and triggers protective spasm.
Spinal Misalignment
Vertebrae that have shifted from their ideal position create uneven load on joints, discs, and muscles.
Sedentary Lifestyle
Prolonged desk work and inactivity weaken the core muscles that stabilise your lumbar spine.
Degenerative Changes
Age-related wear on joints and discs (osteoarthritis, spondylosis) can cause chronic stiffness and aching.
Poor Posture
Forward head posture and a rounded lower back shift your centre of gravity and overload lumbar structures.
How Chiropractic Care Helps
Chiropractic care addresses the mechanical causes of lower back pain — the joint restrictions, nerve irritations, and muscle imbalances that keep you stuck in a pain cycle. Unlike medication, which manages symptoms, chiropractic treatment works to restore the function that stops pain from recurring.
A 2018 JAMA Network Open study found that patients receiving spinal manipulation alongside usual care had significantly greater reductions in pain intensity and disability at 6 weeks compared to usual care alone.
Our Treatment Approach
Your First Visit — What to Expect
History & Intake
We take a detailed health history — when your pain started, what makes it better or worse, your occupation and lifestyle. This shapes everything that follows.
Physical Examination
Postural analysis, orthopaedic and neurological testing, range of motion assessment, and spinal palpation pinpoint the structures involved.
Diagnosis & Plan
We explain what we found in plain language and outline a personalised care plan — including expected timeline and what each visit involves.
First Treatment
If appropriate, your first treatment begins in the same session. Most patients leave feeling lighter, with noticeably improved movement.
Allow 45–60 minutes for your first visit. Follow-up appointments are typically 20–30 minutes.