Low Back Pain Treatment in Burlington

What is usually going on

For most people no single structure can be identified as the cause.¹ Muscles, joints, discs and nearby nerves can all be involved.

Scans can show age-related changes in people who have no pain at all,³ so I only refer for imaging when your story or exam points to it.

What I see in lifters and active people

Pain after a jump in squat or deadlift volume, a stiff back after long drives or desk days, a tweak while bending to pick up something light. Several things can overlap, such as a recent change in training, sleep, stress and long periods of sitting.

How treatment works here

1
Assess. I work out which movements and loads provoke your pain and which feel fine.
2
Release. Soft-tissue treatment to the hips, back and surrounding muscles where it helps.
3
Activate. Simple exercises that give you control of your hips and trunk in the range you just gained.
4
Rebuild. A step-by-step return to squatting, hinging and carrying, with a plan for how much load to add and when.

What you can do this week

Keep moving. Short, frequent walks are generally advised over bed rest.
Keep doing movements that bring on only a mild ache that settles afterwards.
If you lift, lower the load or shorten the range before you stop completely.
Change positions often if you sit for long periods. Heat can ease the stiffness.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor about pain medication.

Get urgent care

Get medical care straight away if back pain comes with loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, leg weakness that is getting worse, fever, or if it follows a serious fall or accident. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Common questions

Do I need an X-ray or MRI?

Often not. Imaging helps when there are warning signs or the pain is not improving as expected. I will tell you if I think you need it.

Should I stop lifting?

Usually you can keep training with changes. We adjust load, range and exercise choice so you keep moving without flaring the pain.

Will I need spinal adjustments?

My treatment is mostly soft-tissue work and exercise. If an adjustment might help, I will explain it first and you decide.

Sources

Hartvigsen J, et al. What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention. Lancet 2018;391:2356-2367. Narrative review. Link
Bussières AE, et al. Spinal manipulative therapy and other conservative treatments for low back pain: a guideline from the Canadian Chiropractic Guideline Initiative. J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2018;41(4):265-293. Clinical practice guideline. Link
Brinjikji W, et al. Systematic literature review of imaging features of spinal degeneration in asymptomatic populations. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2015;36(4):811-816. Systematic review. Link

This page is general education. It does not replace advice from a clinician who has examined you.