Lower back pain is the reason most people first walk into a physiotherapy clinic. That’s not an exaggeration – it’s what the data says. About 80% of adults experience significant lower back pain at least once in their lives, and for many, it becomes a recurring issue that affects everything from work to sleep to playing with their kids.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’re in that camp right now. And you’re probably wondering: will physiotherapy actually help? What does treatment involve? How long until I feel better?
Here’s the straight answer, based on what we see every day at our physiotherapy clinic in Orleans.
Why Your Lower Back Hurts: The Most Common Causes
Before we can fix your back pain, we need to understand where it’s coming from. The lower back (lumbar spine) is made up of five vertebrae, the discs between them, a web of muscles, ligaments, and nerves. It carries the weight of your upper body and absorbs the forces of everything you do-sitting, bending, lifting, twisting.
Here are the causes we see most often:
Muscle strain and ligament sprain
This is the most common culprit. You lifted something heavy with poor form. You twisted awkwardly. You spent the weekend doing yard work after sitting at a desk all winter. The muscles or ligaments in your lower back got overloaded, and now they’re inflamed and painful. The good news: this type of back pain responds really well to physiotherapy and usually resolves within a few weeks.
Disc issues
The discs between your vertebrae act as shock absorbers. Sometimes they bulge or herniate, pressing on nearby nerves. This can cause local back pain but also radiating pain down the leg (sciatica). Disc problems sound scary, but most people recover without surgery, physiotherapy is the recommended first-line treatment.
Facet joint dysfunction
The small joints at the back of each vertebra (facet joints) can become stiff, irritated, or inflamed. This often causes a deep, achy pain that’s worse with extension (leaning backward) and first thing in the morning. Manual therapy is particularly effective for facet-related pain.
Sedentary lifestyle
Sitting for long periods weakens the core muscles that stabilize your spine. Your hip flexors get tight. Your glutes stop firing properly. The result is a lower back that’s taking on more load than it should, and eventually it starts complaining. This is becoming the number-one cause we see, especially since the shift to remote work.
Pregnancy
The extra weight, the shift in your centre of gravity, the hormonal changes that loosen your ligaments, pregnancy is tough on the lower back. Physiotherapy during and after pregnancy can make a huge difference. Our team also offers pelvic floor physiotherapy for postpartum recovery.
How Physiotherapy for Lower Back Pain Works
At Revive Physiotherapy, we don’t have a one-size-fits-all protocol for back pain. Every patient gets a thorough initial assessment, and treatment is built around what we find.
Here’s what that process looks like:
The assessment
Your first visit is about understanding the full picture. We’ll ask about your pain, where it is, when it started, what makes it better or worse. Then we’ll do a hands-on assessment: testing your range of motion, checking your muscle strength, looking at your posture and movement patterns, and sometimes performing specific tests to assess nerve involvement.
This isn’t a 5-minute once-over. We take our time because an accurate assessment is the difference between effective treatment and wasted sessions.
Manual therapy
Hands-on treatment is where most patients feel the biggest immediate difference. Joint mobilizations restore movement to stiff spinal segments. Soft tissue techniques release tight, guarded muscles. For many people, there’s a noticeable reduction in pain after the very first session.
Exercise prescription
This is the part that makes the results stick. We’ll prescribe specific exercises to strengthen your core, activate your glutes, improve your hip mobility, and stabilize your spine. These aren’t generic exercises off the internet, they’re selected based on your specific assessment findings.
Most programs start with 4 to 5 exercises that take about 15 minutes a day. We’ll progress them as you get stronger.
Acupuncture and dry needling
For muscle-related back pain especially those stubborn trigger points in the erector spinae or quadratus lumborum acupuncture or dry needling can speed up recovery. It’s not the right fit for everyone, but when it works, patients often feel a significant release within the session.
Education and self-management
We spend time teaching you how to manage flare-ups on your own: which positions to avoid, how to lift safely, when to use ice vs. heat, and how to modify your workstation. The goal is always to make you independent, not dependent on coming to see us forever.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
The honest answer depends on three things: what’s causing the pain, how long you’ve had it, and how consistent you are with your exercises.
Acute lower back pain (less than 6 weeks) typically responds within 4 to 6 sessions. Most patients see improvement after the first or second visit. Full resolution usually takes 3 to 6 weeks.
Chronic lower back pain (more than 3 months) takes longer – often 8 to 12 sessions over 2 to 3 months. The focus shifts from just pain relief to strengthening, movement retraining, and changing habits.
Research supports physiotherapy as a first-line treatment for lower back pain, ahead of imaging, medication, or surgery in most cases.
5 Things You Can Do Right Now for Your Back
While you’re waiting for your appointment, here are a few things that can help:
- Keep moving. Bed rest makes back pain worse. Walk gently, even if it’s uncomfortable at first.
- Try the position of ease. Lying on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor takes pressure off the lumbar spine.
- Use heat for muscle pain (a hot water bottle or warm shower on the sore area for 15 to 20 minutes).
- Avoid prolonged sitting. Set a timer to stand and move every 30 minutes.
- Don’t push through sharp pain. Mild discomfort is okay; sharp, shooting pain means you’re doing too much.
Physiotherapy for Lower Back Pain in Orleans
At Revive Physiotherapy, lower back pain is our bread and butter. Our team of registered physiotherapists sees it every day, and we’ve developed a track record of helping people get back to the things they care about, whether that’s picking up their kids, getting back to the gym, or simply sitting through a workday without wincing.
We’re located at 4473 Innes Road, Suite #104, in Orleans. Private treatment rooms. Free parking. Direct billing to most insurance providers.
Call (343) 308-3225 for a free phone consultation, or book online.
FAQ: Lower Back Pain and Physiotherapy
Should I see a doctor or a physiotherapist for lower back pain?
For most mechanical lower back pain (no red flags like fever, unexplained weight loss, or nerve symptoms in both legs), a physiotherapist is the right first step. In Ontario, you don’t need a referral. If we suspect something that requires medical investigation, we’ll refer you promptly.
Is walking good for lower back pain?
Yes, gentle walking is one of the best things you can do. It promotes blood flow, prevents stiffness, and keeps your muscles from weakening. Start with short walks (10 to 15 minutes) and increase as tolerated.
Can physiotherapy fix a herniated disc?
Physiotherapy can’t “push a disc back in,” but it can manage the symptoms effectively and help the disc heal on its own. Research shows that the majority of disc herniations resolve without surgery. Physiotherapy focuses on reducing pain, restoring movement, and preventing recurrence.
How do I prevent lower back pain from coming back?
Stay consistent with your exercises (especially core strengthening). Maintain a healthy weight. Stay active. Set up your workstation properly. And if you feel the first signs of a flare-up, don’t wait, book a session early. A single follow-up visit can often stop a recurrence in its tracks.
Author: Fadi Salama, MPT, Registered Physiotherapist
Fadi is the founder of Revive Physiotherapy in Orleans. He has over a decade of experience treating musculoskeletal conditions and specializes in spinal rehabilitation.