Low Back Pain
Understanding Low Back Pain
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and one of the most common reasons people seek healthcare. The vast majority of low back pain is mechanical in nature — arising from the muscles, joints, discs, and ligaments of the lumbar spine — and responds well to active management. Most acute episodes resolve significantly within six weeks, though some become chronic without appropriate treatment.
Causes of Low Back Pain
- Muscle strain or ligament sprain from heavy lifting or sudden movement
- Disc injury — bulging, herniation, or degeneration
- Facet joint dysfunction and arthritis
- Poor posture and prolonged sitting
- Weak core and hip muscles reducing spinal support
- Multifidus muscle atrophy following injury
- Obesity increasing spinal load
- Psychological factors — stress and anxiety amplify pain perception
Symptoms of Low Back Pain
- Localised aching or sharp low back pain
- Morning stiffness easing with movement
- Pain worsened by bending, lifting, or prolonged sitting
- Muscle spasm
- Referred pain into the buttock or thigh
- In complex cases: radiating leg pain, numbness, or weakness (see Sciatica)
Treatment
- Manual therapy, joint mobilisation, and manipulation
- Targeted core and lumbar stabilisation exercises
- McKenzie directional preference exercises for disc presentations
- Postural correction and ergonomic assessment
- Dry needling for muscle spasm
- Education on pain science and activity resumption
Rehabilitation & Exercise
Caution: Perform all exercises only as directed by your Healthweave clinician. Stop any exercise that increases your pain and inform your practitioner. Exercise programs are tailored to individual needs and must not be self-prescribed.
Low back pain rehabilitation focuses on restoring movement, activating deep stabilising muscles (particularly the multifidus and transversus abdominis), and gradually returning to full function. Stay as active as pain allows — bed rest prolongs recovery.
- Deep core activation — transversus abdominis and multifidus retraining
- Pelvic tilts and lumbar mobility exercises
- Bridging exercises for gluteal and core activation
- Bird-dog exercise for spinal stabilisation
- Hip flexor stretching to reduce lumbar lordosis load
- Progressive return to full activity and exercise
Specialist & Regenerative Medicine Options
For persistent low back pain with identified structural changes (disc degeneration, facet arthropathy, multifidus atrophy), our Prestidge sports physicians can offer specialist interventional treatments.
- Facet Joint Injections — Targeted corticosteroid injection into arthritic facet joints for effective pain relief.
- Medial Branch Blocks — Diagnostic and therapeutic injections for confirmed facet-mediated pain.
- Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) — For confirmed facet pain, nerve ablation can provide extended relief, facilitating long-term rehabilitation.
- Epidural Steroid Injections — For disc-related or nerve-root mediated low back pain.
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy — Peri-discal or facet joint PRP to reduce inflammation and support tissue health.
- Prolotherapy — To address sacroiliac and spinal ligamentous laxity.
- Stem Cell Therapy — For significant intervertebral disc degeneration within current TGA guidelines.
- Peptide Therapy — Where clinically appropriate following individual assessment. A valid prescription is required.
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) — Where clinically confirmed low testosterone contributes to muscle weakness and poor recovery. Suitability is assessed following a comprehensive pathology review. A prescription is required.
Our sports and exercise physicians at Prestidge work alongside your treating clinician to determine the most appropriate option for your condition, goals, and stage of recovery. All injectable and prescription treatments are subject to individual clinical assessment. Visit healthweave.com.au or prestidge.com.au to learn more.
Important: All specialist consultations, prescription treatments, and injectable procedures are subject to individual clinical assessment by a registered medical practitioner. Suitability, benefits, and risks will be discussed at your consultation. No outcomes are guaranteed. Prescription medicines are only available following appropriate medical review in accordance with TGA and AHPRA requirements. Exercise programs should be performed only as directed by your Healthweave clinician. Exercise images © CPDO / Educom Pty. Ltd. — used under licence.