LOW BACK PAIN.
Most low back episodes never get a specific diagnosis, and most don't need one. What they need is a back that can tolerate more than it currently can. We treat low back pain the way we train athletes: progressive loading with a defined endpoint, whether that's a 400-pound deadlift or a full day of yard work without paying for it after.
Book a Free ConsultWHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
- →Most non-radicular (no leg pain) low back issues resolve with structured strength work, not rest.
- →Imaging findings like "disc bulges" are common in pain-free adults. Imaging alone does not dictate treatment.
- →Re-injury risk drops sharply when the full hip + core + back system is loaded progressively, not isolated with a handout of bird-dogs.
- →Typical return to full load: 6-12 weeks for most acute episodes, longer for chronic cases with heavy deconditioning.
HOW WE APPROACH IT.
SETTLE THE FLARE
The first week or two is about calming things down without shutting you down. We find the movements you tolerate, modify the ones you don't, and keep you training. Extended bed rest slows recovery. We don't prescribe it.
REBUILD CAPACITY
Hinge, squat, carry, and trunk work, progressed week over week. If your life includes picking heavy things up off the floor, your rehab has to include that too, at loads high enough to actually change tissue, which is further than most clinic programs ever take you.
RETURN TO LOAD
Whatever you were doing before: deadlifting, running mileage, a physical job, a toddler who wants to be carried everywhere, comes back on a written progression, with symptoms tracked session to session so we know when to push and when to hold.
WHICH PLAN FITS?
Low back rehab usually fits one of these two:
QUICK ANSWERS.
Should I get an MRI before starting PT?
Usually no. For most non-radicular low back pain (pain that does not shoot down the leg), imaging does not change the plan and often makes things worse by anchoring you to a scary-sounding finding. If you have red flags: significant leg weakness, loss of bladder/bowel control, unexplained weight loss, then yes, see a doctor first.
Can I still lift while dealing with back pain?
Usually. The key is modification (reducing load, reducing range, or changing the exercise) not stopping. Loading through pain-free ranges keeps tissue tolerant and prevents the deconditioning that makes rehab drag out.
Is it safe to run through low back pain?
Depends on the pain and the runner. If running is making it worse over time or the pain is escalating, we pull back. If it is stable and tolerable, we keep you running and work on capacity around it. We would rather modify than stop.
BUILD A BACK THAT HOLDS UP.
Free 15-minute call. We'll talk through how long you've dealt with it, what you've tried, and what a real rehab plan looks like.
Book a Free Consult