Lower back pain is so common that nearly everyone will feel it at some point. If your back has started aching and you are not sure why, the uncertainty can be as unsettling as the pain itself. The reassuring truth is that most lower back pain is what we call non-specific, meaning it comes from the muscles, joints and soft tissues rather than anything sinister, and it usually settles with movement and time.
This guide, written by our physiotherapy team, walks through the common reasons a lower back hurts, explains why scans are rarely needed early, and flags the warning signs that do deserve prompt medical attention.
The Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
Your lower back is a busy structure of bones, discs, joints, ligaments and muscles that carries your body weight and lets you bend and twist all day. Pain can come from any of these, and often from a combination. Here are the causes we see most often.
Muscle or ligament strain
Lifting awkwardly, a sudden twist or overdoing it in the garden can strain the soft tissues. This is the single most common cause and usually eases within days to weeks.
Prolonged sitting and posture
Long hours slouched at a desk or on the sofa keep the back loaded in one position, tighten the hips and switch off supporting muscles, leaving a stiff, dull ache.
Disc problems
The cushions between your vertebrae can bulge or become irritated, sometimes pressing on a nearby nerve. Many disc changes are painless and part of normal ageing.
Sciatica
When a nerve in the lower back is irritated, pain, tingling or numbness can travel down into the buttock and leg. It often settles with the right physiotherapy.
Facet joint irritation
The small joints at the back of the spine can become stiff or inflamed, often causing pain that worsens when you lean or arch backwards.
Weak core and sedentary living
When the deep muscles that support your spine are weak and the body rarely moves, everyday tasks place more strain on the back, and pain becomes more likely.
Why You Usually Do Not Need a Scan
Many people assume an X-ray or MRI is the first step. In fact, for most new back pain, scans are not helpful early on and can even be misleading. They often show disc bulges and wear-and-tear changes that are perfectly normal for your age and that exist in plenty of people with no pain at all. A careful physiotherapy assessment usually tells us far more about why your back hurts and what to do about it.
A sore back is not a fragile back. In most cases the safest thing you can do is keep moving, gently and often.
Red Flags That Need Urgent Review
While most back pain is harmless, a few symptoms warrant prompt medical assessment rather than watchful waiting. Seek help without delay if you notice:
- Severe pain, or pain that keeps getting worse rather than easing
- Weakness, numbness or pins and needles in one or both legs
- Numbness around the saddle area, or new bladder or bowel changes
- Back pain following a significant fall or accident
- Pain with unexplained weight loss, fever or feeling generally unwell
These are uncommon, but they are the situations where early review matters. If in doubt, it is always sensible to get checked.
How Physiotherapy Helps
At our Kakkanad clinic we begin with a thorough assessment of your posture, movement, joint mobility and muscle strength, so we understand why your back hurts rather than just where. From there we combine hands-on treatment to ease pain and stiffness with a personalised exercise plan that rebuilds the strength and control your spine needs. We also look at your daily habits, work setup and lifestyle so the improvement lasts. You can read more about the problems we treat on our back pain page, and about our musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lower back pain usually serious?
No. The great majority of lower back pain is non-specific and mechanical, meaning it comes from muscles, joints and soft tissues rather than serious disease. It typically settles with movement, time and the right guidance. Only a small number of cases involve the red flag symptoms that need urgent review.
Should I rest or keep moving with back pain?
Gentle movement is usually far better than prolonged rest. Staying as active as your pain allows keeps the joints and muscles working and tends to speed recovery. Long bed rest can actually make a stiff, sore back worse.
Do I need an MRI for my back?
Usually not early on. Scans often reveal normal age-related changes that do not explain the pain and can cause needless worry. A physiotherapy assessment is generally more useful for guiding treatment, with scans reserved for specific concerns.
How can physiotherapy fix my lower back?
We identify the cause, ease your pain with hands-on treatment, and build a tailored strengthening and movement plan so the problem does not keep returning. Most people with ordinary back pain improve well without injections or surgery.
Understand Your Back Pain, Then Fix It
Book a lower back assessment with Dr. Noora at Proud Physio & Wellness, Kakkanad. Open every day, evening slots available.
Call +91 80894 14419 Book Online