Low back pain doesn't mean you stop lifting or training. Our fellowship-trained Doctors of PT diagnose the root cause — mechanical pain, disc herniation, or facet syndrome — and build a plan to get you back to full activity.
Common Diagnoses
Low back pain isn't just one thing. Click each section below to learn about the three most common causes we see in lifters and athletes — and what to do about each one.
Mechanical low back pain is nonspecific pain arising from muscles, ligaments, or joints in the lumbar spine due to overload or faulty movement patterns. It's the most common type of low back pain in athletes and accounts for 85-90% of all back pain cases.
Mechanical low back pain occurs when tissue load exceeds capacity. Common contributing factors include:
We identify the root cause — weak stabilizers, poor hip mobility, or faulty mechanics — and build a progressive loading program to fix it. Most athletes with mechanical back pain can stay training with modifications while we address the underlying issues.
A disc herniation happens when the soft, gel-like center of a spinal disc pushes through its outer casing — putting pressure on a nearby nerve. When the nerve is compressed, it causes radiculopathy — pain, numbness, or weakness radiating down the leg (commonly called sciatica).
Disc herniations occur when repetitive or high-load flexion/rotation exceeds disc capacity. Contributing factors include:
Most disc herniations heal with conservative care. We identify specific movements that help draw the pain away from your leg and back toward your spine — a sign the nerve is decompressing. Often these involve gentle backward bending, which many patients find surprising but effective. Surgery is rarely needed — progressive loading and mechanical diagnosis work for the vast majority of cases.
Facet syndrome (facet joint pain) occurs when the small joints in the back of the spine become irritated or inflamed. These joints guide spinal motion and bear load during extension and rotation. Pain is typically worsened by arching backward or twisting.
Facet syndrome develops when the facet joints are overloaded, often due to repetitive extension or rotation. Common causes include:
We use manual therapy to restore facet joint mobility and reduce irritation, combined with core stabilization and movement retraining to offload the joints. We also address thoracic mobility and hip extension deficits that force the lumbar spine to overwork. Most athletes respond well to conservative care.
Evidence-Based Resources
Back pain doesn't mean you stop training. A Doctor of PT breaks down the root causes and gives you 3 evidence-backed exercises to keep lifting.
Leg pain from a disc herniation doesn't always mean surgery. Here's how to manage symptoms and continue training intelligently.
Book a free 15-minute phone call with a Doctor of PT. We'll figure out what's going on and build a plan to get you back to training.