Back pain and injuries to the back are extremely common, and can be detrimental to people’s health and wellbeing, as well as contributing to time off exercise and sport. Injuries to the low back can occur acutely, such as when lifting something off the floor or bending down suddenly, from an awkward movement or twist in sport, or can develop overtime due to overuse, or sometimes with no clear and obvious reason. Without appropriate management, low back pain can become chronic causing reduced physical capacity, stress, and loss of strength/mobility due to disuse.

At Optimise Sports Physiotherapy & Performance, we commonly assess and treat a range of back pain and injuries. We ensure you have a clear and accurate diagnosis, that can identify the root cause of the issue so an appropriate individualised treatment plan can be designed according to your needs.

Types of Back Pain and Injuries

Common back injuries and issues we treat include:

• Strains/Sprains – Most commonly occurring in the lumbar spine (low back) or thoracic spine (mid back) due to an overstretch of the muscles/ligaments from heavy lifting, a sudden movement, or awkwardly bending/twisting
• Bulging / Herniated Discs – Injury can be associated with a herniated disc that can compress a nearby nerve, causing possible loss of sensation and weakness
• Sciatica – irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve can cause pain that radiates down the leg
• Sacroiliac Joint pain – Pain and stiffness at the joint connecting the spine and pelvis, which can sometimes be caused by inflammation also known as sacroiliitis
• Chronic Low Back Pain – Often caused by a mix of lifestyle factors, repeat injuries, and/or sustained/repeat postures
• Lumbar Stress Fractures (Spondylolysis) – Often occurring in bony segments in the low back known as the pars or pedicle, common in youth athletes due to repeat high load activities
• Post Surgical Rehabilitation – Often for recovery post spinal discectomy/fusion

Signs & Symptoms

Back injuries may present with:

• Focal pain, spasm, or stiffness
• Referring pain down the leg with possible associated weakness
• Numbness, burning, or pins & needles at the leg
• Movement related pain (e.g. lumbar flexion or extension-based pain)
• Difficulty with sustained postures (e.g. prolonged sitting or standing)

Early diagnosis and treatment is important to rectify the issue, minimise the risk of it becoming chronic, and may warrant further investigation with imaging or a specialist referral in certain cases

Recovery Timeline for Back Pain and Injuries

Recovery can vary depending on injury type and severity, injury history, and lifestyle factors:

Injury Type	Expected Recovery	Notes
Strain/Sprain	2–4 weeks	Early physiotherapy helps aid quick and early recovery
Mild Disc Bulge	6–12 weeks	Good recovery with structured rehab program and pain management
Sciatica	Weeks–months	Early diagnosis important to determine nerve involvement & appropriate management
Stress fracture	3–6+ months	Typically need to avoid Back extension in early recovery. Needs MRI for confirmation

Timeframes are estimated based on typical physiotherapy presentations – your recovery may be different

Why Individualised Treatment is Important for Back Pain and Injuries

No two backs are the same, and similar injuries can have vastly different impairments in individual to individual. Therefore, identifying key issues that can impact recovery, including factors such as muscle weakness, movement compensations, reduced mobility, loss of endurance, and apprehension etc is essential.

Our treatment approach includes:

• Detailed Assessment to diagnose the injury and main source of the issue
• Individualised Rehabilitation Program to improve strength, mobility, endurance, and motor control
• Manual therapy to help reduce pain and stiffness
• Activity Modification helping manage symptoms while recovering and understanding the do’s and dont’s during rehab to aid recovery
• Education regarding ongoing preventative programs and lifestyle factors that can reduce chronic pain and injury risk

 

Why Early Physiotherapy Helps

Seeking early physiotherapy treatment can help:

• Establish a clear rehabilitation plan
• Give reassurance and expectations on recovery timelines
• Achieve your exercise and sport related short & long-term goals
• Reduce pain and stiffness
• Improve strength and mobility
• Minimise apprehension or potential asymmetries that have occurred
• Provide strategies to reduce future injury risk
• Reduce risk of chronic pain
• Improve lifestyle related factors that can increase risk of injury and pain (e.g. sustained postures, sleep, diet, activity levels)

If you’ve had a back injury, or are experiencing back pain, don’t put it off and just hope it goes away.  Early physiotherapy can help you understand the root cause of your issue and how to rectify it. Book your appoint online today or contact Optimise Sports Physiotherapy to get on top of your injury.

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