The Real Problem With Your Back
You've tried stretching. You've tried rest. You've tried heat packs, massage, and anti-inflammatories. And it keeps coming back. That's because none of those things rebuild your back's capacity to handle load.
Pain is a signal — not the problem. When your lower back flares up repeatedly, it's telling you the structures can't handle what you're asking of them. Rest reduces the signal. Stretching reduces the signal. But neither one increases your back's tolerance. So the moment you return to training, lifting, or even sitting at a desk for 8 hours — it flares again.
How I Treat Lower Back Pain
I don't chase the pain. I rebuild the system.
Step 1: Identify the driver. Is it disc-related, facet joint, neural tension, or deconditioning? Each one requires a fundamentally different approach. Get this wrong and you're spinning your wheels.
Step 2: Progressive loading. Once the driver is identified, we systematically increase your back's capacity to handle load. This means exercises that challenge the system slightly beyond its current tolerance — consistently, over weeks. Not one good week followed by a flare.
Step 3: Build lasting capacity. The goal isn't to get you pain-free for a week. It's to build enough structural capacity that your back handles your life — training, work, sport — without complaining.
Common Conditions I Treat
Disc bulges and herniations — Most resolve without surgery when managed with progressive loading and movement modification. The research is clear on this.
Facet joint irritation — Often presents as one-sided pain that's worse with extension. Responds well to targeted strengthening and load management.
Chronic non-specific back pain — The most common presentation. Usually driven by deconditioning and fear-avoidance. Progressive exposure to load is the treatment.
Sciatica and nerve referral — Pain radiating down the leg. Requires precise identification of the driver (disc, stenosis, or neural tension) before treatment can be effective.
What Makes My Approach Different
I'm not going to give you a stretch sheet and send you on your way. Every session has a purpose. Progress is tracked against real metrics — not just how you feel on the day. And the goal is always the same: build a back that doesn't need managing.
I've spent 15+ years treating backs — from AFL athletes at Port Power to tradies who use their body for a living. I know what works because I've seen what doesn't.
Same-Day Appointments Available
If your back pain has lasted more than a few weeks, or if it keeps coming back, don't wait. The longer you leave it, the more deconditioned the system becomes. Book a consultation and let's start the rebuild.