Low back pain is one of the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions, affecting up to 80% of adults at some point in their lives. The lumbar spine is responsible for supporting body weight, absorbing shock, and enabling movement — making it highly susceptible to injury and degenerative changes. Pain may arise from muscles, discs, joints, ligaments, or nerves and can vary from localized stiffness to radiating leg pain.
Our approach to treat back pain is based on the latest science. In many cases, lumbar pain comes about due to localized weakness in the muscles that surround the spine. There are two columns of muscles, referred to as paraspinal muscles, that run up and down the sides of the spine. These columns of lumbar paraspinal muscles can take the load off injured regions of the spine, allowing for healing and back pain relief to occur. In order to grow and become stronger, the paraspinal muscles must be activated in very specific ways, with a lot of care and specialized expertise and equipment. We use a combination of targeted injections, spinal segmental mobilization, therapeutic modalities, and targeted physical medicine approaches to relieve pain and inflammation in the short term, and build paraspinal muscle strength and flexibility for permanent and effective back pain relief. Our treatment approach has helped countless patients who have back pain and have failed other treatment options, to finally live an active, pain-free life. Common lumbar spine conditions we treat include:
Lumbar Strain and Sprain
Strains affect the muscles and tendons, while sprains involve the ligaments supporting the lumbar spine. These injuries typically result from lifting, twisting, or overuse and can cause sharp pain, muscle tightness, and reduced range of motion. We use soft tissue therapy, laser therapy to accelerate tissue repair, and progressive loading exercises to restore function and reduce re-injury risk.
Herniated or Bulging Discs
A disc herniation occurs when the inner core of the disc protrudes and compresses adjacent nerve roots. This can cause back pain, sciatica, numbness, or weakness. Bulging discs are less focal but can still irritate neural structures. We use core reconditioning, and laser therapy to reduce inflammation and promote disc recovery.
Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)
Sciatica results from compression or inflammation of a lumbar nerve root, most often due to disc herniation or foraminal narrowing. Symptoms include sharp, shooting pain down the leg, tingling, or muscle weakness. Treatment includes nerve glides, dry needling, targeted strengthening, and laser therapy to reduce neural inflammation and pain sensitivity.
Degenerative Disc Disease / Lumbar Spondylosis
As we age, the intervertebral discs and facet joints undergo degenerative changes that may lead to chronic pain and stiffness. This can cause limited motion and flare-ups with activity or prolonged sitting. Our care combines mobility work, isometric stabilization, dry needling, and laser therapy to manage symptoms and support disc health.
Spinal Stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis involves narrowing of the spinal canal, often from arthritis or disc degeneration. It can lead to leg fatigue, back pain, or neurogenic claudication. We address this through flexion-based rehab, core and gluteal strengthening, and laser therapy to reduce inflammation around the nerve roots.
Spondylolisthesis
Spondylolisthesis occurs when one vertebra slips forward relative to the one below it, causing instability or nerve compression. This often presents with pain during extension or activity. We focus on movement retraining, trunk stabilization, activity modification, and laser-assisted pain relief to facilitate healing and improve performance.
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum to the ilium on each side of the pelvis and are essential for force transfer between the spine and legs. SI dysfunction can present as sharp or aching pain in the low back, buttocks, or groin, often aggravated by walking, standing, or rolling in bed. We address this through pelvic stabilization, gluteal retraining, joint mobilization, and laser therapy to relieve inflammation.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Chronic muscular pain from myofascial trigger points often mimics other lumbar conditions and is linked to postural stress or repetitive movement. We address this through soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, laser therapy for cellular recovery, and progressive loading to restore tissue tolerance.