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RISE
RISE
Sports & Spinal
0409 794 007
Osteopathy · Low Back Pain

Low back
pain.

The most common thing we treat — and one of the most fixable.

Around 80% of Australian adults experience low back pain at some point in their lives (lifetime prevalence measured at 79.2% in a population-based survey of 3,000 Australian adults — Walker, Muller and Grant, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2004).

Last updated: October 2026

Around 80% of Australian adults experience low back pain at some point in their lives (lifetime prevalence measured at 79.2% in a population-based survey of 3,000 Australian adults — Walker, Muller and Grant, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, 2004). Whether it came on suddenly lifting something, or crept in over months of desk work, there's almost always a clear mechanical cause — and a clear path out.

Common causes

Disc irritation

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Bulges or herniations pressing on nerves or causing local inflammation. Often worse with sitting and bending forward.

Facet joint dysfunction

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Small joints at the back of the spine that can lock or inflame. Often worse with extension and rotation.

Muscle guarding

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Protective spasm after an acute injury. Restricts movement and perpetuates the pain cycle.

SIJ dysfunction

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The sacroiliac joint is a common and often overlooked driver of low back and gluteal pain.
Osteopath Steven Eskaf mobilising a patient’s hip and knee while they lie face down on the treatment table
Hands-on treatment at RISE Sports & Spinal.

How we treat it

We assess the whole lumbar spine, pelvis, and hips to find the mechanical driver. Treatment combines joint mobilisation, soft tissue work, and a graded loading program to rebuild tolerance and prevent recurrence. That last part matters most: exercise therapy is one of the few treatments for persistent low back pain consistently endorsed across clinical guidelines, and for acute pain the advice is to stay active rather than rest in bed (Oliveira et al., European Spine Journal, 2018).

Ready to get started?

Same-week appointments available. Initial consult 60 min · $149 · HICAPS on-site.

Common questions

FAQ: low back pain

Do I need a scan?
Usually not. Every major clinical guideline for non-specific low back pain says the same thing: take a history, examine for red flags, and reserve imaging for cases where serious pathology is suspected rather than ordering it routinely (Oliveira et al., European Spine Journal, 2018). If we suspect something that needs imaging, we'll refer you.
How long will it take?
Acute presentations often improve significantly in 3–4 sessions. Chronic or recurrent cases take longer — but you'll notice improvement early.
Should I rest or keep moving?
Keep moving. Gentle activity is almost always better than rest. We'll tell you what's safe and what to avoid.

Further reading

Show 32 more articles
Back pain red flags: when to worry and when not to →Is it my hip or my back? How to tell the difference →Why do I get back pain on my period? Causes and what helps →Lower back pain from squats: causes and how to keep training →Lower back pain when bending over: causes and what helps →Back pain at night: what it means and when to worry →Spinal stenosis: back and leg pain when walking or standing →Why does my back hurt when I cough or sneeze? →Lower back pain relief: what actually helps in the first few days →Back pain after deadlifts: should you train through it or rest? →BJJ lower back pain: why it happens and how to keep rolling →Lower back pain when sitting: causes and what helps →Tight hamstrings and lower back pain: is there a link? →Gym injuries: the lower back, and what actually causes them →Why we see so much back pain from Clyde North →Trades, machinery and back pain in Pakenham →Shift work, nursing and healthcare: the injury pattern →Drivers and delivery work: vibration, sitting and lifting →Gardening without hurting your back →Five things about osteopathy that are not true →Tailbone Pain: Why Sitting Hurts and What Helps →Cricket Fast Bowling and Lower Back Pain in Teens →Golf and Lower Back Pain: Why Your Swing Matters →Core Strength and Lower Back Pain: What Really Helps →School Bags and Back Pain: A Parent's Guide →Why Does My Back Hurt in the Morning? →Osteopath vs physio for back pain: which should you choose? →Should you see an osteopath or a GP first for back pain? →How long does it take to recover from back pain with osteopathy? →Is it normal for my back to crack during osteopathy treatment? →Facet Joint Dysfunction: A Treatable Cause of Back Pain →Muscle Guarding and Lower Back Pain: Why Muscles Are Key →

Seen enough?
Let's fix it.

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