Why Your Back Pain Keeps Coming Back — And How Physiotherapy in Brighton & Hove Can Help

Not just ‘one of those things’

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people seek physiotherapy in Brighton & Hove. And yet, so many people still accept it as “just one of those things” — as though backs are somehow destined to go from time to time. That isn’t true. Your back is resilient, and if it keeps “going” on you, there’s a clear reason for it.

Often, people describe episodes that start with something simple — bending forward to tie shoelaces, reaching awkwardly to grab something, or standing up after sitting. These are not activities that should cripple a healthy spine. What’s happening in these cases is not usually a structural injury like a fracture or a slipped disc. Instead, your lower back is being mechanically overloaded.

Overloading the back

Other parts of your body — your hips, hamstrings, thoracic spine, or your core stabilisers — aren’t pulling their weight. That leaves the lumbar spine to do too much. It can cope for a while, but eventually, like the overworked member of a football team, it reaches breaking point. One player doing all the running might last a match or two, but sooner or later, they’ll tell you they’ve had enough. Your back works the same way.

This is why episodes of back pain can feel so random: fine for a while, then suddenly it goes. Fine for a while, then it goes again. It’s not random — it’s mechanical overload. And the good news? Mechanical problems can be fixed.

What about strengthening the back?

This is also why the “just strengthen your back” approach doesn’t always work — and can even make things worse. A personal trainer might hand you a program of deadlifts and back extensions. That may help for a short while, but if all you do is strengthen the part of your body that’s already overloaded, you’re only pushing it harder and setting yourself up for another flare-up. Strengthening the back is part of the solution, yes, but only when combined with improving mobility, balance, and efficiency in the rest of the system.

How I can help you

As a physiotherapist — and as someone who’s personally been through years of back pain — I know this firsthand. In my mid-20s, I had such severe back pain that I spent three months in hospital. Now at 41, I lift weights, I run, I carry my children on my shoulders up the hills of Brighton (sometimes two at a time). The lesson I learned is that back pain doesn’t have to be suffered. It can be managed, and overcome.

At Life is Movement, we specialise in finding out why your back is being overloaded. Through a detailed clinical assessment, we can pinpoint which areas — hips, hamstrings, thoracic spine, or elsewhere — aren’t doing their job. Using manual therapy and targeted exercise, we bring those areas back online, reducing the strain on your lower back. We can then use our speciality exercise equipment to train and strengthen your back, when the time is right. That’s how you get a long-term solution, not just a temporary fix.

Back pain doesn’t have to be a recurring part of your life. If you’ve had more than a few episodes, or if you’re tired of the cycle of “rest until it feels better, then wait for it to go again,” it’s time to take action.

👉 If you’re struggling with recurring back pain, get in touch with Life is Movement in Hove. Together, we can take the load off your back — literally — and get you moving with confidence again.