What to expect from physiotherapy for non-specific low back pain

Non-specific low back pain means the assessment does not identify one clear structural cause that explains every symptom. A physiotherapist may review your history, spinal movement, hip movement, strength, balance and how pain changes with positions or tasks.

Treatment commonly combines reassurance, advice about staying active and exercises that improve confidence, mobility and load tolerance. The plan may include trunk, hip and leg strengthening, with changes based on your response rather than a fixed routine.

Keep gently moving through the day and break up long periods in one position. Perform the prescribed exercises regularly, but tell your therapist if symptoms spread, become progressively stronger or remain worse after activity.

Practise useful tasks such as lifting, sitting, walking or work movements with the technique and pacing discussed in your session. Recovery can include occasional symptom changes while your activity capacity is rebuilt.

Seek urgent medical care for new loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the saddle area, or rapidly worsening weakness in a leg. Prompt assessment is also needed with fever, unexplained weight loss, major trauma, or severe pain that is constant and worsening.

Ask which activities are safe to continue, how to modify work or sleep positions, how to progress strengthening, and which changes should trigger a reassessment.