Lower back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal problems we treat at The Healing Joint in Scottsdale. It can develop gradually from repetitive stress, poor movement patterns, arthritis, or disc degeneration, or it can begin suddenly after lifting, exercise, running, prolonged sitting, or an injury.
One of the most important things to understand about lower back pain is that it does not always come from one structure. The lumbar discs, facet joints, sacroiliac joints, hip muscles, core muscles, and even the way you walk or run can all influence how much stress is placed on the lower back.
At The Healing Joint, our goal is to determine which structures and movement patterns are contributing to the problem and build treatment around those findings.
Anatomy of the Lower Back
The lower back is made up of five lumbar vertebrae, labeled L1 through L5, which sit above the sacrum and pelvis. Between each vertebra is an intervertebral disc that helps absorb forces and allows the spine to move.
Behind the discs are small joints called facet joints. These joints guide spinal movement and can become irritated or arthritic over time.
The lumbar spine also connects mechanically with the pelvis, sacroiliac joints, hips, and surrounding muscles.
Important structures that can contribute to lower back pain include the lumbar intervertebral discs, facet joints, sacroiliac joints, spinal nerves, multifidus and other stabilizers, abdominal and core muscles, iliopsoas and other hip flexors, gluteal muscles, piriformis, and hip joints.
Common Causes of Lower Back Pain
Lumbar Disc Degeneration
The discs between the vertebrae can gradually lose hydration and height over time. As the disc changes, the way forces travel through the lumbar spine can also change. This can contribute to stiffness, aching, reduced mobility, and increased stress on the facet joints.
Lumbar Disc Bulge or Herniation
A lumbar disc can bulge or herniate and irritate nearby spinal nerves. When a nerve becomes involved, symptoms may travel into the buttock or leg. Patients may experience pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness depending on the nerve involved.
For more information about pain, numbness, or tingling traveling into the leg, read our complete sciatica treatment guide.
Lumbar Facet Joint Pain
Facet joints sit at the back of the lumbar vertebrae. These joints can become irritated from repetitive loading, arthritis, spinal compression, or restricted movement. Facet-related pain commonly produces localized lower back discomfort and can sometimes refer into the buttock or upper thigh.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum to the pelvis. Altered SI joint mechanics can contribute to pain around the lower back, pelvis, and buttock region. Hip mobility, muscular imbalance, walking mechanics, and previous injury can all influence how forces pass through the SI joints.
Tight Hip Flexors
The iliopsoas is a powerful hip flexor that connects the lumbar spine and pelvis to the upper femur. When hip extension becomes restricted, the body may compensate through increased movement or loading in the lumbar spine.
Weak or Poorly Coordinated Core Muscles
The abdominal muscles, multifidus, diaphragm, pelvic floor, and other stabilizers help control the trunk and support the spine during movement. When these muscles do not coordinate effectively, the lumbar spine may absorb more stress during lifting, exercise, walking, and running.
Hip and Gluteal Dysfunction
The hips play an important role in absorbing and transferring forces during standing, walking, running, and lifting. Restricted hip mobility or poor gluteal control can cause the pelvis and lumbar spine to compensate.
Running, Walking, and Lower Back Pain
Walking and running involve coordinated movement through the lumbar spine, pelvis, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. When one part of this movement chain is restricted or poorly controlled, another area may compensate.
Symptoms That Can Accompany Lower Back Pain
- Localized aching or stiffness
- Pain with sitting or standing
- Pain with bending or lifting
- Pain with spinal extension or rotation
- Pain around the SI joint or buttock
- Tightness through the hips
- Pain after walking or running
- Pain traveling into the leg
- Numbness or tingling
- Muscle spasms
- Reduced spinal or hip mobility
How We Evaluate Lower Back Pain
At The Healing Joint, the examination may include lumbar spinal movement, facet joint mobility, sacroiliac joint mechanics, hip mobility, muscle flexibility, core control, neurologic function when indicated, gait and movement patterns, and areas of muscular restriction.
Treatment for Lower Back Pain at The Healing Joint
Lower back pain often improves best when we treat both the painful structures and the movement problems that are continuing to stress them. Treatment is designed to first reduce pain and irritation, restore better joint and soft-tissue mobility, and then reinforce those changes with corrective exercise.
Chiropractic Manipulation and Joint Mobilization
We use chiropractic manipulation and joint mobilization to restore motion in areas of the lumbar spine, SI joints, pelvis, and hips that are not moving properly. When one area becomes restricted, nearby joints often compensate by moving too much or absorbing additional stress. Restoring motion helps distribute forces more evenly and makes corrective exercise easier to perform with better mechanics.
Spinal Decompression
For selected patients with disc degeneration, disc bulging, disc herniation, or nerve irritation, we use spinal decompression to gently unload the lumbar spine. Controlled traction can reduce mechanical pressure through the discs and surrounding structures. The amount of traction, positioning, and progression are individualized to the patient’s condition and response.
Class IV Laser Therapy
We use Class IV laser therapy over painful or irritated joints and soft tissues to help reduce pain and tissue irritation while supporting recovery. Reducing discomfort allows patients to move more comfortably and progress more effectively through mobility work and exercise.
Acupuncture
We use acupuncture to help reduce pain, muscular tension, and protective guarding around the lower back, hips, and pelvis. Calming tight tissues can make it easier to restore normal movement.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation is useful when lower back pain is acute or accompanied by significant muscle spasm. We use it to reduce pain and help relax guarded muscles so patients can move and tolerate treatment more comfortably.
Active Release Technique and Soft-Tissue Treatment
We address restrictions in muscles such as the iliopsoas, quadratus lumborum, lumbar paraspinals, gluteals, piriformis, and hamstrings. Restoring soft-tissue mobility helps reduce abnormal pulling on the pelvis and spine.
Corrective and Home Exercises
Exercise is one of the most important parts of long-term improvement. Hands-on care improves mobility and reduces pain, while exercise helps the patient maintain and control those changes. Exercises may focus on core stability, gluteal strength, hip mobility, hip flexor flexibility, lumbar control, pelvic stability, and walking or running mechanics. Patients can also review our Low Back & Hip Exercises resource.
Patients who remain consistent with both treatment and home exercises generally make the strongest and most lasting progress.
Lower Back Pain Treatment in Scottsdale
If lower back pain is interfering with work, exercise, walking, running, sleep, or everyday activities, a thorough evaluation can help identify which structures and movement patterns are contributing to the problem.
At The Healing Joint in Scottsdale, we combine chiropractic care, spinal decompression, acupuncture, Active Release Technique and soft-tissue treatment, Class IV laser therapy, joint mobilization, electrical stimulation, and corrective exercise according to each patient’s individual findings.
