Why Your Lower Back Pain Keeps Coming Back
Lower back pain often doesn’t behave like we expect it to.
It might improve for a few days… or even a few weeks… before returning again when you bend, sit for too long, or get back into exercise.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. It’s something we see regularly in clinic.
Rather than being a sign that something is “damaged,” recurring back pain is often a sign that the area hasn’t fully rebuilt its tolerance to everyday load and movement.
Many people who come to us are worried that there’s something seriously “wrong” with their back, and this will only get worse over time. The good news is that only around 1% of cases of lower back pain are due to “serious” pathology, like fractures, tumours or infections. Around 90-95% of cases are caused by a variety of causes that are usually lumped together under the heading of “non-specific lower back pain:”. (1) However, it’s our job as Osteopaths to work with you to create strategies that reduce symptoms and build function
Why back pain keeps returning
There are usually multiple factors involved, rather than one clear cause.
Some of the most common include:
- Prolonged sitting or repetitive postures, especially if this involves vibration, such as driving/operating heavy machinery (2).
- Sudden return to activity after rest
- Reduced strength through the hips and trunk
- Stiffness through the lower back or surrounding areas
- Stress, sleep disruption, and fatigue
- Previous episodes that never fully resolved
When these factors combine, your back can become more sensitive to everyday demands.
Why rest alone often isn’t enough
Rest can help settle symptoms in the short term.
However, if the underlying issue relates to how your body is managing load and movement, then simply waiting often doesn’t change much in the long term.
This is why many people experience a cycle of:
- Pain flare-up
- Rest or reduced activity
- Temporary improvement
- Pain returning again
What we look at in clinic
When someone comes in with ongoing or recurring back pain, we focus on understanding:
- How your spine and hips are moving
- How your body is handling load and repetition
- Your strength and control through key areas
- Your daily activity patterns (work, sport, parenting)
The goal is to understand why your back is reacting this way, not just where the pain is located.
We know that there are a few main reasons people come to see us about their lower back pain. These are:
- You’re in pain, and you just want it to stop
- This pain is causing you to miss out on doing the things you enjoy, or have to do like work
- The pain is interfering with your mood, making you sad, depressed or even angry, and
- Overall, it’s just affecting your quality of life.
How treatment may help
Depending on your presentation, care may include:
- Hands-on treatment to improve mobility and reduce sensitivity
- Exercise-based rehabilitation to rebuild strength and control
- Guidance around movement, posture, and load management
- Strategies to help you return to activity confidently
The aim is to help your body become more resilient over time, not just feel better temporarily.
When to get your back pain checked
It may be helpful to seek assessment if:
- Your pain keeps returning after improving
- You avoid certain movements or activities
- It’s affecting your work, sleep, or exercise
- You feel like you’re “managing it” rather than resolving it
Related support
This often overlaps with:
- Lower back pain treatment in Essendon
- Sports injury rehabilitation
- Shockwave therapy for persistent tendon pain
Book an appointment
If your lower back pain keeps coming back, we can help you understand what’s driving it and work with you on a clear plan forward.
Call us on (03) 9372 7714, or book online today.
References:
- Rafael Zambelli Pinto, Alice Kongsted, Samuel Silva, Jill A Hayden, Aron Downie, Bruno T Saragiotto,
Recent highlights in low back pain research, Part I: Diagnosis and Prognosis,
Journal of Physiotherapy,
Volume 72, Issue 1,
2026,
Pages 23-32, - Lis AM, Black KM, Korn H, Nordin M.
Association between sitting and occupational LBP.
Eur Spine J.
2007 Feb;16(2):283-98. doi: 10.1007/s00586-006-0143-7. Epub 2006 May 31. PMID: 16736200; PMCID: PMC2200681.