Physiotherapy for Lower Back Pain in Glasgow

Lower back pain is the single most common reason people visit a physiotherapist – and the good news is that most cases respond well to the right combination of movement, manual therapy and progressive strengthening. You rarely need a scan to start treatment, and most patients don’t need painkillers long-term either.

At Glasgow Spinal Care, our physiotherapists take a practical, evidence-led approach to back pain. We find out what’s actually driving your symptoms – whether that’s joint stiffness, muscle weakness, postural habits, or something else – then build a plan that addresses the root cause, not just the pain itself.

Lower back pain presents in many different ways. Patients commonly come to us describing:

• A dull, persistent ache across the lower back
• Sharp pain when bending, lifting, or twisting
• Stiffness first thing in the morning that eases as you move
• Pain that gets worse after long periods of sitting or standing
• Spasms or tightness that come on without warning
• Pain that’s started after a specific injury, lift, or activity
• Chronic, recurring back pain that flares up every few months

Your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your symptoms and what brought you in, then carry out a physical examination looking at your spine’s movement in all directions, the strength and endurance of your core and hip muscles, how you sit, stand, walk and move through your day, and whether any nerves are involved (with referred pain into the buttocks, legs or feet). We’ll then explain what we’ve found in plain English and talk through what your treatment plan will look like.

Treatment is always tailored to what we find on assessment, but for most back pain cases it includes a blend of manual therapy (joint mobilisations to ease stiffness through the spine and pelvis), soft tissue techniques to release tight muscles around the back, hips and glutes, and a graded exercise programme to build the strength and resilience your back needs to stay well.

Where it’s appropriate to the presentation, we may use laser therapy to support tissue healing as part of the wider treatment plan. We’ll also give you clear advice on activity modification, sleeping positions, lifting technique, and how to manage flare-ups so you have practical tools you can use immediately.