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BACK PAIN

Back pain can affect your work, sleep, sport, exercise and everyday life.

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At FITE Health Physiotherapy in Chester-le-Street, we assess and treat a wide range of back and spinal problems, including lower back pain, sciatica, back stiffness, buttock pain, nerve-related symptoms, sports injuries and persistent back pain.

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Our aim is not simply to reduce your symptoms. We want to understand your problem, help restore your movement and strength, and give you the confidence to get back to the things you enjoy.

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Every treatment plan is tailored to you, combining a detailed physiotherapy assessment with appropriate hands-on treatment, exercise rehabilitation, strength work and practical advice.

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We also offer early morning and evening physiotherapy appointments in Chester-le-Street, making it easier to fit treatment around work, family, training and everyday life.

Practitioner providing hands-on treatment to the lower back

Back pain is extremely common and can range from a mild ache or stiffness to pain that significantly affects movement and day-to-day activities.

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For some people it develops suddenly following lifting, exercise or an awkward movement. For others, symptoms gradually develop over time or keep returning.

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Our physiotherapists will assess the factors contributing to your symptoms rather than simply focusing on where it hurts.

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Your initial assessment may include:

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  • Your symptoms and medical history

  • Movements or activities that aggravate or relieve your pain

  • Spinal movement and mobility

  • Strength and flexibility

  • Posture and movement patterns

  • Joint mobility

  • Nerve function where appropriate

  • Your work, sporting and daily activity demands

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Following your assessment, we'll explain our findings in straightforward language and agree a treatment and rehabilitation plan based around your goals.

Back Pain Conditions

 

We Treat

 

Lower Back Pain

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Lower back pain is one of the most common problems we see at our Chester-le-Street physiotherapy clinic.

Symptoms can develop following a strain, change in activity, lifting, exercise or prolonged periods in one position. In other cases there may not be one obvious cause.

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We assess your movement, strength, mobility and symptoms before developing an individual treatment programme designed to help you return to normal activity.

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Sciatica

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Sciatica describes symptoms caused by irritation or sensitivity involving the sciatic nerve.

Symptoms may travel from your lower back or buttock into the thigh, calf or foot and can sometimes include:

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Pain
Burning sensations
Pins and needles
Numbness
Changes in leg strength

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A thorough assessment can help establish what may be contributing to your symptoms and determine the most appropriate rehabilitation plan.

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Back Stiffness and Reduced Mobility

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Back stiffness can make normal activities such as bending, getting dressed, sitting, walking, exercising or playing sport more difficult.

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Treatment may include mobility exercises, strengthening, progressive activity and hands-on therapy where appropriate.

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Buttock Pain

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Pain around the buttock does not always originate from the muscles themselves.

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Symptoms can potentially be associated with structures around the lower back, hip, pelvis, joints, muscles or nerves.

 

Our physiotherapy assessment is designed to help identify the likely source of your symptoms and guide treatment.

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Disc-Related Back Pain

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We also assess and rehabilitate people experiencing symptoms associated with spinal discs, including disc bulges, disc herniations and accompanying nerve symptoms.

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Treatment is based on your individual symptoms and assessment rather than imaging findings alone.

 

Sports and Work-Related Back Injuries

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Back pain is common in athletes, gym users and people working in physically demanding occupations.

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Our rehabilitation programmes can include strength and conditioning, progressive loading, movement retraining and sport-specific or work-specific exercises to help you return safely to activity.

Chiropractic Care Session

What Can Cause Back Pain?

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There is rarely one single cause of back pain.

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Symptoms can be influenced by a combination of your recent activity, previous injuries, strength, mobility, workload and general health.

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Common contributing factors can include prolonged periods in one position, sudden increases in activity, heavy or unfamiliar lifting, repetitive movements, sporting injuries and reduced levels of physical activity.

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Back symptoms can also be associated with conditions affecting the joints, discs or nerves within and around the spine.

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This is why a proper physiotherapy assessment is important. Instead of assuming what is causing your pain, we assess your individual symptoms, movement and physical function.

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Symptoms We Commonly Assess

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We regularly see people experiencing:

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  • Lower, middle or upper back pain

  • Back stiffness

  • Difficulty bending or twisting

  • Pain after sitting for long periods

  • Pain when standing or walking

  • Buttock pain

  • Pain travelling into the leg

  • Sciatica

  • Pins and needles or numbness

  • Muscle spasms

  • Reduced movement

  • Recurring episodes of back pain

  • Back pain affecting exercise or sport

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If you're unsure whether physiotherapy is suitable for your symptoms, contact FITE Health and we'll be happy to advise you.

ASSESS

Every plan starts with a full assessment of your symptoms, movement, strength, and history. We take the time to properly understand your pain and your goals, so we can identify the real cause, not just treat the symptoms.

TREAT

We find the cause of your symptoms and provide targeted treatment to ease pain and improve mobility. It includes hands-on techniques like joint mobilisation, soft tissue work, massage and muscle release, used alongside exercise rather than instead of it.

EDUCATE

We help you understand your condition, so you have the knowledge to manage it yourself.

REBUILD

We build a structured programme to rebuild your strength, mobility, and confidence. It includes core strengthening, mobility and flexibility work, strength and conditioning, progressive loading, and return-to-sport rehab. Exercise is one of the biggest factors in long-term recovery.

PREVENT

We work on your movement, strength, and habits to lower the risk of it happening again. 

Our Treatment Approach

Frequently asked questions

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