In today’s digital world, it’s become all too common to experience back pain. Many people are told to get a CT or MRI scan, and when the results come back showing disc bulges, degeneration, or a slipped disc, it can sound alarming. But here’s the truth:
Spinal abnormalities are common, even in people without pain.
The Stats You Need to Know
A landmark 2015 study by Dr. Brinjikji looked at thousands of people with no history of back pain. Shockingly, they found that disc degeneration was present in 50% of healthy individuals in their 30s, and the percentage increased with age.
What does this mean for you?
It means that what shows up on a scan isn’t necessarily the cause of your pain.
In fact, scans can often lead people to believe they are “broken,” when the root cause is something that can actually be treated with the right approach.
Figure A: Prevalence of spinal abnormalities in pain-free people (Brinjikji, 2015)
The Real Cause: Whole-Body Muscle Imbalance
At Pain Free Physiotherapy, we’ve found that up to 90% of our patients with lower back pain are actually suffering from a whole-body muscle imbalance — not just a localised problem in the spine.
This imbalance occurs when the upper body (particularly the thoracic spine) and the lower body (especially around the hips and legs) become stiff and tight. The lower back, stuck between the two, is forced to compensate.
Visualising the Problem: The Spring Diagram
To help illustrate this, imagine the human body like a set of springs:
Figure 1. In a healthy body, the central spring (representing your core and lower back) is taut and stable, while the springs above and below (upper and lower body) have more mobility and looseness.
Figure 2. In most back pain cases, the springs representing the upper and lower body are tight, while the core is loose, pulling extra load onto the middle coil (the lower back).
This extra load causes the lower back to overwork, wear down, and become painful over time. The issue isn’t the scan finding — it’s the underlying imbalance.
What Can You Do?
The first step to healing isn’t rest or surgery. It’s restoring balance. That starts with:
Activating your deep core stabilisers – specifically the transverse abdominis (TrA) muscle
Improving flexibility in the upper back and hips
Correcting posture and movement habits
Our team specialises in identifying these patterns and designing personalised programs that target the root cause — not just the symptoms.
What Can We Do?
At Pain Free Physiotherapy, our approach focuses on correcting the root cause — not just treating symptoms. Here’s how we can help:
We perform a thorough assessment to identify muscle imbalances throughout your body
We teach you how to activate and strengthen your core muscles to better support your spine
We guide you through tailored movement and flexibility strategies to rebalance your body
Whether you’re experiencing occasional discomfort or chronic lower back pain, we can help you take back control — without relying on medication, injections, or unnecessary scans.
Call us today on 0421 333 609 or visit painfreephysio.com to find out more or book an appointment.
You don’t have to live with chronic pain. Start by understanding your body — not just your scan.
