Does your back hurt?
Back pain is the single most common reason people visit a physiotherapist in Australia, and at our Liverpool, Parramatta and Eastern Creek clinics it is the most frequent presentation we see. If you are dealing with it right now and you suddenly had this after a lift or it has been building for months, book an assessment today and we’ll help you manage it with a professional approach.
The good news is that the overwhelming majority of back pain responds well to physiotherapy. Even disc injuries, which many people assume require surgery, often resolve completely with the right hands-on treatment and exercise approach. The key is a proper assessment so the right cause is identified and the right treatment applied.
We treat back pain across the full spectrum. From acute episodes in warehouse workers from Moorebank who have strained something lifting, to chronic lower back pain in Liverpool Hospital staff who spend long shifts on their feet, to desk workers in the Parramatta CBD with postural pain that has built up over years.
Types of Back Pain We Treat
✅Acute lower back pain: Sudden onset from a specific incident — heavy lift, awkward movement. Usually muscle spasm and joint irritation. Responds quickly to manual therapy, dry needling and early progressive movement.
✅Lumbar disc injury: A disc between vertebrae bulges or herniates, compressing nearby nerves. Can cause shooting or burning pain into the leg. Physiotherapy is the first-line treatment and surgery is rarely necessary.
✅Sciatica: Nerve pain running from the lower back through the buttock and into the leg. Can be caused by disc herniation, piriformis syndrome or spinal stenosis.
✅Chronic lower back pain: Pain present for more than 12 weeks. Involves structural, muscular and sensitisation factors. Responds best to hands-on treatment, graded exercise and pain education.
✅Postural back pain: Caused by sustained poor posture at a desk, in a vehicle or during repetitive tasks. Common in office workers, truck drivers and logistics staff.
✅Facet joint pain: Irritation of the small joints between vertebrae causing local stiffness and pain after rest. Responds well to joint mobilisation.
✅Muscle strain: Overstretching of muscles or ligaments supporting the spine. Most common acute back injury. Usually resolves within weeks with proper treatment.
Common Causes of Back Pain
Heavy or repetitive manual handling — particularly relevant for logistics and warehouse workers in the Moorebank corridor and construction workers across the Liverpool LGA
Sustained sitting or standing — desk workers, drivers, anyone spending long hours in one position
Patient handling in healthcare — a major cause of back injury among Liverpool Hospital and aged care staff
Sudden unguarded movements — reaching, twisting or lifting in an uncontrolled position
Deconditioning — when the muscles supporting the spine lose strength, the joints take more load
Previous injury that was not fully rehabilitated
How Physiotherapy Treats Back Pain
A physio assessment covers more than just where it hurts. Your physiotherapist assesses how you move, identifies which structures are involved, examines strength and flexibility, and looks at contributing factors like your work setup and activity level. Treatment is then specific to what is causing the problem.
Manual therapy: Hands-on joint mobilisation and manipulation to restore movement, reduce pain and offload irritated structures. Often provides rapid relief even in longstanding cases.
Dry needling: Targeting trigger points in the lumbar muscles, glutes and hip flexors to release deep tension that cannot be fully addressed through stretching alone.
Exercise therapy: Progressive strengthening of the core, glutes and surrounding muscles to support the spine and prevent recurrence — built around your specific job and activity.
Postural correction: Understanding how your posture and movement habits contribute to the problem, and what to change practically.
Pain education: For chronic pain, understanding why pain persists is a key part of recovery. We explain this clearly and practically.
What to Expect at Your Back Pain Appointment
Your first appointment runs for about 40 to 60 minutes. Here's what happens:
1. History taking: When the pain started, what triggered it, where it is, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects your work and daily life.
2. Physical assessment: Movement testing, strength testing and neurological screening if there is leg pain, numbness or tingling.
3. Diagnosis and explanation: A clear explanation of what is causing the pain in plain language — not medical jargon.
4. Treatment: Hands-on treatment begins in the first session in most cases.
5. Your plan: How many sessions, what to do at home, what to avoid, and what progress should look like.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Acute muscle strain typically improves significantly within 2 to 4 weeks. Disc injuries take 6 to 12 weeks. Chronic back pain of months or years requires a more sustained approach but most patients see meaningful improvement within 6 to 8 sessions. We give you a realistic timeline on day one.
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Complete rest is rarely the right answer and often makes things worse. Movement — carefully graded to your pain level — promotes healing and prevents the deconditioning that makes back pain chronic.
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No. Physiotherapists are trained to assess and treat back pain without imaging. In most cases an MRI does not change the initial treatment approach. We refer for imaging if clinically indicated after assessment.
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Recurring back pain almost always means the original injury was not fully rehabilitated. We specifically identify and fix the root cause — not just treat each episode as it happens.
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Yes. If your back pain is work-related we manage Workers Compensation claims at Liverpool and Eastern Creek. Contact us with your claim details.
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Yes, if back pain is limiting your daily function and is related to your disability. Physiotherapy may be funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living.
Book Your Back Pain Assessment
If your back has been affecting your work, sleep or quality of life, do not keep putting it off. Same-day appointments available.
Book at Your Nearest Clinic
Same-day appointments available most days at all three Western Sydney clinics.
Vital Action Physio Liverpool
94 Moore Street, Liverpool NSW 2170
Inside Liverpool Medical Centre
Mon, Wed, Thu: 8:30am to 7:00pm | Tue: 8:30am to 6:00pm | Sat: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Vital Action Physio Parramatta
Suite 1, Level 1, 17-21 Macquarie Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Inside Jobfit Parramatta. 6 min walk from Parramatta Station.
Vital Action Physio Eastern Creek
Shop 12/2A Southridge Street, Eastern Creek NSW 2766
Inside Eastern Creek Occupational Medicine Centre
Mon to Fri: 8:00am to 7:00pm | Sat: 8:00am to 1:00pm
Related Services
Check out our other services and treatments we have across our Western Sydney clinics:
Physiotherapy: Hands-on treatment for back pain, injuries, and a recovery roadmap given by your professional physiotherapist.
Exercise Therapy: Personalised strength and mobility programs to build on your physiotherapy treatment.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation: Specialist sports physio for athletes at every level.
Workplace Injury Rehabilitation: Work Cover and CTP injury management from day one.
NDIS Physiotherapy: Goal-driven physiotherapy for NDIS participants across Western Sydney.