What are the most common causes of back pain?

85% of back pain is non-specific (no identifiable structural cause on imaging). Specific causes include: disc herniation (most common in 20–50 age group), facet joint dysfunction (middle-aged, worsens with extension), muscle strain (overload, sudden movement), spinal stenosis (narrowing, common in 50+), sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and spondylolisthesis. Realign Clinic's assessment identifies your specific cause before treatment begins.

When is back pain serious and requires urgent medical attention?

Seek emergency care for back pain with: loss of bladder or bowel control, saddle area numbness (between the thighs), progressive leg weakness, back pain after significant trauma, unexplained weight loss, fever with back pain, or back pain in someone with cancer history. These are red flags for serious conditions (cauda equina syndrome, fracture, infection, tumour) requiring urgent investigation.

Should I rest or stay active with back pain?

Stay active — bed rest worsens most back pain. Current clinical guidelines (NICE 2016, Lancet 2018) recommend: continue daily activities as tolerated, return to work as soon as possible (even with some pain), and avoid prolonged bed rest beyond 24–48 hours. Activity maintains disc nutrition, prevents muscle atrophy, and reduces the risk of chronic pain development.

Why does my back hurt even though my MRI shows nothing wrong?

MRI findings correlate poorly with back pain. Studies show 52% of asymptomatic people have disc bulges on MRI — these are often age-related changes, not the cause of pain. Conversely, significant disc herniation can cause minimal pain while minor muscle dysfunction can cause severe pain. Realign Clinic diagnoses the actual cause of YOUR pain through clinical assessment — not MRI interpretation.

Why Does My Back Hurt? Faridabad | Realign Rehab Clinic

Why Does My Back Hurt? A Physiotherapy Guide

Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide — affecting 540 million people at any given time. In India, nearly 60% of adults experience back pain significant enough to limit daily activities at some point in their lives.

Yet despite its prevalence, back pain is widely misunderstood. Most people think they have a 'bad back' or a structural problem that will never improve.

The reality, backed by decades of research, is that the vast majority of back pain is manageable — and often fully reversible — with the right physiotherapy.

At Realign Rehab Clinic , NIT-5, Faridabad, our team of expert physiotherapists provides evidence-based, personalised rehabilitation. We serve patients from NIT, Green Field Colony, Ballabhgarh, Sector 21–82, and surrounding areas.

Call +91 9818185589 to book your assessment.

Research Insight: A landmark Lancet series on low back pain (2018) found that active physiotherapy and exercise are noticeably more effective than rest, imaging-driven treatments, or opioids for chronic low back pain — and that MRI findings often do not correlate with pain levels.

Causes and Risk Factors

Poor sitting posture and prolonged static positions (desk work, driving)
Weak core and gluteal muscles failing to support the lumbar spine
Lumbar disc bulge or herniation pressing on a spinal nerve
Lumbar facet joint dysfunction or osteoarthritis
Muscle strain from lifting, twisting, or sudden movements
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction (common during and after pregnancy)
Lumbar stenosis causing leg pain and claudication on walking
Stress, anxiety, and poor sleep amplifying pain sensitivity
Sedentary lifestyle reducing spinal nutrition and resilience

Signs and Symptoms

Dull aching or sharp pain in the lower back, with or without leg radiation
Stiffness worst in the morning, easing with gentle movement
Pain worsened by sitting, standing, bending, or lifting
Sciatica: shooting pain, numbness, or tingling down one or both legs
Difficulty standing upright after prolonged sitting
In serious cases: bladder/bowel dysfunction (seek urgent medical review)

Most back pain is not caused by structural damage that you can see on a scan. Research consistently shows that people with severe disc herniations often have no pain, while people with normal MRIs can have debilitating pain.

What matters most is how the nervous system is responding — and that is precisely what physiotherapy addresses.

— Dr. Vaishali Suri (BPT), Realign Rehab Clinic, Faridabad

✦ Back pain costs India over ₹50,000 crore annually in lost productivity
✦ 85% of back pain has no identifiable structural cause on imaging
✦ Active exercise therapy reduces chronic back pain recurrence by 50% compared to passive treatment
✦ Most acute back pain (85%) resolves within 6 weeks with appropriate management

Physiotherapy Treatment at Realign Rehab, Faridabad

Spinal manual therapy and joint mobilisation to restore movement
Core stabilisation: transversus abdominis, multifidus, and pelvic floor activation
Nerve mobilisation (neural flossing) for disc-related sciatica
Postural correction for desk workers and drivers
McKenzie Method or directional preference exercises
Dry needling and trigger point release for paraspinal muscles
TENS and interferential therapy for acute pain management
Ergonomic assessment and return-to-work planning

Recovery Programme

Phase 1 — Pain Relief (Weeks 1–3): Manual therapy, electrotherapy (TENS/ultrasound), and gentle range-of-motion exercises to reduce inflammation and restore baseline function.

Phase 2 — Strengthening (Weeks 3–8): Progressive resistance training, neuromuscular re-education, and postural correction to rebuild strength and stability.

Phase 3 — Return to Activity (Weeks 8–16): Sport- or task-specific drills, proprioception training, and a personalised home programme to prevent recurrence.

Why Choose Realign Rehab Clinic, Faridabad?

Realign Rehab Clinic is run by Dr. Vaishali Suri (BPT), with over a decade of clinical experience.

We offer one-on-one sessions, advanced electrotherapy, manual therapy, and home-visit physiotherapy across Faridabad. Our clinic at NIT-5 is easily accessible from Green Field Colony, Sector 21–82, Ballabhgarh, and the Faridabad–Delhi border.

Personalised treatment plans matched to your diagnosis and goals
Evidence-based protocols aligned with international physiotherapy guidelines
Home visits available for post-operative and elderly patients
Convenient location at NIT-5, Faridabad — near Green Field Colony

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I rest or move when my back hurts?

Move — gently. Bed rest is one of the worst things for most back pain.

Short-term rest (24–48 hours) for acute severe pain is fine, but prolonged rest weakens the back further. Our physiotherapist will guide you on safe movement and specific exercises from day one.

Do I need an MRI for back pain?

Usually no. Research shows MRI findings rarely change treatment for common back pain and can actually cause unnecessary anxiety. A thorough clinical assessment by an experienced physiotherapist is more useful than imaging in most cases.

How many physiotherapy sessions will I need for back pain?

Most patients with acute back pain see real improvement in 6–10 sessions over 4–8 weeks. Chronic back pain may require 12–20 sessions, plus a personalised home exercise programme to maintain gains.

Can physiotherapy fix a herniated disc?

Yes — most disc herniations improve noticeably with physiotherapy. The disc often reabsorbs over 6–12 weeks, and targeted nerve mobilisation and core strengthening can fully restore function.

Surgery is rarely needed.

What exercises help lower back pain?

The best exercises depend on your specific diagnosis. In general, core stabilisation, glute strengthening, and gentle spinal mobility work are beneficial.

Avoid generic 'back exercises' from the internet until you have been assessed — the wrong exercises can worsen some conditions.

Book Your Consultation

Ready to recover? Contact Realign Rehab Clinic today:

📍 NIT-5, Faridabad (near Green Field Colony, Ballabhgarh Road)
📞 +91 9818185589
🕑 Mon–Sat: 9 AM – 7 PM

References: Evidence based on published clinical guidelines from the Indian Association of Physiotherapists, Cochrane Reviews, and peer-reviewed orthopaedic rehabilitation literature.

Why Does My Back Hurt? Faridabad