Hands-on treatment of a runner's low back

Low Back & SI Joint Pain

Back pain in runners rarely starts in the back. A stiff hip, an ankle that will not bend, or a pelvis that tips forward all force the lumbar spine to absorb what the legs should have.

That is why we test every joint below the lumbar spine, all the way to the great toe, before deciding what the back needs.

What It Feels Like

Tightness that creeps in around mile six and then locks down
One-sided pain near the belt line or over the SI joint
Stiffness getting out of the car or out of bed after long runs
Pain that eases with walking but returns with running

Why It Happens

Hip extension and rotation restrictions the spine compensates for
Weak deep core and glute control at footstrike
Leg-length or pelvic asymmetry under fatigue
Long sitting hours between runs

The Evaluation

What We Check In Person

55 minutes, one-on-one, hands-on. No dividing attention between three patients, and no spending most of the hour on exercises you could have done at home.

Lumbar and SI joint mobility and provocation testing
Full lower-extremity joint screening down to the great toe
Core and glute endurance testing under fatigue
Posture and gait observation from all sides
Manual therapy to the segments that will not move

Try This At Home First

Start here. If it does not change in two to three weeks, that is the signal you need eyes and hands on it.

Glute bridge march

Trains the pelvis to stay level while a single leg loads.

Hip flexor lunge

Reduces the forward pelvic pull that compresses the low back.

Seated hamstring stretch

Hinge from the hips, back straight, no rounding.

Walk before you run

Use walk intervals to keep the spine moving while capacity rebuilds.

This page is general education, not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for your specific injury.

When To Book An Appointment

Pain travels below the knee, or you have numbness or tingling
The same flare-up returns every training block
Sitting or standing for long periods has become painful

Book An Appointment Why We're Different