Why Your Low Back Pain Keeps Coming Back (and What You Haven’t Tried Yet)

by Erin Collins, PT, MSPT, Astym Cert. Posted on 05/08/2025 12:27

If you've had low back pain that seems to disappear—only to flare up again weeks or months later—you’re not alone.

You’ve done the stretches. You’ve tried resting. Maybe even pain meds or a few rounds of physical therapy or chiropractic care. But the problem keeps showing up when you least expect it: getting out of the car, sleeping wrong, a long walk, picking up groceries, or after your favorite workout class.

So what gives?

At The Modern Physio, I see clients in my Grandview clinic every day who’ve “done everything right” but are still stuck in this frustrating pain cycle. The truth is: the standard approach to back pain often misses the mark.

What Most Back Pain Treatments Miss

Most conventional treatments focus only on the site of the pain — your low back — rather than what’s actually *driving* the pain. And if you’re a high-achieving, busy woman juggling work, family, and your own wellness, it’s even more critical to zoom out and look at the whole picture.

Here’s what I assess in our Grandview clinic that often gets overlooked:

• Movement patterns that overload certain areas

• Muscle imbalances from years of compensating

• Core and pelvic floor dysfunction (especially common postpartum or during hormonal shifts)

• Nervous system dysregulation — yes, stress plays a major role!

• Visceral inputs - your organs, specifically your intestines, are often playing a role

• Neural tension and restriction patterns- not just at your low back or down your leg

I also address the mind-body connection using techniques from integrative and Pilates-based physical therapy that focus on deep stability, body awareness, and breath.

Why You Might Still Be in Pain — Even After Years of Treatment

You may have been told your pain is “a part of getting older," genetic, or because you played a lot of sports growing up. 

On the flip side, you may be seeing influencers talking about the 1 move that they did that changed their back pain forever, and now you're trying to figure out what that magical move will be for you.

But here's the thing: your body is designed to be resilient. You aren't destined to a lifetime of pain and stiffness.

At the same time, there's often not just 1 thing you need to do- you don’t just need to stretch more or start doing CrossFit or twist yourself into a pretzel in some unicorn-magic move.

You need a personalized plan that accounts for all of your body systems, life stressors, environments, etc. and then connects all of those dots in a meaningful, actionable way.

In my practice, I combine:

• Dry Needling and manual therapy to improve mobility and calm the nervous system

• Targeted, intelligent rehab to restore stability from the inside out

• Education and coaching to help you understand your body and prevent future flare-ups

My clients don’t just feel better — they feel empowered and hopeful when they leave a session.

Low back pain doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life. With the right approach — one that sees and supports all of you — relief is possible. If you're in the Grandview or Columbus, Ohio area and ready to finally get answers and a plan that fits your life, you're in the right place.

Curious how to work with me? Grab your Free Consultation and let's chat. These are 15-20 minute phone calls where I listen to your story, share how my methods may benefit you, and then you decide if that's a good fit for you.

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