Understanding the root cause of chronic back pain

Written by the Elma physiotherapy team · Medically reviewed by Dr. El Masri · Last reviewed 12 Aug 2026 · 6 min read

Chronic back pain is one of the most common reasons patients come through our doors, and one of the most misunderstood.

Why does back pain rarely have one cause?

Posture, joint stiffness, weak supporting muscles and old injuries often overlap. Treating only the sore spot can ease it for a while. Then it returns.

A physiotherapist working on a patient's lower back

How do we find the cause?

Assessment comes first. We look at how you move, where the load goes, and what makes the pain better or worse.

  • A full movement and posture assessment
  • Hands-on testing of joints and soft tissue
  • A plan that treats the cause
  • Exercises that help stop it coming back

Back pain that won't go away?

Come and see our physiotherapy team. We'll find out what's going on.

Book a visit

When should you see a physiotherapist?

If pain has lasted more than a few weeks, keeps returning, or limits your sleep or work, book an assessment.

Reading about your pain? Let's take a look.