Myotherapy conditions

Lower Back Pain

Muscle tension, trigger points, and fascial restriction are often the missing piece in lower back pain. Myotherapy targets these soft tissue drivers directly — providing relief that other treatments alone can't always reach.

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Understanding Lower Back Pain

While lower back pain has many contributors, the muscular component is frequently underestimated. Tight erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, gluteal muscles, and hip flexors create compressive load on the lumbar spine, perpetuate pain, and limit recovery. Myotherapy at Sera Spine & Rehab uses advanced soft tissue techniques — including deep tissue massage, dry needling, cupping, and trigger point therapy — to release this muscular tension, restore movement, and support the work of chiropractic and physiotherapy care.

Root causes

What causes lower back pain?

Lumbar Muscle Tension & Spasm

Protective muscle spasm following injury or overload creates a self-perpetuating cycle of pain and restriction. Deep tissue massage and dry needling break this cycle by directly releasing the affected muscles.

Trigger Points in the Gluteals & QL

Active trigger points in the gluteus medius, piriformis, and quadratus lumborum refer pain into the lower back and buttocks in patterns that closely mimic disc or joint pain.

Hip Flexor Tightness

Shortened hip flexors from prolonged sitting anteriorly tilt the pelvis, increasing lumbar lordosis and compressive load on the lower back. Myotherapy releases these muscles effectively.

Fascial Restriction

The thoracolumbar fascia connects the lower back to the pelvis, hips, and upper back. Restrictions in this fascial system limit movement and contribute to chronic lower back pain.

Postural Overload

Sustained postures — particularly prolonged sitting or standing — create cumulative muscular fatigue and tension in the lower back that myotherapy can address and prevent.

Referred Pain from the Hips

Muscular dysfunction in the hip and gluteal region frequently refers pain into the lower back. Treating the hip musculature is often essential for resolving apparent lower back pain.

Signs & symptoms

How does it present?

Persistent aching or tightness across the lower back, particularly after sitting or standing
Sharp pain or spasm with certain movements — bending, twisting, or getting up from a chair
Tenderness to touch along the lower back, buttocks, or hip muscles
Pain that eases temporarily with heat or stretching but keeps returning
Stiffness first thing in the morning that loosens with movement
A sense of heaviness or fatigue in the lower back by end of day
Referred pain or aching into the buttocks or upper thigh

Our approach

How Sera Spine & Rehab treats lower back pain

Myotherapy

Deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, dry needling, and cupping target the specific muscles and fascial structures driving your lower back pain — releasing tension that other treatments may not fully address.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic adjustments restore joint mobility in the lumbar spine and pelvis, complementing myotherapy by addressing the joint component of lower back pain alongside the muscular work.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy provides the movement assessment, exercise prescription, and rehabilitation needed to address the strength and movement deficits that allow lower back pain to recur.

Exercise Rehabilitation

Building core and gluteal strength reduces the muscular load on the lower back long-term, making myotherapy results last and preventing future episodes.

Your first visit

What to expect at your appointment

1
A postural and movement assessment to identify the specific muscles and fascial structures contributing to your lower back pain.
2
A discussion of your symptoms, history, aggravating factors, and treatment goals.
3
Hands-on treatment in your first appointment — deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, dry needling, or cupping depending on your presentation.
4
Immediate feedback on how your body responds and an explanation of what was found and treated.
5
Advice on stretches, self-care techniques, and postural adjustments to maintain your results between sessions.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How is myotherapy different from a regular massage for lower back pain?

Myotherapy is a clinical discipline that involves a detailed musculoskeletal assessment before treatment. Your myotherapist identifies the specific muscles, trigger points, and fascial restrictions driving your pain and treats them with targeted techniques — including dry needling — that go beyond what remedial massage alone can achieve.

Can myotherapy help if I have a disc bulge or herniation?

Yes — while myotherapy does not treat the disc directly, releasing the muscular tension and spasm that accompanies disc-related pain significantly reduces symptoms and supports recovery. We work alongside your physiotherapist or chiropractor for complex presentations.

How many sessions will I need?

Acute lower back pain often responds within 2–4 sessions. Chronic or recurrent presentations benefit from a longer course of care, often combined with physiotherapy or exercise rehabilitation. Your myotherapist will give you a clear plan at your first appointment.