Lower Back Pain:
Causes, Symptoms,
And Relief Options

Thirty-nine percent of Americans report that lower back pain disrupted their routine or limited movement in the past three months.

Lower back pain often signals tension or structural issues in the lumbar spine and may interfere with how people move or carry out daily tasks.

Causes of lower back pain may include arthritis, affecting the spine, tight hamstrings pulling on the lower back, or misaligned vertebrae affecting spinal joints.

Tight hamstrings, which pull on lower-back ligaments, may lead to back tightness and resulting discomfort.

Potential red flags may include severe or worsening pain, pain accompanied by fever, loss of bladder or bowel control, unexplained weight loss, or numbness and tingling in the legs. If you experience these, seek medical attention promptly.

Applying ice or heat, gentle stretching, avoiding prolonged sitting, and short walks may help ease symptoms. Professional care is recommended for persistent or severe pain.

Treating lower back pain often involves a combination of strategies. Gentle movement, stretching, and strengthening exercises may help improve mobility and support the spine. Applying heat or cold can ease discomfort, while maintaining good posture reduces strain. For targeted, professional support, chiropractic care offers spinal adjustments, movement guidance, and personalized assessments that aim to address the root cause and promote long-term relief.

Gentle stretches and exercises, such as those offered in The Joint’s “7 Gentle Exercises for Lower Back Pain,” may help ease tightness.

Lower back pain may be managed in many ways, depending on its cause and severity. Common approaches include gentle stretching, targeted exercise, heat or ice therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers, and lifestyle changes like improving posture or workstation setup. Some people explore physical therapy or massage. Chiropractic care is a preferred choice for many because it’s non-invasive and drug-free, focusing on improving spinal alignment and mobility to help reduce discomfort and support long-term function.

Hormonal changes, weight gain, and shifts in posture during pregnancy may contribute to lower back discomfort.

Some cases of lower back pain may improve on their own with time and self-care, like gentle stretching, movement, or heat/ice therapy. However, if pain persists or worsens, it’s worth getting checked by your neighborhood chiropractor. Chiropractic care focuses on improving spinal alignment and mobility, which may help reduce discomfort, support healing, and prevent future flare-ups.

If lower back pain is severe, lasts more than a few weeks, occurs after an injury, or is accompanied by symptoms like numbness, weakness, or loss of bladder control, you should seek medical attention.

Muscle-related back pain often feels like a dull ache, tightness, or stiffness that stays in one spot and may ease with rest, stretching, or heat. Nerve-related pain, such as sciatica, is different. It may cause sharp, burning, or tingling sensations that radiate from the lower back into the hips, legs, or feet. If your pain travels beyond your back or doesn’t improve within a couple of weeks, it may involve nerve irritation rather than just muscle strain.

Chiropractic care may reduce tension, improve mobility, and help your body manage symptoms more effectively.

If experiencing structural or movement-related pain like sciatica, or to explore a chiropractic adjustment for your lower back.

Chiropractic adjustments may be a safe, non-invasive option for addressing lumbar spine herniated discs. One study found that 60 percent of patients who sought chiropractic care for a herniated disc avoided surgery and achieved significant pain relief without invasive procedures.⁵

Chiropractic care may be a helpful, complementary approach for people with arthritis when thoughtfully tailored to each person's condition.

For osteoarthritis, the deterioration of cartilage and bone may restrict joint motion. Chiropractors focus on restoring spinal alignment and joint motion over time. Consistent joint support may help slow its progression and maintain function.

In the case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune condition, chiropractic adjustments may help improve joint alignment and mobility. These methods are designed to reduce stiffness and ease discomfort without aggravating inflamed areas.

Lower back pain is a broad term for discomfort in the lumbar region of the spine. It may feel like stiffness, aching, or soreness and is often caused by strained muscles, tight ligaments, joint restrictions, or everyday stress on the spine.

Sciatica, on the other hand, is a specific type of nerve-related pain. It happens when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down the back of each leg, is irritated or compressed, often by a herniated disc or vertebral misalignment. Unlike general lower back pain, sciatica typically causes sharp, shooting pain, tingling, or numbness that radiates down the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot.

A strong core supports spinal alignment and stability, which may reduce strain on the lower back and lower the risk of discomfort.

Stress may cause muscle tension, particularly in the neck and back, which may contribute to pain or discomfort.

Poor posture often places uneven strain on muscles and joints, leading to discomfort that builds over time. Fortunately, improving posture isn’t fixed. It’s dynamic and trainable.The Joint recommends establishing one intentional, five-minute daily posture reset (like the "30‑Day Posture Challenge") to retrain your alignment and support your spine.

Pairing this practice with regular chiropractic adjustments creates a powerful synergy. Chiropractic care aims to help restore proper joint motion, reduce muscular tension, and give your body the structure it needs to move more comfortably and confidently.

Lumbar spine pain is another way to describe lower back discomfort, since the lumbar region supports much of your upper body and absorbs stress from posture, movement, and daily activities.