Lower Back Pain Physiotherapy: Causes, Exercises and Warning Signs

What an assessment can explore

A conversation may cover when symptoms began, what changes them, work or home demands, movement confidence, sleep and the activities the person wants to resume. The clinician can then explain what should be assessed in person or discussed online.

Terms such as strain, sciatica or slipped disc should not be self-confirmed from a search result. A qualified clinician can explain what the symptoms do and do not establish.

Make the request specific

Instead of only writing “back pain,” describe the task that is limited: sitting through work, walking, lifting, turning in bed or returning to an activity. Add the duration, any known diagnosis and what you have already tried.

General consultation is available as a starting pathway when you are not sure which service route fits. Home physiotherapy and online consultation have different assessment boundaries, which should be discussed with the care team.

• How long the pain has been present and what changed
• The movement or daily task that is limited
• Any known diagnosis, injury or recent procedure
• What you have tried and what you want to change

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent local medical help for serious or rapidly changing symptoms, including new loss of bladder or bowel control, severe weakness, numbness in the saddle area, major trauma, fever with severe illness or another concern that feels urgent.

A physiotherapy request is not a substitute for emergency assessment. If you are unsure how urgent a symptom is, contact an appropriate local medical service.