Lower back pain is the most common musculoskeletal complaint and the leading cause of missed work. Most cases stem from deconditioning, prolonged sitting, or poor hip mobility — not structural damage. These protocols address the muscular and movement patterns behind the pain.

Fitness Considerations

The lumbar spine often hurts because the hips and core aren’t doing their job. Tight hip flexors pull the pelvis forward. Weak glutes fail to stabilize. A deconditioned core can’t brace. Effective lower back protocols address all three — not just the site of pain.

Unless you have a specific medical contraindication, rest rarely helps back pain beyond the first 24–48 hours. Gentle movement — cat-cow, glute bridges, walking — typically resolves pain faster than inactivity. The protocols here get you moving in controlled, progressive ways.

Most back pain is mechanical and treatable. But radiating pain down the leg, numbness, tingling, sudden weakness, or loss of bladder/bowel control are red flags that require immediate medical attention. These protocols do not address those conditions.

Prescriptions

# Protocol Description
51.01 Lower Back Pain Prescriptions Multi-step protocol: soft tissue, mobilization, and movement resets