If your lower back hurts and isn’t getting better, you’re not alone — and you’re also not stuck with it. At RXN Performance in Uptown Dallas, we find what’s actually causing your pain and build a plan to fix it for the long term, not just mask it.

What causes lower back pain?

Most chronic lower back pain in active adults comes from a few common drivers: prolonged sitting that shuts down your glutes and shortens your hip flexors, weak core stabilization that forces other muscles to compensate, a prior injury that healed but left compensation patterns behind, or training overload (too much, too fast, or with poor form). Adjustments alone won’t fix any of these — the muscles and movement patterns have to change too.

What are the most common types of lower back pain we treat?

Muscle strain or spasm. Often from lifting, twisting, or sudden movement. Usually acute and improves quickly with the right care.
Disc-related pain. Bulging or herniated discs that may or may not involve nerve compression. Often presents as deep ache that worsens with sitting or bending forward.
Facet joint pain. Pain that worsens with extension (arching back), often localized to one side.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Pain just below the lower back, often one-sided, worse with single-leg activities.
Sciatica. Nerve pain that radiates from the lower back down into the leg (we have a dedicated sciatica page if that’s what you’re dealing with).
Postural strain. The slow-burn back ache from prolonged sitting, often improved with movement and worsened by inactivity.

When should I see someone for lower back pain?

Most lower back pain that lasts more than a week without clear improvement deserves an assessment. Specific red flags that mean you should seek care sooner: pain that radiates below the knee, numbness or weakness in the leg or foot, bladder or bowel changes (rare but urgent), pain that wakes you up at night, or pain following a significant trauma. Otherwise, the general rule is: if it’s limiting what you want to do, it’s worth getting evaluated.

How do we treat lower back pain at RXN?

Our approach combines chiropractic adjustments with soft-tissue therapy and rehab exercises that target the actual root cause. A typical lower back treatment plan includes:

Assessment. Figuring out what type of back pain you actually have and what’s driving it. This step matters — different types of back pain need different approaches.
Pain reduction. Manual therapy and targeted exercises to calm down the irritated tissues and restore basic function.
Movement restoration. Restoring proper hip mobility, core control, and back movement patterns so the underlying problem doesn’t recur.
Strength rebuild. Progressive loading to build back strength and capacity so you can return to your training, sport, or daily life with confidence.

How long does it take to recover from lower back pain?

Most patients feel meaningful improvement within 2-4 visits (2-3 weeks). Full return to training, lifting, or whatever you love usually takes 6-8 weeks of consistent work — longer if the issue has been around for years. We’ll give you an honest timeline at the discovery visit.

Can lower back pain be prevented?

Largely, yes. The biggest preventive factors are: maintaining hip mobility (especially flexor length and external rotation), building glute strength (often the missing piece), training your core for stability rather than just abs-show strength, varying your sitting positions throughout the day, and addressing minor pain early before it becomes chronic. A movement assessment can identify your specific risk factors before they become a problem.

What about surgery?

Most lower back pain doesn’t need surgery. Conservative care (manual therapy, rehab, and targeted exercise) resolves most cases. Surgery is appropriate in specific scenarios — severe nerve compression, structural issues that haven’t responded to conservative care, certain disc problems. If we think your case warrants surgical evaluation, we’ll refer you to a qualified spine surgeon.

Book a free discovery call

If lower back pain is keeping you out of the gym, your runs, or just out of your daily life, book a free 15-minute discovery call. We’ll talk through what’s going on and whether we’re the right fit.

Book a Free 15-min Discovery Call

About the Author

Dr. Ryan Giniel, D.C. is the founder of RXN Performance. He earned his Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from Central Michigan University and his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Parker University. Dr. Ryan combines a background in strength and conditioning with exercise injury rehab to help active Dallas adults move, perform, and feel their best. Read more about Dr. Ryan →