10/21/2026
Here is something that surprises many people: changes in the joints and discs of the spine are extremely common with age, and many people who have them feel no pain at all. So if your back has been hurting for months, the answer is often not found on an X-ray alone.
Chronic back pain usually has more than one cause. Weakness in the trunk, hips, and legs can leave your back carrying more load than it should. Sitting or standing in one position for long periods, repeated lifting or twisting without enough recovery, or a sudden jump in exercise or workload can all add up over time. An old injury may have quietly changed the way you move, even after it healed. And when pain lasts long enough, the nervous system can stay on high alert, making safe and ordinary movements feel threatening. Poor sleep and high stress can turn that alarm up even further.
The good news is that understanding the real cause opens the door to real progress. Physical therapy focuses on building strength and endurance, restoring mobility where it’s needed, and gradually reintroducing the movements that have started to feel difficult. Along the way, you’ll learn how pain works and how to adjust your activity, so you can return to work, exercise, and everyday life with confidence instead of fear.
In this month’s newsletter, we explore seven of the most common root causes of chronic back pain and what can be done about each one.
Read the full newsletter here: https://ambassadorpt.org/newsletter/exploring-the-root-causes-of-chronic-back-pain/
