In nine out of ten cases back pain comes from muscles, joints and discs that are overloaded or stiff, not from damage. Long days at a desk, a weekend of gardening, a new baby to carry, a bad night: the back protests and the muscles around it tighten. A herniated disc (hernia) or a narrowed canal (stenosis) can cause pain that radiates into the leg, often called sciatica, with tingling or weakness.
Your physiotherapist examines movement, strength and nerve function and tells you which of these it is. Red flags, such as loss of bladder control or weakness in both legs, mean you see a doctor first; we check for them every time.

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