A 42-year-old male presented to physiotherapy with acute lower back pain accompanied by significant muscle spasm. He reported waking one morning with sharp pain, despite going to bed the night before completely symptom-free. On reflection, he recalled experiencing a slight “twinge” during a gym session the previous day.
By the time of his first physiotherapy appointment—four days after the onset of symptoms—the pain had initially seemed to improve but had since worsened considerably. He was finding everyday activities difficult, particularly putting on socks and rising from a seated position.
During the initial assessment, his range of movement was extremely limited. He relied on pushing through his thighs to help straighten up when standing from a chair. Examination revealed pronounced muscle spasm in the lower back, a common protective response to injury, along with stiffness in several segments of the spine.
Treatment focused on reducing pain and restoring movement. This included vertebral mobilisations, soft tissue massage, and cupping therapy. Supportive rigid taping was applied to the lower back to improve comfort, and the client was prescribed gentle exercises aimed at calming the nervous system and improving mobility in the affected areas.
By the second session, the client reported approximately 60% improvement. While some stiffness remained when standing up, the sharp pain had resolved, and he was able to complete his exercises comfortably.
After four treatment sessions, the client returned to full function. He was provided with a short daily routine (approximately 10 minutes) to maintain his progress and was advised to complete a six-week Pilates programme to further strengthen and support the lower back.