Your back hurts.
But is your back the whole problem?
Lower back pain can affect everything from sitting at work to running, lifting, sleeping, and everyday life. When pain keeps returning, it's worth looking beyond the area that hurts.
At Yokohama Physio, we provide personalised, English-speaking physiotherapy in Motomachi, Yokohama, focusing on movement, rehabilitation, and helping you get back to the activities that matter.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Back pain doesn't look the same for everyone. These are some common experiences people bring to our clinic.
Pain after sitting
Your lower back becomes uncomfortable after long periods at your desk, in the car, or on a flight.
Stiffness when standing up
Getting out of a chair or straightening up feels difficult, especially after being still.
Pain during exercise
Squats, deadlifts, running, or everyday bending bring on discomfort or make symptoms worse.
Pain that keeps returning
Massage, stretching, or exercise helps for a while, but the same problem keeps coming back.
The painful area deserves attention. So does the rest of you.
Sometimes your back needs more strength or greater tolerance to physical load. Sometimes other movement patterns, habits, or demands are contributing. Often, several factors are involved. Understanding what matters for you is the starting point.
Why does lower back pain keep coming back?
Lower back pain rarely has one universal explanation. A flare-up may involve changes in activity, accumulated physical stress, tissue sensitivity, previous injuries, sleep, stress, or other health factors.
In some cases, the way the hips, legs, or trunk contribute to a task may be relevant. In others, movement itself is not the primary issue.
The aim is not to blame one muscle, one joint, or one posture for every episode of back pain.
Questions worth asking
- What movements or activities bring on your pain?
- How much physical load are you currently managing?
- What makes symptoms better or worse?
- Are other regions contributing to the task?
- What do you want to return to doing?
We don't just ask where it hurts.
We take time to understand your symptoms, your history, and how your body responds to the movements that matter in your daily life.
Understand your story
We discuss your symptoms, previous treatment, activity levels, concerns, and goals. We also screen for findings that may need medical assessment.
Explore movement
We assess relevant strength, mobility, symptoms, and functional tasks. This may include the back, hips, legs, or other areas depending on your presentation.
Look for meaningful change
We test appropriate strategies and observe how your movement and symptoms respond. Your response helps guide the next stage of care.
Treatment should fit the person, not just the diagnosis.
We combine approaches according to your assessment, symptoms, goals, and response to treatment.
Hands-on treatment
Manual techniques may be used where appropriate to help manage symptoms and support movement, alongside active rehabilitation.
Movement modification
We may explore alternative ways of bending, lifting, sitting, running, or training that make activities more manageable.
Individualised exercise
Strength, mobility, coordination, or graded exposure exercises may be prescribed based on what you actually need.
Practical self-management
Understand how to manage flare-ups, adjust activity, and progressively return to meaningful daily tasks.
If an exercise repeatedly aggravates your symptoms, we look at why and adjust the task, load, or rehabilitation plan instead of simply pushing through.
Experience with movement. Attention to the individual.
BHSc Physiotherapy / BSc Sports & Recreation
15+ years of clinical experience
I've worked with people managing everyday pain, sports injuries, and rehabilitation challenges, as well as athletes competing internationally.
My approach is to understand the person, assess what matters, and use the findings to guide treatment rather than assuming that every painful back needs the same exercises.
Learn More About Yuji ↗Questions about lower back pain
Why does my back hurt after sitting?
Prolonged sitting can aggravate an already sensitive back. The reasons vary and may include time spent in one position, recent activity, sensitivity to particular postures, or other factors. We assess which factors are relevant to you rather than assuming sitting itself is harmful.
Do I need to strengthen my core?
Core strengthening can be useful, but it isn't the only option, and it's not essential for every person with back pain. General exercise, progressive loading, and finding comfortable ways to move may also help. The best programme depends on your needs and goals.
Should I stretch my lower back?
Some people find gentle stretching comfortable, while others find that particular stretches worsen their symptoms. Stretching is not automatically necessary or harmful. We can help determine whether it is useful for you.
Can physiotherapy help recurring lower back pain?
Physiotherapy may help you understand and manage symptoms, improve function, and return to activity. The approach depends on the underlying presentation, and outcomes vary. Persistent or changing symptoms may also require medical review.
Do I need an MRI before booking an appointment?
Not necessarily. Routine imaging is not recommended for most cases of uncomplicated lower back pain. Imaging may be appropriate when specific medical findings suggest it could change diagnosis or management.
What happens at my first appointment?
Your initial appointment includes a discussion of your history and symptoms, relevant movement and physical assessment, and treatment or exercise guidance where appropriate.
Is treatment available in English?
Yes. Consultations and physiotherapy sessions are available in English and Japanese at our Motomachi, Yokohama clinic.
New bladder or bowel control problems, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or new severe or progressive leg weakness require urgent medical assessment. Seek prompt medical review for back pain with fever, significant trauma, or other concerning symptoms. This page is general information and does not replace a diagnosis.
Let's understand what's happening with your back.
If lower back pain is affecting your work, exercise, or daily life, book an individual assessment at Yokohama Physio.
Book Your Initial Consultation ↗