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Common Causes of Lower Back Pain and What to Do About Them

  • September 25, 2026

Episode Notes:

Lower back pain is one of the most common complaints Dr. Luong hears at Resilience Chiropractic in San Leandro — and in this episode, he explains why that is and what you can do about it. Whether you’ve thrown your back out bending over or woken up inexplicably stiff, you’re far from alone.

Dr. Luong walks through the most frequent causes of lower back pain, from muscle strains to postural issues, and shares what typically triggers flare-ups in everyday life. More importantly, he outlines the treatment options available and how chiropractic care fits into the picture.

If you’ve been dealing with nagging lower back pain and want clear, practical guidance from a chiropractor, this episode is a great place to start. Contact Dr. Ernest Luong at Resilience Chiropractic to learn more about your options.

Hey there, and welcome back. I’m Doctor Luong from Resilience Chiropractic here in San Leandro, and today we’re talking about something that I hear about almost every single day in my office — lower back pain.

Now, if you’ve ever thrown your back out reaching for something on the floor, or woken up stiff and sore for no obvious reason, you are definitely not alone. Lower back pain is one of the most common reasons people go to the doctor. And the good news? Most of the time, it’s very treatable. So let’s talk about what’s actually going on — and more importantly, what you can do about it.

Alright, so let’s start with the most common cause I see. And that is prolonged sitting. Here’s the thing — our spines were designed to move. We were built to walk, bend, lift, rotate. But so many of us are sitting for eight, nine, ten hours a day — at a desk, in a car, on the couch. And when you sit for long periods, the muscles in your hips and lower back start to tighten up. The discs in your spine aren’t getting the movement they need to stay healthy. And over time, that adds up to stiffness, soreness, and real pain.

Now here’s what’s interesting about this. A lot of my patients come in thinking something is seriously wrong — like they must have a herniated disc or some big structural problem. And sometimes that is the case. But often, the issue is simply that their body has been stuck in one position for too long, and things have gotten tight and irritated. Which is actually really encouraging, because that’s very workable.

The second big cause I want to talk about is muscle imbalances. Think of your lower back like the center of a bridge. If the cables on one side are too tight and the other side is too weak, the whole structure gets stressed. That’s what happens when the muscles in your core and hips aren’t working together properly. Maybe your hip flexors are really tight from all that sitting, but your glutes are weak and not firing the way they should. Your lower back ends up doing way more work than it was designed to handle — and eventually it starts talking to you. Loudly.

And the third cause — and this one surprises people — is stress. When we’re stressed, we hold tension in our bodies. A lot of people carry that tension right across their shoulders and into their lower back. Chronic stress keeps your nervous system in a kind of high-alert state, and that can actually lower your pain threshold and make existing discomfort feel a whole lot worse.

So what can you actually do about all this? Let’s talk practical steps.

First — move more throughout your day. Set a reminder if you need to. Every thirty to forty-five minutes, get up, walk around for a couple of minutes, do a gentle stretch. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just break up that sitting.

Second — work on your core. And I don’t mean crunches. I mean gentle, functional core exercises — things like bridges, bird dogs, and gentle planks — that strengthen the muscles supporting your spine. If you’re not sure where to start, that’s something we can absolutely help you with.

Third — pay attention to stress. Even simple breathing exercises or a short walk outside can help dial down that tension in your body. It sounds simple, but it really does make a difference.

Now, when should you come see someone like me? If your pain has been sticking around for more than a week or two, if it’s affecting your sleep, your work, or your daily activities — please don’t just wait it out. And if you’re feeling any numbness, tingling, or weakness going down your leg, I want you to come in sooner rather than later. That’s your body telling you it needs some attention.

At Resilience Chiropractic, we take the time to actually figure out what’s driving your pain — not just treat the symptoms. We look at how you move, how your spine is functioning, and we put together a real plan to get you feeling better and keep you that way.

Alright, thank you so much for tuning in today. If you’re dealing with lower back pain and you’re ready to get some answers, we’d love to see you. Give us a call, check us out online, or just stop by. We’re right here in San Leandro. I’m Doctor Luong, and I’ll talk to you next time. Take care of yourselves.