Living with lower back pain?
If you live or work in South Melbourne, chances are you’ve felt that deep, nagging ache in your lower back — from long hours at a desk, lifting incorrectly, or years of poor posture. It’s one of the most common issues we see every week at Complx Health.
Here’s the truth: quick fixes like painkillers or heat packs only hide the symptoms. Real, lasting relief comes from addressing the root cause — how your body moves, sits and supports itself every day. That’s exactly what our physiotherapy and myotherapy programs for lower back pain are designed to do.
First, when to see a doctor instead
Most lower back pain is musculoskeletal and responds well to assessment and treatment. A small number of presentations need medical attention rather than hands-on therapy. See a GP or go to an emergency department if you have:
- Numbness around the groin or inner thighs, or any change in bladder or bowel control
- Progressive weakness in one or both legs
- Back pain following significant trauma, such as a fall or car accident
- Pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, or feeling generally unwell
- Pain that consistently wakes you from sleep and isn’t eased by changing position
If none of those apply, an assessment is the sensible next step.
The Complx approach to back pain
We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all. Each session starts with a comprehensive movement and posture assessment to uncover what’s driving your pain. From there, your therapist combines hands-on treatment with corrective exercise to restore balance and mobility. Your treatment may include:
- Deep tissue and trigger-point therapy to release tension
- Dry needling for stubborn tightness and referred pain
- Joint mobilisation to restore smooth, natural movement
- Corrective strength exercises to keep your back supported long-term
If you haven’t seen a physiotherapist before, what happens in a first appointment walks through the history, the assessment and what you should leave with. And no, you don’t need a GP referral to book privately in Australia.
Common causes of lower back pain
Most lower back pain isn’t one injury — it’s a chain reaction of small imbalances over time, such as:
- Sitting or driving for long hours
- Weak glutes and core muscles
- Tight hip flexors or hamstrings
- Old injuries or scar-tissue restrictions
- Poor lifting technique at the gym
A useful way to think about it: for most people this is a capacity problem rather than damage. The tissue couldn’t handle what was asked of it — which is why rest often eases symptoms and then the pain returns the moment normal loading resumes.
Why our method beats quick fixes
Foam rolling and over-the-counter meds don’t rebuild strength or correct posture — which is why the pain keeps returning. Our evidence-based approach combines manual therapy, education and movement retraining, so your body is supported as it recovers. Many clients notice reduced stiffness early on, though how quickly things change depends on the underlying cause and how long it’s been present.
On timeframes: most episodes of non-specific lower back pain settle within a few weeks, while long-standing pain generally runs longer. How long physio takes to work sets out realistic ranges and, just as importantly, when a plan should be revisited.
Physiotherapy or myotherapy for back pain?
Both help, and they do different jobs. Physiotherapy leads when you need a diagnosis, when there are nerve-related symptoms, or when the problem followed a specific injury. Myotherapy leads when the driver is muscular tightness and trigger points without those features. If you’re unsure which to book, physiotherapy vs myotherapy covers where the line sits — or book either and we’ll redirect you internally.
If the pain is centred higher up rather than in the lower back, neck pain from desk work covers that presentation.
Treat, move, and maintain
For lasting results, our therapists work closely with Complx personal trainers to build functional strength and prevent re-injury. Once your pain subsides, we guide you through tailored strength and mobility programs to keep your spine supported for the long run — a complete approach under one roof.
This handover is where back pain most often recurs elsewhere. Rehab finishes when symptoms settle, the person returns to their previous programme at their previous loads, and the cycle restarts. How the handover should work explains what needs to transfer between your physio and your trainer — and why having both in the same building removes the gap entirely.
Convenient South Melbourne location
Find us at 101 Moray Street, in the heart of South Melbourne and close to Port Melbourne, Albert Park and Southbank, with flexible appointments and HICAPS claiming on the spot. Physiotherapy is $140 for a 60-minute initial assessment and $110 for a 45-minute follow-up. Open Mon–Fri 6am–9pm and Sat 6am–11am.
Stop treating symptoms — start fixing the cause. 👉 Book a lower-back-pain assessment in South Melbourne at Complx Health today.
