If you’ve ever gone to the doctor or therapist for back pain and were told it’s “non-specific,” you probably left with more questions than answers. What does non-specific even mean? And how does that help you recover?
The truth is, you’re not alone. More than 90% of people with low back pain are given the label “non-specific low back pain” — meaning doctors can’t identify one exact cause of the problem (Maher et al., 2017). While this label helps rule out dangerous or serious conditions, it doesn’t tell you what’s really happening in your back or how to fix it.
And here’s the real problem: when your pain gets labeled as “non-specific,” the treatments often become non-specific too. Instead of targeting your unique situation, you may be given a generic exercise sheet or told to “stay active.” Sometimes this helps, but for many people, it doesn’t go far enough.
That’s where our approach comes in: “Not all spines are the same — your treatment shouldn’t be either.”