Natural movements inhibit pain

When people have back pain, they commonly resort to rest and avoiding certain movements because they can be worried about making their back worse. However, research suggests that movement itself is not necessarily harmful. Staying active and trying to continue familiar movements can be a great tool to managing back pain and improving function.

Figure 1: Movement Avoidance and Movement Confidence in Low Back Pain

Evidence has shown that people with low back pain may sometimes move more carefully and restrict their movement when they are worried about pain. Over time, this can actually worsen pain and reduce function as spinal movements will become less tolerable, and less familiar.

There is no perfect treatment option to improve lower back pain, as it varies from person to person. Although, numerous articles and studies have shown that exercise and continued daily movement is a great way to maintain function and reduce pain by turning down the volume knob (explained in blog 3 & 4). 

If you have further concerns, please contact your local physiotherapist for advice.

Good Country Physiotherapy Naracoorte is currently rolling out a back specific exercise program, contact the clinic on 8762 1515 for further information on the GLA:D back program. 

References:

Image 1: OpenAI. (2026). ChatGPT [AI image generation tool]. https://chatgpt.com/

Created based on original Fear-avoidance model: Vlaeyen, J. W. S., & Linton, S. J. (2000). Fear-avoidance and its consequences in chronic musculoskeletal pain: A state of the art. Pain, 85(3), 317–332. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3959(99)00242-0

Important: Vlaeyen and Linton (2000) is the theoretical source underpinning the diagram, not the creator of this specific image. The image itself was generated by ChatGPT.