Your Back Hurts—But It Might Not Be Your Back

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people walk through our doors. Whether it started after a heavy deadlift, sitting too long at work, or picking up a toddler the wrong way, the frustration is usually the same: you want to know what’s wrong and how to fix it.

But here’s something we often have to explain early on in care: the spot where you feel pain isn’t always the actual problem.

The Real Cause Might Be Somewhere Else

The body is good at compensating. If your hips are tight, your back might move too much to make up for it. If your core isn’t doing its job, your back muscles can end up taking on too much. Over time, that compensation creates strain and—eventually—pain.

When someone comes in with back pain, we always look beyond the back itself. That means checking hip mobility, core control, breathing mechanics, and even how your feet interact with the ground.

You’d be surprised how often back pain improves once we address what’s actually driving it.

What You’ve Tried Might Not Be Enough

We see it all the time—people stretch, foam roll, even rest for a few days. Maybe things feel better for a bit, but the pain always comes back. That’s usually because the root cause hasn’t been addressed.

The truth is, most people don’t need a long list of exercises. They need the right few movements, done with the right intent, tailored to their body and their goals.

And that’s exactly what we do.

Movement, Not Fear

If you’ve been told to stop working out completely, that your spine is fragile, or that pain means you’re doing something wrong—you’re not alone. But we believe in building confidence, not fear. Your back was built to move. You just need the right plan.

At Off The Block Performance Physical Therapy, our goal is simple: help you understand what’s going on, fix the problem at the source, and get you back to doing what you love—stronger than before.

Struggling with back pain? Let’s figure it out together.

We’re located in Easley, SC and Central, SC and work with active people of all ages—from athletes to weekend warriors to parents chasing kids around.

📞 Call or text us at (864) 633-9272 to book a visit. You don’t need a referral—just a desire to feel better and move well again.