“A doctor must have the skill and trustworthiness that would make fellow physicians feel confident enough to entrust their own family members to their care.”
Our medical director has carried this belief since his days as a university hospital professor, and he has continued to work with that philosophy to this day.
Through ongoing research, effort, and dedicated patient care, we have earned the trust of many patients who choose us with confidence or proudly recommend our clinic to others.
Not long ago, a woman in her late 50s came to our clinic for treatment of low back pain.
She was a patient in her late 50s who helps with her family’s business. Recently, because she couldn’t find anyone to help, she carried heavy items herself and the next morning woke up with such severe low back pain that she could hardly move.
Sudden low back pain like this often results from repeated, careless movements or from strenuous actions during everyday life. After middle age, muscle mass decreases, and if someone doesn’t exercise regularly, even a small strain can easily cause pain.
Today, using this case as an example, we’ll look closely at why sudden low back pain occurs and how the patient improved through the treatment process.
📌 Contents ▪ Why your back hurts after strenuous work ▪ Treatment combining injection therapy and manual (hands-on) therapy ▪ Chiropractic-licensed clinicians on staff ▪ Why it’s important to listen carefully to the patient’s story
Why does your back hurt after strenuous work?
Low back pain can range from simple muscle soreness to more serious conditions such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. However, in cases like this one—pain that occurs after lifting heavy objects or suddenly twisting the lower back—the cause is usually damage to the erector spinae muscles or inflammation of the surrounding fascia.
The erector spinae are the key muscles that keep the spine upright and maintain posture. They are used continuously when standing or sitting for long periods. When these muscles become fatigued or injured, they tighten and trigger an inflammatory response, causing severe pain when bending or straightening the back.
In addition, when the pain becomes intense, people tend to maintain a slouched or guarded posture, which causes the surrounding muscles to tense up as well, creating a cycle that can worsen the condition.
Treatment With Both Injection Therapy and Manual Therapy
Injection therapy is used when inflammation is significant or when the pain is severe, helping provide immediate relief. In this patient’s case, we applied a fascial injection directly to the area showing inflammatory reactions, treating the exact source of the pain. This type of injection helps reduce inflammation, improve blood flow, and support muscle recovery.
Manual therapy was applied in the next stage. Using the hands of a trained specialist, we gently released the tightened muscles and corrected the misalignment of the pelvis and spine.
By relieving muscle tension, the pain was reduced, and normal muscle movement was restored. After just 2–3 treatment sessions, the patient reported that straightening her back felt much easier, and her walking also became noticeably smoother.
Chiropractic-Licensed Clinicians On Site
At Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Clinic, our chiropractic-licensed clinicians personally assess your condition and provide treatment tailored to your needs.
A chiropractic license cannot be obtained in Korea. It requires completing an undergraduate degree in the United States or Canada, followed by a 3–4 year chiropractic doctoral program. This process takes roughly eight years in total. After that, candidates must pass a four-stage licensing examination administered by federal and state governments.
Because earning this license requires such extensive time and effort, it is difficult to find clinicians in Korea who hold it. However, at our clinic, a fully qualified specialist is available to provide care directly.
Why It’s Important to Listen Carefully to the Patient’s Story
To accurately determine the cause of lower back pain, it is crucial to thoroughly understand the patient’s lifestyle, occupation, posture, and recent level of physical activity.
Imaging tests such as MRIs or X-rays cannot reveal every underlying issue. In this case, we identified that the patient’s pain was caused by overuse of the erector spinae muscles due to short-term excessive labor. With this insight, we were able to provide targeted injection therapy and manual therapy, which resulted in significant improvement.
When patients share the specific events or activities they suspect may have triggered their pain, clinicians can tailor the examination and deliver treatment that is more precise and more effective.
At Seoul Painfree Rehabilitation Clinic, in addition to injection therapy and manual therapy, we also provide exercise therapy, rehabilitation therapy, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy. You can also receive an electromyography (EMG) test, with results available on the same day.
