Why Back Pain Lingers

(And What Can Help Address It)

Has your back pain lingered for months, no matter what you try to do to address it? There’s no denying how frustrating chronic back pain can be. It often flares up without warning. It can make even simple activities a challenge. And it can slowly change how you move, sleep, work, and train.

The good news? Both physiotherapy and chiropractic care at Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab can help.

A Closer Look at Chronic Back Pain

Back pain is an incredibly common complaint, but most of the time it lasts only a few days to a few weeks. In these cases, there’s usually a clear trigger, such as using improper form during lifting or suffering a sports injury.

This type of pain is essentially your body’s way of telling you something’s wrong. That’s why the pain fades as the underlying injury heals. Chronic back pain, on the other hand, is much more complex.

Chronic back pain is defined as pain lasting longer than 3 months, well past the time an injury would have healed. While several factors can contribute to chronic pain, it often indicates that the nervous system has become more sensitive, causing pain signals to stick around even after the tissues have healed.

What Are Some Signs of Chronic Back Pain?

Pain that comes and goes, but never seems to fully disappear
Stiffness in the morning or after sitting
Muscle spasms leading to sudden, intense pain and difficulty in moving
Flare-ups that feel unpredictable
Fear of movement (You might find yourself thinking things like, “If I bend over, I’ll throw my back out again”)
Lower energy and worse sleep
Less activity over time

Treating Chronic Back Pain with Physiotherapy and Chiropractic Care

A multifaceted condition like chronic back pain responds best to a multifaceted management approach. That’s why having access to both physiotherapy and chiropractic care can be a major advantage. At Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab, we offer both services, and we can help you decide which approach will work best with your symptoms, goals, and daily demands.

When to Consider Chiropractic Care at Leaps and Bounds

Chiropractic care can be especially helpful when movement is a challenge. Maybe your back feels stiff or restricted, or perhaps pain is limiting your ability to move normally. In both cases, many people find that chiropractic’s hands-on treatment helps reduce symptoms enough to get moving again, making it a great choice when pain is sharp, movement feels limited, or flare-ups keep interrupting your progress.

Chiropractic care may include:

Spinal or joint mobilization/manipulation to restore motion and reduce stiffness
Hands-on soft tissue work to relax tight muscles and reduce sensitivity
Acupuncture, which can help calm an overactive nervous system, reduce pain sensitivity, and promote relaxation—especially helpful when pain feels persistent, protective, or hard to “settle down”
Orthotic assessment and prescription to improve foot and lower-limb mechanics, which can reduce unnecessary strain through the knees, hips, and lower back during walking, standing, and sport
Movement guidance to support better daily habits and posture

When to Consider Physiotherapy at Leaps and Bounds

Physiotherapy is often the best fit when your goal is to build confidence in movement, and ultimately long-term strength and stability. We typically recommend it if your pain has led you to avoid certain activities or if your back feels weak, sensitive, or easily irritated, as it can help your body tolerate more without flaring up as easily.

At Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab, we also have three physiotherapists with specialized certification in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT), a system specifically designed to assess and manage complex and chronic low back pain. MDT focuses on identifying movement patterns and positions that influence your symptoms, allowing treatment to be highly individualized. For many people with long-standing back pain, this approach can help reduce pain, improve self-management, and provide clarity around moving safely, rather than something to fear.

Physiotherapy may focus on:

Mobility work to improve movement in the spine, hips, and ribcage
Progressive strength training for the core, hips, and back
Movement retraining, like learning how to bend, lift, and rotate with better control
Graded exposure, which means slowly reintroducing movements you’ve been avoiding
Return-to-sport or return-to-work rehab when your job or training loads are high

Why You Might Consider Combining Both Approaches

For many people, the best results come from blending the strengths of each approach, especially when back pain has been ongoing or unpredictable:

Chiropractic care can help settle pain and stiffness, including calming an overactive nervous system, making movement feel safer and more comfortable in the short term
Physiotherapy builds long-term resilience, using progressive exercise and movement retraining so your back can handle daily life, work, and sport with more confidence
Clear assessment and education help reduce fear around movement, improve pacing, and give you a better understanding of what helps versus what aggravates your symptoms
A personalized flare-up plan, informed by both hands-on care and exercise-based rehab, keeps temporary setbacks from turning into prolonged rest or loss of progress

Celebrating Excellence on the National & Olympic Stage

Our Sport Physiotherapist, Pat Stanziano, was thrilled to be on hand at the 2026 Canadian National Skating Championships to witness long-time clients Trennt Michaud and Lia Pereira capture gold in the pairs event, and then, only the next day, be officially named to Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympic Team.

Pat and Trennt have been working together for 10 years, and with Lia for the past four—a journey defined by trust, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Becoming an Olympic athlete demands more than talent. It requires relentless work ethic, discipline, consistency, mental toughness, and the courage to chase big goals day after day. Trennt and Lia embody these qualities, and their selection to Team Canada is a testament to years of earned dedication.

Be sure to catch the Pairs event on Sunday February 15 and Monday February 16.

Go shine in Milan, Trennt and Lia — we’re so proud of you!

Our Patients Are Getting Results

“I’ve been seeing Anthony for severe chronic neck pain that radiates down into my shoulder, arm, and fingers. From the very first session, Anthony impressed me with his professionalism, deep knowledge, and genuine concern for his patients. He doesn’t just treat symptoms—he truly listens, investigates thoroughly, and methodically pinpoints the root cause. Along with excellent hands-on treatment, he created a clear, progressive exercise program tailored exactly to my condition. He explains everything very clearly, adjusts as needed, and always prioritizes what works best for me. His approach feels thorough, evidence-based, and genuinely patient-centered. Thanks to Anthony’s expertise and dedication, I’m addressing the underlying issue instead of just masking the pain. I highly recommend Anthony to anyone struggling with pain or chronic pain—especially nerve-related issues, neck, or shoulder problems. He’s an excellent physiotherapist!” – L.L.

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Ready to Tackle Back Pain? We’re Here to Help

Many people with chronic back pain think rest is the best way to manage their symptoms. Unfortunately, prolonged rest can actually risk making them worse. Instead, you’ll benefit more from a comprehensive plan that supports short-term relief and long-term function. That way, you’ll have an easier time getting back to the things you love. With Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab offering both physiotherapy and chiropractic care under one roof, we can help you find the best treatment plan for your needs. Schedule an appointment today to get started!

Supporting Wounded Warriors Canada & Peel Regional Police

This February, we’re proud to support Peel Regional Police and Wounded Warriors Canada through a special fundraising initiative close to our hearts.

Peel Regional Police is currently running a raffle to win Toronto Maple Leafs tickets, with all proceeds supporting Wounded Warriors Canada, an organization dedicated to helping veterans, first responders, and their families cope with the lasting effects of trauma.

Pat recently stepped away from his role as on-site physiotherapist with Peel Regional Police after 12 years, and this is a meaningful way for us at Leaps and Bounds to continue supporting the people and community he worked alongside for so long.

Our commitment:

For the month of February, Leaps and Bounds Performance Rehab will donate $10 to Wounded Warriors Canada for every Google review submitted — no appointment required. It’s a simple way to give back while helping spread the word about our clinic.

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