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Experiencing Lower Back Pain from Weightlifting?
Nearly 80% of Americans experience back pain at some point in their lives and for weightlifters, competitive lifters and CrossFit athletes lower back pain can be a reoccurring issue. Lower back pain is usually caused by any number of factors including muscle strain, weak core muscles, poor posture, or even an underlying medical condition. What's worse is that low back pain likes to flare up regularly despite treatment options like massage and chiropractic care because those approaches do not get to the root cause of the pain and repair the dysfunction.
At Breaking Through Physical Therapy, we help many weightlifters, CrossFit athletes and other athletes with low back pain to find relief and get back to the gym.
This blog post is about two separate client testimonials. One is a competitive weight lifter and the other a CrossFit athlete. Both of these patients were experiencing the lower back pain and came to Breaking Through with one question on their mind:
"How do you fix lower back pain from weightlifting?"
...and how do I get back to doing what I love and setting new PRs?
Get Back to Your Active Lifestyle with Effective Physical Therapy
First was Maria (client testimonial video below) who said she first came to Breaking Through with terrible sciatic nerve pain that was keeping her from being able to perform her CrossFit workouts and starting to affect her everyday life. This client is a very active CrossFit athlete, who was unable to workout effectively due to back pain -- it got to the point where it was too hard to even stand or sit for a long period of time. Now, not only is she out of pain, but she is also PR'ing in CrossFit.
So how do you fix lower back pain in weightlifters? We did NOT tell her to rest. We did NOT tell her to stretch. All of her treatment was based on MOVEMENT and now she is stronger and better than before her injury. See her Google Review below:
"OH MY GOOSE!!! I went to see Evan for what I thought was nerve issues in my back but it was nothing more than muscles not being used. It hurt to do simple day to day chores and after 5 sessions I was back in the gym and hit a personal record: 110lb squat clean!!! Thank you so much Evan at Breaking Through Intensive Therapy." - Maria Lano
Related Content Includes:
Can Physical Therapy Work for Severe Back Pain?
How Long Does Physical Therapy Take for Lower Back Pain
Ending Sciatica Pain with Breaking Through Physical Therapy
Patient Avoids Spinal Fusion Surgery with Physical Therapy
Back Surgery Alternative: EFFECTIVE Physical Therapy
Get Back to Your Active Lifestyle with Effective Physical Therapy
Recent Physical Therapy Patient Testimonials:
“I’ve been working with Dr Evan since May. Went in with chronic low back pain that impacted my daily quality of life, as well as my weightlifting, as well as shoulder and wrist pain. Through the exercises he prescribed me as well as working on muscle activation im pain free daily. I had previously tried multiple chiropractors and massage therapists, and this has been significantly more helpful!" - Alex Macey
“I’ve been dealing with lower back pain for years. It’s impacted my day to day life. I’ve been coming to breaking through and I’m on my 3rd visit and I already feel so much better! They’re the only PT I’ll ever recommend!" - Jon Mathoslah
"Back in September of 2022 I herniated 2 disc in my low back from constant wear and tear from being active in sports, running, lifting and work. During this time I was having extreme bi lateral sciatic pain down both of my legs. Some mornings I couldn’t get out of bed. I exhausted all of my options from primary doctor, chiro, in network PT, stretching etc.. I heard about Breaking Through by a friend and fellow client of Josh’s. I did my research and decided to make an appointment with josh 2 weeks ago. I was some what pessimistic because I felt like this was just an injury I had to deal with and live with. I’m glad I was wrong. I have seen josh only 3 times and during these last 3 visits, I’m back to running again pain- free, squatting, having more mobility in my lower body and little to zero sciatic pain daily. Josh was so positive with his attitude on getting me back to what I love to do and that’s workout and be active. I went from not being able to run 10 feet without sciatic pain to now running 3.5 miles pain free. Thank you Breaking Through and Josh!" - Cody Alflen
SET UP YOUR ASSESSMENT
Learn why our physical therapy will get better results in less visits when our doctors of PT work with you INDIVIDUALLY to uncover the root cause of your shoulder pain, foot drop or other dysfunction. To arrange a foot pain assessment contact us.
MORE PHYSICAL THERAPY REVIEWS...
What do our patients say about the private practice physical therapy clinic, Breaking Through Intensive Therapy?
Posted on Google
Denise French2 October 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Breaking Through was recommended to me a few months ago and, unfortunately, I waited until I was very frustrated with hip/leg pain. Don't wait like I did. I did not want to go to a doctor and do the medication route; I just wanted the pain gone! Read the information on their website, lots of info to absorb. Josh did a complete assessment in my first visit. By applying light pressure in specific areas, I walked out with my exercises feeling fabulous and had a positive attitude. Exercises are done 4-6 times a day - literally it takes 2-5 minutes. Instructions were emailed to me that included videos so I could check to make sure they were being done correctly. Within days, I was pain free. Josh and Jennifer were available by text an email for my questions. A follow up appointment a week later with Jennifer where she did a complete assessment, applied pressure to specific areas, and added a couple new exercises. I had my 4th appointment today and am totally pain free with freedom of movement. Thank you Josh, Josh II and Jennifer!!!Posted on Google
Ashley Saxe30 September 2026I can’t say enough positive things about this entire team. Everyone is friendly and professional. But the most important and impressive part is the methods they use for PT and how effective they are. They ask questions to really get to know your issues and help you address the root causes. They make sure every visit that your entire body is functioning properly not just checking on the injury and provide solutions and exercises to address them. I am beyond happy and amazed with how well I have recovered thanks to Josh and his team. If you have ANY issue that requires PT, this is THE place to go.Posted on Google
Melanie Reinke16 September 2026I had plantar fasciitis for months. I thought I could fix it on my own through YouTube videos and advice from others. I could barely hobble mornings because my pain was so bad. My daughter suggested Breaking Through Intensive Therapy in Middleburg Heights. They are absolutely amazing!!! They didn't just treat my foot's surface symptoms, they have a 180 approach which finds the root cause of the pain and corrects that. It's truly incredible what they do. I felt so welcome and no question was too silly or unimportant. I still learn something new every time I go there. It's awesome. I learned so much and feel so much better and I cannot recommend Breaking Through Intensive Therapy enough. They are so incredibly patient, knowledgeable, and skilled, and you will wonder why you waited so long to go.Posted on Google
Jennifer Toth10 September 2026I love that the team at Breaking Through takes such a different approach to PT. I’ve sent several members of my family there for various issues, and the sessions we’ve had have been simple and subtle, but so effective!Posted on Google
Tony Smerk, Sr.8 September 2026Over the past year I have experienced growing pain and discomfort in my lower back and down my legs . . . including some numbness in my feet. I had begun a program of Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen to manage/control the pain. At a meeting with friends, someone suggested physical therapy as a means of finding relief. They suggested Breaking Through, where several people had already had success in managing new back pain. Because of the relationship with those people, I went to Breaking Through and had my first treatment. I felt immediate relief right after the first treatment . . . and for the week that followed. So much so, that I had no need for the pain medication I had been taking prior to the treatment. I have been given exercises that take about 15 minutes to do 3 times a day. Since doing those, I am now experiencing very little pain and hope to achieve complete pain free days in the near future. I will see the therapist for a few more treatments to be sure it is not temporary, but I am feeling confident that the exercises and the treatment have helped me find relief that will lead to a pain free life again. I was actually considering surgery, as was proposed to me after an evaluation by a neurosurgeon, until I started the treatments. I am now convinced that Breaking Through has helped me "break through" the pain . . . and I'm on my way to those pain free days again. I highly recommend you visit Breaking Through to find the experience that may help you find pain free days as well.