Back pain brings more people to my clinic than anything else.

Sometimes it’s a sharp spasm from bending the wrong way. Sometimes it’s a dull, constant ache that’s been there for months — or even years.

But the pattern I see again and again is this:

People think they’ve tried everything – massage, manipulation, core exercises, stretching, injections, and even surgery – and yet the pain keeps coming back.

That’s when they come to me, and the first thing I check?

Their posture, but not in the way most people think.

Why Posture Could Be the Missing Link

Most people think posture means “sit up straight” or “stand taller” – but real posture work goes much deeper.

When I assess someone’s posture, I’m looking at their entire body — from the position of their head and shoulders to the tilt of their pelvis and the rotation of their hips.

That’s because:

Where you feel the pain is often not the problem — it’s just compensating for another part, which is where the actual problem is.

If your pelvis is tilted or twisted, if one shoulder is higher than the other, if your head juts forward, or your upper back is hunched, then your spine is being asked to do far more than its fair share.

It’s trying to compensate for other joints that aren’t aligned or moving well, and eventually, it says: Enough. That’s when pain shows up.

Why Most Treatments Miss This

Most back pain treatments focus on the site of pain — not the source.

You’re told you’ve got a disc bulge, or tight muscles, or inflammation, but almost no one stops to ask:

“Why did that happen in the first place?”
“What’s causing the pressure, strain or imbalance?”
“And what’s keeping it going?”

That’s what proper posture assessment does — it looks beneath the surface. It’s not about chasing symptoms. It’s about fixing the pattern that led to them.

A Real Example

One client came to me after living with back pain for over 15 years.

He’d tried everything — countless therapists, countless treatments, countless exercises — but all focused just on his back.

When I looked at his posture, I could see his back was rounded, but that wasn’t the full picture.

His pelvis was shifted forward. His head and shoulders were out of alignment. His whole body had adapted into a dysfunctional pattern — and his back was paying the price.

So I gave his body what it was missing — movements that realigned his pelvis, upper back, and head.

When his posture improved, the pain he’d had for 15 years finally went away.

You can see more examples of clients who’ve beaten back pain in the [Client’s Results section of my website].

The Egoscue Method: A Different Way to Work with Back Pain

The method I use is called the Egoscue Method. It’s a posture-based approach to pain relief that works with the body, not against it.

We don’t just stretch what’s tight or strengthen what’s weak. We look at how your muscles and joints are working as a system — and help your body remember how to move in balance again.

That’s why it works for so many people who’ve tried everything else, and it’s why I tailor every plan to the individual — based on their body, their posture, and their goals.

What You Can Try Right Now

If you’re struggling with back pain — especially the kind that comes and goes, or hasn’t shifted no matter what you’ve tried — I’d encourage you to [Try This Simple Posture Exercise That Helps Almost Everyone].

It only takes a few minutes. It’s gentle, calming, and surprisingly powerful.

I give it to clients in both mild and severe pain — and it often gives their body the reset it’s been waiting for.

Final Thought

If back pain has been hanging around for longer than it shoul, and if nothing you’ve tried has created lasting relief, then it might be time to stop treating the symptom — and start looking at the whole pattern.

That’s what posture therapy does, and for many people, it’s the turning point.

 

Written by Ameet Bhakta
Posture Specialist | Health Through Posture
Clinics in London, Tunbridge Wells & Online
Trusted by GPs, consultants, athletes & busy professionals