Why Classifying Your Back Pain Is the Key to Long-Term Relief

If you’ve been dealing with low back pain (LBP) for weeks, months, or even years—you’re not alone. But here’s the truth most people don’t hear:

Naming your diagnosis is not the same as solving your pain.

Many people are told they have disc bulges, arthritis, “wear and tear,” or nonspecific back pain. They’re handed a generic sheet of exercises—or worse, told to rest and take painkillers—and sent on their way.

And yet, the pain keeps coming back.

That’s because low back pain isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem. It has subtypes, patterns, and root causes that need to be seen before they can be solved.

What Are LBP Classification Models?

Classification models are clinical systems that break back pain into distinct subgroups. Rather than treating everyone the same, these models allow clinicians to identify common movement or pain patterns—so the treatment can be specific, targeted, and more likely to succeed.

At The Back Specialists, we use a modern, evidence-informed classification system that groups back pain into four primary subtypes:

• Mobility Dysfunction

• Direction Specific Exercise

• Stabilization / Motor Control Deficits

• Nociplastic Pain

Each of these subgroups represents a completely different type of back pain—and each needs a completely different approach.

Let’s explore each one.

1.Mobility Dysfunction

This is where the problem isn’t a “weak core” or a scary scan result—it’s a loss of movement.

People in this group often feel:

• Stiff in one or more directions (e.g., bending, twisting)

• Locked up in the hips, lower back, or mid-back

• Like they “can’t move freely” or “always feel tight”

These are the people who stretch daily but never seem to get long-lasting relief.

The Fix:

We focus on improving joint mobility, soft tissue flexibility, and breathing patterns that influence spinal movement. It’s not just about more stretching—it’s about unlocking the right areas that are restricting your body from moving the way it should.

2.Direction Specific Exercise

This is one of the most misunderstood—and mistreated—types of back pain.

People in this group often report:

• Pain that gets worse with some movements but better with others

• For example: pain worse with sitting but better when walking, or pain worse with bending but better when arching the back

This group often includes people with disc irritation, sciatic pain, or nerve tension—but not always.

The Fix:

We identify your directional preference (e.g., flexion, extension, lateral shift) and build a movement program that repeatedly loads your spine in the direction that reduces your symptoms. This often creates fast changes in symptoms—sometimes even on the first visit.

3.Stabilization / Motor Control Deficits

This subgroup isn’t about stiffness—it’s about control.

People in this group tend to:

• Feel “wobbly” or unstable in the low back

• Report that certain movements (like lifting, twisting, or changing direction) feel unsafe or painful

• Have a history of multiple back flare-ups that seem random

What’s happening? Their deeper stabilizing muscles—like the transverse abdominis, multifidus, diaphragm, and pelvic floor—aren’t coordinating well. So the spine moves too much or in uncontrolled ways, leading to micro-irritation and flare-ups.

The Fix:

We retrain deep core activation and motor control—often starting with breathwork, positional awareness, and low-load exercises before progressing to heavier tasks. This subgroup benefits most from structured, progressive rehab.

4. Nociplastic Pain

This is the group that often falls through the cracks.

These are the people who:

• Have persistent pain that doesn’t follow a clear mechanical pattern

• May have seen multiple providers without answers

• Feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, and unsure where to turn next

In nociplastic pain, the nervous system has become sensitized. The issue isn’t necessarily in the tissues anymore—it’s in the way the body processes danger and threat signals.

This doesn’t mean the pain isn’t real (it 100% is)—it just means the treatment needs to include the brain and nervous system, not just the muscles and joints.

The Fix:

We use pain science education, graded movement exposure, nervous system calming strategies, and focus on what makes you feel safe. This approach is evidence-based, compassionate, and empowering.

Why This Model Works (When Other Treatments Don’t)

Most people fail to get better because they’re given a treatment that doesn’t match their subgroup.

Here’s what that looks like:

• Someone with motor control deficits is told to stretch more (which makes them worse).

• Someone with a direction-specific problem is given general Pilates (which may irritate the wrong movement).

• Someone with nociplastic pain is told, “Your scan is fine—just get on with it.”

This mismatch creates frustration, fear, and the feeling that you’re “just broken.”

But you’re not broken.

You’ve just never been properly assessed using the right framework.

How We Use This at The Back Specialists

Every client at The Back Specialists starts with a detailed movement assessment that helps us identify which subgroup they fall into.

We use tests from:

• The Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA)

• Movement Impairment Syndromes (Shirley Sahrmann)

• McGill’s Flexion/Extension/Rotation categorization

• Breathing and bracing strategies from DNS (Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation)

We then explain your findings clearly—so you understand what’s going on, why it’s happening, and how we’ll fix it together.

From there, we build a personalized plan that’s specific to your needs, not a cookie-cutter routine.

Ready to Get Clarity on Your Pain?

If you’ve been trying to stretch, strengthen, rest, ice, or push through your back pain with no long-term change—it’s time for a different approach.

Our €39 Mini-Assessment gives you:

• A full classification of your pain pattern

• Clear next steps

• A take-home Movement Clarity Report

• And expert guidance from specialists who treat the root cause, not just the symptoms

There’s no guesswork. No fluff. Just a precise plan tailored to your body.

You’re not broken. You just haven’t been seen properly.

Take the first step today—and finally get the clarity your back has been asking for.

The Back Specialists – We don’t do generic. We do precision care for lasting change.