Physio Bangkok/Conditions
Back Pain Physiotherapy in Bangkok
Aspire Physio Bangkok provides back pain physiotherapy from our clinic on Sukhumvit Soi 23, a short walk from Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT. We treat lower and upper back pain, sciatica and disc problems with hands-on care to ease the pain and coached strength work to rebuild the support your spine is missing. Your first consultation is free. Book through our contact page or call 082-281-8009.
- Free first consultation
- Licensed physiotherapists
- English and Thai
- Sukhumvit 23, near Asok BTS
Your physio team
Licensed physiotherapists who assess and treat you themselves, in English or Thai, from treatment through to the gym floor.
Back pain we treat
Back pain covers a lot of ground. These are the problems we see most often at the clinic.
Lower back pain
The most common kind by a distance. It can come on suddenly, after lifting something awkward or bending to pick up a bag, or build slowly from long days sitting. Most lower back pain is mechanical, which means it comes from the muscles, joints and ligaments around the spine and changes with position and movement. It often feels frightening, especially when the muscles spasm and you can barely stand up straight, but in most cases it settles well with the right treatment and a gradual return to movement.
Upper and mid back pain
Pain between the shoulder blades or around the ribs is usually linked to posture and stiffness in the upper back. It’s common in people who sit at a desk all day, drive long distances or carry a heavy bag on one shoulder. It often goes hand in hand with neck and shoulder tension, which we cover on our office syndrome treatment page.
Sciatica
Sciatica is pain that travels from the lower back or buttock down the back of the leg, sometimes to the foot. It happens when one of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve gets irritated, often by a disc or by narrowing around the nerve. The leg pain can be sharp, burning or electric, and it may come with pins and needles or numbness. It’s often worse than the back pain itself.
Disc problems
The discs sit between the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers. A disc bulge or herniation happens when some of the disc material pushes outwards and can press on or irritate a nearby nerve. Hearing “herniated disc” can be alarming, but many disc problems settle without surgery when they’re managed well. Our post on how to avoid surgery if you have a herniated disc goes into this in detail.
Recurring back pain
A lot of our clients aren’t in acute pain. They’re tired of their back “going” every few months. That pattern usually points to a lack of strength and control around the trunk and hips, and it’s where a structured strength plan makes the biggest difference.
Signs you should see a doctor first
Most back pain is not serious. A small number of symptoms need medical attention before physiotherapy, and some need it urgently.
Go to a hospital emergency department straight away if you have:
- New difficulty passing urine, loss of bladder control, or loss of bowel control
- Numbness around your genitals, buttocks or inner thighs (the area that would touch a saddle)
- Weakness in one or both legs that is getting worse, or numbness or pins and needles in both legs
These can be signs of pressure on the nerves at the base of the spine, which needs urgent assessment.
See a doctor soon if you have:
- Back pain after a significant fall, car accident or other trauma
- Fever or feeling unwell along with back pain
- Unexplained weight loss, or a history of cancer
- Constant pain that doesn’t change with position and is worse at night
- Back pain with chest or abdominal pain
If you’re unsure, book the free consultation. Your physiotherapist will screen for these signs and refer you to a doctor if you need one.
How we treat back pain
At Aspire Physio we treat back pain as a strength problem as much as a pain problem. Hands-on care helps you get comfortable. Exercise is what makes your back more resilient over time.
Assessment
We start by listening. Your physiotherapist asks how the pain started, what makes it better and worse, what your work and training look like, and what you want to get back to. Then they check how you move, which movements bring on your pain, your hip and spine mobility, your strength, and your nerve function if there is any leg pain. You’ll leave the first session knowing what we think is going on and what the plan is.
Settling acute pain
If your back is sore and guarded, we calm it down first. That can include joint mobilisation, trigger point therapy, myofascial release, deep tissue and sports massage, and dry needling for muscles that are in spasm. We also show you positions and gentle movements that ease the pain at home, and how to stay active without flaring it up. Bed rest is rarely the answer for back pain. Gentle movement usually helps it settle sooner.
The gym-floor strength phase
Once the pain has eased enough, and often in the same session, your physiotherapist takes you up to the gym floor. This is where the real work happens. We build strength in the muscles that support your spine: the deep trunk muscles, the glutes, the hip muscles and the upper back. We start with simple, controlled exercises and progress each week to loaded movements like hinging, squatting, carrying and pulling.
The aim is for you to bend, lift and move with confidence again, not to avoid movement for the rest of your life. Learning to hinge and lift well, with a strong trunk and hips, is one of the most useful things you can do for a back that keeps flaring up. Our post on the importance of strength training during rehabilitation explains why this matters.
The gym floor belongs to the Aspire Coaching studio, in the same building. When your rehab is done, you can keep training there with a strength coach if you want to.
Sciatica and disc rehab
For sciatica and disc problems the order of work is a little different. We first find positions and movements that ease the leg pain and reduce the irritation on the nerve. We watch whether symptoms retreat from the leg back towards the spine, which is generally a good sign. As the leg settles, we build strength and tolerance for sitting, bending and lifting step by step. We keep a close eye on nerve function throughout, and if anything changes in a way that concerns us, we refer you to a doctor.
Your first consultation is free. A physiotherapist will assess you properly and explain what’s going on, with no pressure to book more.
How long back pain takes to settle
Every back is different. As a guide:
- A recent flare-up of lower back pain often eases a lot within the first few weeks, especially once you’re moving again.
- Sciatica and disc problems usually take longer. Leg pain can take weeks to months to settle, and progress is rarely a straight line.
- Recurring or long-standing back pain needs a longer strength phase. Most people need several weeks to a few months of consistent training to feel the difference.
We won’t promise a set number of sessions. Your physiotherapist will outline a plan after the first visit and adjust it as you improve, with fewer clinic sessions and more independent training as you get stronger.
What you can do at home
- Keep moving. Short, regular walks are one of the best things for most back pain.
- Change position often. Get up from your desk every 30 to 45 minutes, even briefly.
- Do your exercises. The home work your physiotherapist sets is where most of the progress comes from.
- Don’t chase quick fixes. Cracking your own back or stretching hard into pain rarely helps for long.
Cost and insurance
Your first consultation is free. Treatment sessions start from ฿1,600. Many clients claim physiotherapy through their health insurance, and we supply the documents your insurer asks for. See our insurance claims page for how claiming works.
Who you’ll see
Our licensed physiotherapists are Boom Namsak, a physiotherapist and strength coach, Gino Udomthanakij and Som Benjaprasertsri. They work in English and Thai. Each of them handles both the treatment room and the gym floor, so the person who treats your pain is the same person who coaches your strength work.
Common questions
Can physiotherapy help lower back pain?
Yes. Physiotherapy is one of the main treatments for lower back pain. We use hands-on treatment and dry needling to ease pain, then build strength in your trunk and hips so your back copes better with daily life.
Should I rest or keep moving with back pain?
For most back pain, gentle movement helps more than bed rest. Avoid the movements that sharply increase your pain, but keep walking and moving within a comfortable range. Your physiotherapist will show you what is safe for you.
Can physiotherapy help sciatica?
Physiotherapy is commonly used for sciatica. We work on easing the irritation on the nerve, then build strength and tolerance for everyday movement. If your symptoms suggest you need a medical opinion, we will refer you.
Do I need surgery for a herniated disc?
Many people with a herniated disc improve without surgery. Surgery may be needed in some cases, such as worsening leg weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control. Your physiotherapist will tell you if your symptoms need a surgical opinion.
Do I need an X-ray or MRI before I come in?
Usually not. Most back pain can be assessed and treated without a scan. If you already have scan results, bring them. If we think you need imaging, we will refer you to a doctor.
How much does back pain physiotherapy cost?
Your first consultation is free and treatment sessions start from ฿1,600. Many clients claim through their health insurance, and we supply the documents your insurer asks for.
Free first consultation
Book a free back pain consultation
You’ll find us at Jasmine Building, 2nd Floor, Sukhumvit Road, Soi 23, Klongtoey, Bangkok 10110, a short walk from Asok BTS and Sukhumvit MRT. We’re open Monday to Friday 7am to 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday 8am to 4pm. Bookings are required in advance, so contact us or call 082-281-8009 to book your free first consultation.