NECK AND BACK INJURIES
NECK AND BACK PHYSIO AT
IPERFORM IN ADELAIDE’S NORTH
Your spine can handle a huge amount of load, right up until the demand exceeds what your body is prepared for. A jump in training volume, a new lifting block, a growth spurt, a long drive before game day or a heavy fall can all tip that balance.
When that balance tips, the spine is where many athletes feel it. It is one continuous column, but it’s usually split into three regions: the neck (cervical spine), the mid-back and rib region (thoracic spine), and the lower back (lumbar spine). Most people will have back pain at some point in their lives. For many it settles quickly. For others it keeps coming back or hangs around, and starts to get in the way of training, work and sleep.
At iPerform, our physiotherapists help work out what tipped it, settle your pain, and then build your capacity so the same load feels manageable next time. We treat neck and back injuries in athletes and active people across Adelaide’s north.
WHAT GOOD RECOVERY GIVES YOU BACK
On game day
Bowl, tackle, jump and land at full effort, with a spine ready for the impact
Finish the match or session with the pain staying away
Get back into the team sooner, with objective testing behind the decision
In the gym
Squat, deadlift and press at the weights you’ve trained for
Keep your technique steady under heavy and overhead loads
Train through your rehab, with exercises matched to your stage
Away from sport
Fewer stiff mornings and sore evenings
More energy for work, family and everything else on your calendar
Looking ahead
A clear explanation of what went wrong and why
A plan you can follow on your own between sessions
Fewer missed sessions, games and weekends
Confidence that your spine will cope when training ramps up
NECK AND BACK INJURIES WE TREAT
Lower back (lumbar spine)
Pars stress injuries and stress fractures
Lower back muscle and ligament strains
Disc bulges and disc herniations
Sciatica and pinched nerves
Facet joint irritation
Spondylolisthesis
Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain
Persistent or recurring lower back pain
Non-specific lower back pain
Mid-back and rib region (thoracic spine)
Rib joint strains
Mid-back muscle strains and stiffness
Thoracic stress injuries
Rib injuries from contact or collisions
Neck (cervical spine)
Whiplash and contact-related neck injuries
Wry neck and acute neck strains
Facet joint irritation
Pinched nerve roots, including pins and needles into the arm
Neck disc bulges
Neck-related/cervicogenic headaches
Not sure which one you have? That’s okay. These areas overlap, and working out what’s going on is what your first assessment is for.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Rehab at iPerform follows a clear path, from your first appointment to your first game back.
1. Find the cause
We combine your history with a detailed physical assessment, and use scans only when they will change the plan.
2. Settle the pain
Hands-on treatment, stretching, and clear guidance on what you can keep doing. Complete rest is rarely the answer.
3. Rebuild strength and control
We progressively load your neck, upper back, trunk, and hips so your spine can handle force. Stiff hips, a weaker core or limited upper back movement often send extra load to the neck or lower back, so we always look beyond the sore spot.
4. Prepare for your sport
Bowling, lifting, rotation, sprinting, landing and contact drills all require specific training and will be integrated into your rehab. This is so rehab matches the demands of match day.
5. Test it
Objective strength and performance testing helps us determine when you are ready to progress in your rehab and ultimately get back to competition.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
Young athletes with lower back pain that comes on with sport, particularly fast bowlers, gymnasts, rowers and dancers.
Young athletes with back pain during growth spurts or heavy training periods.
Contact athletes such as soccer, football, or rugby players with neck pain after a tackle, fall, or collision.
Court based athletes such as netball, basketball, or tennis players who get back pain with repeated jumping and landing.
Anyone with whiplash from a car or sporting accident.
Gym-goers and lifters whose back or neck flares with squats, deadlifts or overhead work.
Runners with recurring back pain who want a long-term solution.
Anyone with sciatica or arm pain from a suspected nerve irritation.
We service clients from all over Adelaide’s northern area including Mawson Lakes, Salisbury, Golden Grove, Modbury, Munno Para, Gawler, Barossa Valley, Virginia, Angle Vale, and Two Wells.
Ready to Get Started?
At your first appointment we’ll work out what’s driving your pain, check for anything that needs further investigation, and start treatment on the day. You’ll leave with a clear plan, realistic timelines, and know exactly what to do (and avoid) in the meantime.
Not sure where to start? Book your first physiotherapy session to discuss your options with us, call us on 08 8151 1347, or contact us here if you’d like to speak with our team first.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Often not. Most neck and back pain can be assessed and managed well with a thorough clinical examination. Scans help in specific cases, such as suspected fractures or stress injuries, significant nerve symptoms, or pain that hasn’t responded to rehab.
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It is a stress reaction or fracture in a small part of a lower back vertebra, caused by repeated loading. Playing at full load can delay healing, but you can often keep doing modified training. We’ll show you what is safe while it settles.
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It depends on severity and your sport, and commonly takes a number of months. Return to sport is guided by symptoms, function and testing, rather than a set date.
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If you have severe pain, numbness, weakness or a head injury, get urgent medical assessment first. Otherwise, stay gently active instead of resting completely and book a physio assessment to guide your recovery.
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Usually not. Disc bulges are common, and many settle with time and the right rehab, even when they cause pain in the leg or arm. However, if you notice numbness, changes in sensation or weakness, get assessed promptly, as these symptoms may need further investigation. Loss of bladder or bowel control, or numbness around the groin or inner thighs, needs urgent medical care.
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It depends on the cause, so we recommend an assessment before you return to full activity. In many cases you can keep training with modifications, and we’ll show you what is safe to keep doing so you hold onto your fitness. Some injuries, such as pars stress injuries, need more care, and training at full load too early can slow healing.
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Usually because the underlying cause, such as strength deficits, movement habits or training load, hasn’t been fully addressed. Good rehab targets these.
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Go to an emergency department or call 000 if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or inner thighs, progressive weakness in an arm or leg, severe pain after significant trauma, neck pain after a head injury, or back or neck pain with fever or unexplained weight loss.
