If your back aches every time you sit, stiffens overnight or sends a sharp pain into your hip, you don't have to keep living around it. At La' Vita Osteo Health & Rehab, we find out why it keeps coming back and treat it with gentle, hands-on osteopathy.
Tick anything that feels familiar. It takes 20 seconds and helps you see whether osteopathy could help.
Chronic lower back pain is rarely just a "back problem". Your lower spine sits between your pelvis, hips and ribcage, and it often takes the strain when one of those stops moving well. A stiff hip, a locked SI joint or a tight diaphragm can keep irritating the same spot for months.
That's why rest, painkillers or a one-off massage often bring only short relief. The sore area calms down, but whatever is overloading it is still there.
Osteopathy works differently. At La' Vita Osteo, we assess your spine, pelvis, hips and breathing together, find the link that's been missed, and treat the whole chain, not just the spot that hurts.
Desk days downtown and long drives tighten your hips and switch off the muscles that support your spine.
When one sacroiliac joint stops moving freely, the other side and your lower back work overtime.
Hips that can't rotate fully pass every step, lift and twist straight into your lower back.
Hormones loosen pelvic ligaments, and carrying, feeding and lifting a baby add new strain.
Shovelling snow, slips on ice, ski season and weekend hikes all load the back in sudden ways.
A tight diaphragm pulls on the lower spine, and stress keeps the muscles around it guarded.
They feel similar but behave differently, and they need different treatment. Here's how they usually show up.
Not sure which you have? Many people have a bit of both. Your first visit includes a hands-on assessment of your lumbar spine, both SI joints and your hips, so we treat what's actually going on.
Whether it started last month or has been with you for years, these are the issues we see most in our Calgary clinic.
*If you've been diagnosed with a disc injury, bring your report. We'll adapt treatment and work alongside your doctor.
Your first 75-minute visit goes well beyond "where does it hurt?". These checks show us why your back hurts, so treatment targets the real cause.
How you stand, how level your pelvis sits and whether one side carries more load.
Bending, arching and twisting, to see which segments of your lower spine are stiff or sore.
Gentle hands-on tests that show whether one or both sacroiliac joints are involved.
Hip rotation and hip flexor length, two of the most common hidden causes of back pain.
Simple checks for irritated nerves when pain travels into your buttock or leg.
How your diaphragm and ribs move, and how well your deep core supports your spine.
Your first visit is $160 + GST and includes this full assessment and your first treatment. Direct billing is available. See all prices
Every plan is built around you, but most back and pelvic care at La' Vita Osteo follows this path.
We test how your lumbar spine, both SI joints, hips, ribcage and even your feet move, so we know exactly where the strain begins.
Soft-tissue release for the muscles that guard a sore back, including the glutes, piriformis, hip flexors and the long muscles beside the spine.
Gentle, rhythmic articulation frees up stiff spinal segments, the SI joints and the hips, with no forceful cracking.
We release the diaphragm and lower ribs and balance the pelvis, so your core can support your spine again.
You leave with two or three simple exercises and practical advice for sitting, sleeping and lifting, so results hold between visits.
Everyone heals at their own pace. This is how progress typically looks for our back pain patients.
A full 75-minute assessment, your first treatment, and a clear explanation of what's driving your pain.
Many people notice easier movement, better sleep and fewer flare-ups as stiffness eases.
Visits space out while your exercises progress, helping your back handle daily life on its own.
Optional check-ups every few weeks or months, especially before ski season or busy work periods.
Small changes make a real difference. These are the tips we give our Calgary patients most often.
Stand up and walk for two minutes every 30–45 minutes at your desk or on long drives.
An easy 15–20 minute walk keeps your spine and SI joints moving. Flat routes are best during a flare-up.
On your side, put a pillow between your knees. On your back, place one under your knees.
Push snow instead of lifting it, bend your knees, and switch sides so one side doesn't do all the work.
Ten to fifteen minutes of gentle heat can relax tight muscles. Stop if it makes the pain worse.
Sitting on a wallet or phone tilts your pelvis and can irritate one SI joint over time.
Most back pain is mechanical and responds well to hands-on care. Please seek medical attention before booking with us if you have:
If any of these come on suddenly, go to emergency care or call 911.
As the founder of La' Vita Osteo Health & Rehab, Pavneet treats lower back and SI joint pain more than almost anything else, from desk workers and runners to new mothers. In more than 10 years of practice, she has learned that the sore spot is rarely the whole story, so every treatment starts with finding what's really driving your pain.
More about our clinic →"This was my first time getting an osteo treatment. It was light and gentle but very effective. My neck and shoulder felt much better after the session. Pavneet is knowledgeable and professional. I will definitely return!"
"Highly recommend making an appointment to see Pavneet at La' Vita Osteo Health & Rehab. She is the best of the best, kind and caring. She will follow up with you after to check in."
"I'm so grateful for the care I received at La' Vita Osteo Health & Rehab. Pavneet is kind, attentive, and professional. She truly listens to you and makes you feel comfortable every step of the way."
Tell us what's been happening and we'll call you back. You'll get an honest view on whether osteopathy can help your back, with no obligation to book.
We've received your details and our team will get back to you shortly.
Yes. SI joint pain often comes from the joint not moving evenly, or from tight muscles around the pelvis and hips. Gentle osteopathic techniques can restore movement and balance, and home exercises help keep the joint stable.
It depends on how long you've had it and what's behind it. Many people feel a difference within the first two or three visits, and longer-standing pain usually needs a few more. You'll get a clear plan after your first assessment.
In most cases, yes. We use gentle techniques with no forceful manipulation. Bring any scan reports to your first visit and we'll adapt treatment. If your symptoms suggest you need medical review, we'll tell you.
No. Most back pain can be assessed hands-on. If you already have imaging, bring it along. If we think a scan or a doctor's review is needed, we'll let you know.
Yes. We adapt positions and techniques to every stage of pregnancy and to postpartum recovery. If your pregnancy is high-risk, please check with your doctor or midwife first.
For ongoing stiffness, gentle heat often feels best. In the first day or two after a sudden strain, some people prefer cold. Use whichever eases your pain, for 10–15 minutes at a time.
Your first visit is 75 minutes for $160 + GST, including a full assessment and treatment. Follow-up sessions are 45–60 minutes for $140 + GST.
Treatment is gentle and you're in control throughout. Some people feel mild soreness for a day afterwards, similar to after exercise.
Many extended health plans cover osteopathy. We direct bill where your plan allows and provide receipts for every visit. No doctor's referral is needed to book.
Book your 75-minute back and pelvic assessment ($160 + GST) at La' Vita Osteo Health & Rehab, 1230A 17 Ave SW, Unit 2, Calgary. Appointments are available 7 days a week, 9 AM to 9 PM.
This page is general information and is not a diagnosis. Results vary from person to person. Manual osteopathic therapy does not replace medical care; we will refer you to your physician whenever needed.