Why Does Low Back Pain Keep Coming Back? Finding Your Spine’s Natural “Shield” through the Brain and Breath
Many patients with low back pain (LBP) share a similar story.
They’ve tried massage, stretching, different kinds of care, and even traditional “core strengthening” exercises like sit-ups or planks—yet the pain keeps coming back.
From the perspective of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS), the problem is often not simply weak muscles or tight tissues.
Instead, it may be a breakdown in how the nervous system coordinates the muscles responsible for stabilizing the spine.
Rather than focusing only on where it hurts, DNS looks at how your body creates stability before movement begins.
1. Your Internal Support System: Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP)
Have you ever wondered how babies can kick their legs so powerfully without hurting their backs?
One reason is that they naturally generate Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP)—the body’s internal support system.
True core stability doesn’t come from “sucking in your stomach.”
Instead, it comes from the diaphragm, abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and deep spinal muscles working together like a pressurized cylinder to support the spine from the inside out.
When this system isn’t working efficiently, your body often compensates by overusing the muscles in your lower back, leading to fatigue, stiffness, and recurring pain.
2. Are You Stuck in an “Open Scissors” Posture?
One movement pattern we commonly see in people with persistent low back pain is the Open Scissors posture.
In this position, the rib cage flares upward while the pelvis tilts forward, preventing the diaphragm and pelvic floor from working together efficiently.
Without proper pressure regulation, the spine loses one of its primary support systems.
As a result, everyday activities like standing, walking, lifting, or exercising can place excessive stress on the lumbar spine over time.
3. Why Breathing Matters for Low Back Pain
Breathing is about much more than getting oxygen.
In DNS, the diaphragm is considered one of the body’s most important stabilizing muscles.
It has two essential jobs: helping you breathe & helping stabilize your spine.
If you primarily breathe with your chest, neck, and shoulders, your body loses an important source of spinal support.
Improving breathing mechanics is often one of the first—and most important—steps in restoring efficient movement and reducing chronic low back pain.
4. Learning from Infants: Restoring Your Body’s Original Blueprint
DNS is based on developmental kinesiology—the study of how healthy movement develops during infancy.
Before babies learn to sit, stand, or walk, they first learn how to breathe, stabilize their trunk, and move while maintaining spinal support.
Developmental Foundation of Core Stability
Healthy core stability begins long before we learn to stand.
DNS uses these developmental milestones as a blueprint for restoring efficient movement.
Our goal isn’t simply to strengthen muscles—it’s to help your nervous system rediscover the movement strategies your body was originally designed to use.
This includes restoring:
- Joint Centration – positioning the joints so they can efficiently absorb and transfer forces.
- Dynamic Core Stability – creating a stable trunk that allows the arms and legs to move freely without placing unnecessary stress on the spine.
5. How DNS Can Help
At FuncPhysio, we don’t just treat the area that hurts.
A DNS assessment evaluates how your entire movement system works together, including:
- Breathing mechanics
- Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP)
- Rib cage and pelvic alignment
- Core coordination
- Functional movement patterns
Functional Movement Assessment
DNS evaluates spinal stability through developmental movement patterns.
Using developmental positions such as the 3-month supine position, quadruped, or bear position, we can identify movement compensations that may not be visible during traditional orthopedic examinations.
Treatment may include breathing retraining, developmental exercises, movement re-education, and functional strengthening to help your nervous system restore efficient spinal stabilization.
Looking for DNS Physical Therapy in NYC?
Low back pain is often a sign that your body’s stabilization system is compensating rather than working efficiently.
Instead of simply treating the symptoms, DNS aims to restore your body’s natural movement strategies, helping you move with greater confidence, efficiency, and less pain.
If you are struggling with persistent or recurring low back pain, schedule a DNS evaluation at FuncPhysio to learn whether this approach is right for you.
Learn more about Dr. Rowan Huang:
Ready to get started? Schedule your evaluation at FuncPhysio today!
