01/13/2026
You’ll get 9 different answers if you saw 10 different providers. Low back pain, sacroiliac pain, groin, and hip pain gets muddy quick.
I've had so many patients come in seeing physical therapist, chiropractors, primary cares, and they get told all different answers from it's your low back, to one leg is longer than the other, weak core, you sit on a wallet, your hip flexor is weak, your pelvis is rotated, and even you crappy shoes.
They've been stuck, nowhere to go, left on an island of chronic pain with no end. No hope.
One simple test to start to figure out yourself and if you should focus on the spine or the hips is this simple FABER Test.
There can only be two outcomes:
1 - you do this movement and it creates the pain problem you'd like to go away
2 - you do this movement and it does not create your pain problem you’d like to go away.
If it doesn't produce the pain problem, you should focus on your low back and mid back. Spine is most likely the main contributor.
If you do this and it bothers your pain problem, you'll likely need to work on both but starting with the hips would be a better idea.
Some of my patients spend 30 minutes a day doing things that just help for a little bit. Some do it for years or even decades thinking that’s the best it’s going to get.
There's no greater feeling than waking up, getting out of your car, and lifting and playing with your kids and feeling as young as they do. It's why I do what I do.
If you know someone who might be able to get some clarity from this, tag or share with them.
I also have a short-video guide to understand the low back inside my app. Simple, step by step strategies to start to do during your day.