Is Core Stability the Answer to Low Back Pain?

When it comes to low back pain, one of the first things people hear is: “You need to strengthen your core.” And to be fair, there’s some truth to that. For many people, building basic core stability can be a helpful piece of the puzzle—especially early on in care.

But here’s the thing: core stability alone isn’t the whole answer.

We’re not meant to be perfectly rigid or locked down. Human bodies are built to move—to twist, to bend, to rotate, to reach. If all we ever did was brace and stay stiff, we’d miss out on the very thing our spine was designed for: movement.

That’s why core stability is often just the starting point. It’s like laying the foundation of a house. You need that base to feel supported and safe, but you don’t stop there. At some point, you have to build the rest of the house—you need walls, a roof, and space to live.

In the same way, once a patient has developed some stability, the next step is to gradually reintroduce dynamic, real-life movements. That might mean rotational exercises, lifting, running, bending, or simply moving in ways that matter most to your daily life.

Here’s where many people get stuck: they think back rehab means endless planks, bird dogs, and “keep your core tight” reminders. But if we stop there, we’re missing the point. The goal isn’t to create a perfectly stable robot—it’s to create a confident human who can handle the movements and challenges life throws at them.

So, is core stability the answer to low back pain? It can definitely be part of the answer, especially in the beginning. But the bigger answer is movement. Learning how to control your body, then progressively loading it and moving it in all the ways you were designed to move.

That’s how you don’t just get out of pain—you get back to living without limits.

If you’ve been stuck doing the same core exercises without results, maybe it’s time to look at the bigger picture. At Momentum Spine and Sport, we help people not only find relief, but also rebuild confidence in their movement so they can live fully again.