Why Your Injury Keeps Coming Back — And How We Fix It

by | Feb 16, 2026

Sciatica Osteopath Melbourne CBD

Why Your Injury Keeps Coming Back — And How We Fix It

Osteopath For Shoulder Pain and Injury Melbourne CBD 16x9

By Heath Williams, Osteopath – Principle Four Osteopathy Melbourne CBD

One of the most common things people say when they first visit our Melbourne CBD clinic is:

“It keeps coming back.”

It might be back pain every few months.
A shoulder that flares up after gym sessions.
Neck stiffness after busy work periods.
Or a hamstring that never quite trusts you again.

Many people assume this means:

  • The injury never healed properly

  • Something is permanently damaged

  • They just have a “bad back” or “weak shoulder”

In most cases, none of those are true.

Persistent or recurring pain is rarely about something being broken.
It’s almost always about how the body adapts — and whether it has regained enough tolerance for the demands placed on it.

This article explains why symptoms recur and what actually changes the long-term outcome.

The Modern Understanding of Pain

Historically, musculoskeletal pain was treated as a purely structural problem:

Damaged tissue → Pain → Fix the tissue → Pain gone

But research over the last 20–30 years has consistently shown this model is incomplete.

Pain is influenced by multiple factors:

  • Tissue sensitivity

  • Load tolerance

  • Nervous system response

  • Stress and recovery

  • Movement confidence

  • Previous injury experience

Two people can have identical scans — one in pain, one not.

So when pain keeps returning, the question is rarely:

“What’s torn?”

The better question is:

“Why does the body become sensitive again under certain conditions?”

👉 Learn more about common presentations: Conditions We Treat

The Injury Cycle Most People Get Stuck In

Almost every recurring injury follows a predictable pattern.

Phase 1 — Pain Appears

You tweak your back, shoulder, neck, or knee.

You rest.
Maybe you get treatment.
Symptoms settle.

Phase 2 — You Feel Better

You return to normal life.

Work resumes
Gym resumes
Sport resumes

Phase 3 — It Comes Back

Often in the same spot.

Not because healing failed —
but because tolerance didn’t change.

The body returned to the same capacity level it had before the injury.

And the same load exceeded it again.

Why Rest Alone Doesn’t Solve The Problem

Rest is useful early.

But rest does one important thing:

It reduces symptoms faster than it restores resilience.

Pain decreases quickly
Capacity returns slowly

So when activity resumes, symptoms reappear.

This is the most common reason people believe they have a “chronic injury”.

They don’t.

They have a repeated load mismatch.

The Load vs Capacity Model

Think of your body like a battery.

Every day you place demands on it:

  • Work posture

  • Training

  • Parenting

  • Stress

  • Sleep quality

  • Activity levels

Pain occurs when demand temporarily exceeds capacity.

Recovery requires increasing capacity — not avoiding demand forever.

This is the central principle behind long-term injury resolution.

Why Imaging Often Creates Confusion

Many people arrive with MRI or scan results showing:

  • Disc bulges

  • Tendon tears

  • Degeneration

  • Arthritis

These findings are extremely common in pain-free adults.

Studies consistently show structural changes increase with age regardless of symptoms.

This doesn’t mean scans are useless —
but they rarely explain recurring pain.

We treat the person, not the picture.

The Three Stages of Real Recovery

Most people only complete Stage 1.

Long-term improvement requires all three.

Stage 1 — Settle Symptoms

Goal: calm sensitivity

This is where passive treatments help:

  • Hands-on treatment

  • Activity modification

  • Pain relief strategies

But this stage only reduces symptoms.

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Stage 2 — Restore Movement

Goal: regain confidence and control

We assess:

  • movement patterns

  • stiffness

  • guarded motion

  • avoidance behaviours

Then gradually reintroduce movement.

👉 Functional Movement Screen Melbourne CBD

Stage 3 — Build Resilience

Goal: prevent recurrence

This is the most important stage — and the most skipped.

We progressively increase tolerance through:

  • strength

  • exposure

  • load planning

👉 Exercise Rehabilitation & Strength Programs

Without this stage, recurrence is likely.

Why Work Often Triggers Recurrence

Office workers commonly notice patterns:

Pain during busy weeks
Improves on holidays
Returns at work

This isn’t posture failure.

It’s accumulated load without variation.

Small changes help significantly.

👉 Ergonomic Workstation Assessment Melbourne CBD

Fear and Protection

After injury, the brain protects the area.

You may unconsciously:

  • move stiffly

  • avoid bending

  • avoid lifting

  • brace muscles

Protection helps early
But limits recovery later

Confidence must be rebuilt gradually.

What Treatment Actually Looks Like At Our Clinic

Many people expect treatment to be something done to them.

In reality, long-term improvement comes from a guided process.

Our approach:

1. Understand Why It Happened

We identify contributing factors — not just painful structures.

2. Reduce Sensitivity

Hands-on care when useful.

3. Restore Movement Confidence

Gradual exposure to feared or avoided tasks.

4. Build Load Tolerance

Structured strengthening and activity planning.

The goal is independence, not dependency.

Self-Management Principles You Can Start Today

Change Position Regularly

Frequency matters more than posture perfection.

Gradually Reload

Avoid the “all or nothing” return to activity.

Expect Some Discomfort

Mild symptoms during rebuilding are normal.

Prioritise Consistency Over Intensity

Small regular exposure beats occasional large effort.

You can follow guided progressions here:
👉 Free Exercise & Stretch Resources

When We Refer

We coordinate care if needed with:

  • GP for medical screening

  • Sports physician

  • Psychologist (persistent pain support)

  • Orthopaedic surgeon (rare cases)

Most musculoskeletal pain does not require surgery.

Why Recurrence Is Actually Good News

It means your body is responsive.

Sensitive systems adapt well when loaded correctly.

The goal is not eliminating sensation completely —
it is increasing tolerance so symptoms stop limiting life.

When To Seek Help

Consider booking if:

  • Pain repeatedly returns

  • You feel stuck in a cycle

  • You’re unsure what exercise is safe

  • Activity confidence is reduced

👉 Meet Our Practitioners
👉 Book Appointment – Melbourne CBD Osteopath

Final Thought

Recurring pain does not mean you are fragile.

It means the body needs a different input.

When treatment shifts from symptom relief to capacity building, most people stop chasing flare-ups and start trusting their body again.

— Heath Williams
Osteopath, Principle Four Osteopathy Melbourne CBD