THE RED DOOR CLINIC · MELLIEĦA
Back pain
Assessment that finds the cause of your back pain, and a plan built around the week you actually have.
Back pain is the reason most people first contact a physiotherapy clinic, and it is rarely one problem. It can arrive after a lift, a long week at a desk, a flight, or for no reason you can name. At The Red Door Clinic in Mellieħa, the starting point is an assessment that finds the cause rather than only treating the sore spot. This page explains the common causes, what an assessment involves, and when back pain needs urgent medical care instead.
Reviewed by Andrew George, Lead Physiotherapist · 5 October 2026
Common causes of back pain
Most back pain is not one dramatic injury. It is the result of a load the back was not prepared for: hours of sitting, a lift that was almost fine, a mattress that has passed its best, a training load that jumped too quickly, or the slow drift of posture over a working week.
The common patterns we see are desk-related lower back pain, pain after lifting or manual work, pain that follows long drives or flights, and pain that arrives with stress and poor sleep. Each has a different cause and a different plan, which is why the assessment comes before the treatment.
What an assessment involves
The first visit is a consultation, not a rushed rub-down. We take the story, when it started, what makes it better and worse, what you have already tried, and then look at how you move: bending, standing, sitting, and the specific movements your day demands.
You leave with a working explanation in plain language and a plan that fits your week. That may include hands-on treatment, a written exercise programme, advice on your desk or mattress, and a clear rule for when to check back in with us.
Can massage help back pain?
Massage can relieve the muscle tension and guarding that travels with back pain, and many people feel looser and more comfortable after a session. It does not diagnose the cause, and it is not the right first step for back pain that is new, spreading, or accompanied by numbness or weakness.
Where massage helps, it sits alongside physiotherapy rather than replacing it: the assessment finds the cause, and massage supports the recovery around it. If you are unsure which to book, describe your symptoms when you enquire and we will point you to the right first appointment.
When to seek urgent care instead
Go to accident and emergency, or call emergency services, if you have a suspected broken bone, a joint that looks deformed, pain after a significant fall, chest pain, trouble breathing, a head injury with confusion or vomiting, numbness in the saddle area, or loss of bladder or bowel control. Sudden severe pain with swelling, or a limb that is cold, pale or blue, also needs urgent medical care rather than a clinic appointment.
If you are unsure, do not wait on a message to decide an emergency. Use emergency services first. For everything else, contact the clinic, say what happened, and we will tell you whether we can see you and what to do until then. We do not diagnose by WhatsApp.
How the clinic can help
A consultation and assessment with Andrew George, our lead physiotherapist, is €55, and follow-up physiotherapy is €45. The assessment looks at the movement that hurts and the cause behind it, and you leave with a working explanation in plain language and a plan that fits the week you actually have.
Where massage helps alongside physiotherapy, for tension, recovery and the guarded muscles around a sore area, the clinic houses qualified massage therapists in the same building. Massage and physiotherapy are not interchangeable: if pain, injury or a change in movement is the concern, start with the assessment.
Book through the contact form, by phone on 2152 4199, or by WhatsApp on 7924 1880. There is no online booking calendar; describe your symptoms and the team will help you choose the right first appointment.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Not sure where to start? Start with us.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Related conditions and next steps
A LITTLE CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a scan before physiotherapy?
Usually no. Most back pain is assessed and treated without a scan, and scans often show changes that are common in pain-free people. If your story suggests a scan is needed, we will say so and point you to the right place.
Should I rest my back?
A day or two of taking it easier is often right in the first days. Weeks of total rest are usually not, a back that does nothing becomes harder to trust. The plan usually keeps you moving in ways that do not poke the pain.
LET’S FIND YOUR NEXT STEP
Your next chapter starts with a conversation.
Tell us what hurts, what has changed, or what you want to get back to.