Tendonitis and Back Pain: The Hidden Cause No One Talks About

In this episode, Dr. Ryan Peebles, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Core Balance Training, breaks down an often-overlooked contributor to chronic lower back pain: tendonitis. While people frequently associate tendonitis with knees, elbows, or Achilles pain, Dr. Ryan explains why inflamed, overworked spinal and hip tendons are extremely common in back-pain sufferers and why they’re rarely recognized as such. He walks through what tendons are, why they become irritated, how muscle imbalances make tendonitis worse, and the surprising reason resting too much can actually prolong your pain. Dr. Ryan also answers student questions about tailbone pain, deep core activation, bridge mechanics, glute tendinopathy, hamstring tightness, and nerve symptoms in the legs and feet. This episode covers: What tendonitis really is and why it commonly shows up along the “belt line” of the lower back Why overactive muscles and underactive deep core muscles lead to irritated tendons How repetitive stress and compensation patterns create tendon breakdown Why rest alone often makes tendonitis worse The “middle ground” principle: how to stay active without overdoing it How to reflect on yesterday’s activities to understand delayed pain today Why eccentric exercises are often prescribed for tendon healing Why tight hamstrings are not the enemy Core Balance Training’s approach: balance muscle activity, build deep core support, and follow your body’s signals Watch the free Core Balance Masterclass and start your 7-day free trial to experience the Back Anchor lesson firsthand and begin retraining your movement patterns from the inside out: https://www.corebalancetraining.com/masterclass Disclaimer: All content is for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any exercise or rehabilitation program. Episode Chapters: 00:00:00 – Why tendonitis matters in chronic back pain 00:02:00 – What tendons are and how they become irritated 00:05:00 – Overactive vs. underactive muscles and why imbalance stresses tendons 00:08:00 – Why tendonitis is common along the belt line of the lower back 00:10:00 – The powerful strategy: listen to your body & reflect on delayed pain 00:14:00 – Overuse vs. underuse: finding the middle zone for tendon healing 00:17:00 – Why rest alone worsens tendonitis 00:19:00 – Using eccentric exercises to strengthen irritated tendons 00:22:00 – Q&A: modifying Back Anchor Awareness for tailbone pain 00:25:00 – Q&A: upper vs. lower abdominals during Back Anchor work 00:38:00 – Q&A: outer-hip pain during bridges & gluteal tendinopathy 00:32:00 – Q&A: tight hamstrings, bridge breathing, and avoiding over-stretching the back 00:36:00 – Q&A: nerve pain into the legs/feet, MRI findings, and EMG decisions