Upper & Lower Back Pain, Scapular Winging, and Gait Dysfunction
39-year-old female | 1.5-year timeline
Presenting issues
This client presented with long-standing, daily pain affecting multiple regions:
Neck pain: 8/10
Shoulder pain: 8/10
Mid and lower back discomfort
Right-sided leg symptoms
Visible scapular winging and upper-back tension
Despite years of holistic care, massage, and conventional gym training, symptoms persisted and had become part of daily life.
Initial assessment findings
From a Functional Patterns perspective, the primary drivers were mechanical, not structural damage.
Key observations included:
Poor scapular placement with loss of posterior rib-scapular coupling
Lack of subscapular “suction” and thoracic control
Uneven ribcage expansion contributing to spinal compensation
Inefficient gait mechanics transferring excess load into the spine and neck
Right-side dominance patterns influencing leg symptoms
The spine and shoulders were overworking to compensate for missing organisation elsewhere in the system.
Training focus
Training was structured to restore integration, not isolate muscles.
Primary emphasis included:
Re-establishing subscapular positioning and suction
Expanding and evening out ribcage mechanics
Rotational and transverse-plane work to restore force transfer
Improving gait symmetry and trunk-pelvis coordination
Rather than “correcting posture”, the goal was to change how load moved through the body.
Results (1.5 years)
Pain outcomes
Neck pain: 8/10 → 3/10
Shoulder pain: 8/10 → 1/10
Lower back pain: 3/10 → 1/10
No longer experiencing daily, chronic discomfort
Structural & functional changes
Resolution of mid and lower back protrusions
Improved scapular alignment and thoracic organisation
Noticeable increase in functional mass through glutes, upper and lower back
Improved gait mechanics and overall movement stability
Importantly, these changes occurred without conventional gym training.
Client experience
“When I first attended, I was experiencing daily pain and discomfort in my back making each day hard to get through. I’d tried various therapies and gym training, but nothing provided relief until FP.
The training style was different, but it resonated. Over time, I learned my discomfort was driven by misaligned scapulas and inefficient movement. Since training with FP, I no longer experience daily chronic pain and feel control and stability in my body.
I haven’t stepped into a conventional gym in over two years — just weekly FP training — and people often ask if I train regularly. FP addressed the root cause.”
Practitioner commentary (what changed & why)
Looking at the before-and-after images:
Scapular winging has reduced significantly, indicating improved subscapular engagement and rib-scapular coupling
The ribcage appears more evenly expanded, reducing spinal compression and shoulder tension
The posterior chain shows more functional mass, particularly through the glutes and mid-back — a sign of improved load sharing
The overall silhouette reflects better force distribution, not aesthetic chasing
This isn’t a “posture fix” — it’s a systemic reorganisation driven by improved gait mechanics and transverse-plane integration.
Why this matters
This case highlights a common pattern:
Chronic pain persists when the body compensates
Relief comes when movement organisation improves
Structural change follows function — not the other way around
Functional Patterns training doesn’t aim to mask symptoms. It restores the conditions under which the body can organise itself more efficiently.
Considering FP Brisbane?
If you’ve tried multiple approaches and still experience recurring pain, postural tension, or movement instability, a biomechanics-based assessment may reveal drivers that isolated treatments miss.
Functional Patterns Brisbane focuses on long-term mechanical change — not temporary relief.