Understanding Back Pain Through Luigi Mangione’s Spine

If you’ve been struggling with back pain and nothing seems to work, you’re not alone. You’ve tried stretches, exercises, maybe even surgery, but the pain keeps coming back. Today I want to share a story about a man named Luigi Mangione. His spine tells a powerful story, not just about what went wrong, but about what so many of us are missing when we try to fix back pain.

Let’s break it down and talk about what we can learn from Luigi’s experience and how it applies to your own path toward lasting relief.

Luigi’s Spine: What Really Went Wrong?

Luigi suffered from chronic back pain for years. Eventually, he went through a lumbar spinal fusion. Four screws were placed in his lower spine. You’d think that would fix the problem.

But it didn’t.

After surgery, his pain was still there. He had shooting sciatica, nerve compression, and constant discomfort. An X-ray showed his spine was still locked into hyperlordosis, an exaggerated curve in the lower back. On top of that, one of his vertebrae had shifted forward over the sacrum, a condition called spondylolisthesis.

So why was he still in pain?

Because the surgery only addressed the symptoms, not the underlying cause. And that’s the mistake so many of us make when dealing with back pain. We focus on the spot that hurts instead of looking at the whole system.

The Real Issue: Muscle Imbalances

Back pain doesn’t usually come from one weak muscle. It comes from an imbalance between muscles that are doing too much and others that aren’t doing enough.

In Luigi’s case (and in a lot of people I’ve worked with) the pattern is clear.

• Overactive muscles include the hip flexors and lower back. These are constantly turned on, gripping to hold the spine in place.
  
• Underactive muscles include the deep core stabilizers, glutes, and hamstrings. These muscles aren’t supporting the spine the way they should.
  

It’s like always using your dominant hand to lift a heavy bag. That side gets stronger, but the other side falls behind. Eventually, your body becomes unbalanced. And that’s when pain sets in.

Why “Classic” Core Exercises Make Things Worse

You’ve probably heard that strengthening your core is the key to back pain relief. But here’s the catch, if you’re only doing traditional ab exercises like sit-ups or crunches, you might be making things worse.

These moves tend to activate the same muscles that are already overactive. That keeps feeding the imbalance. The real solution is to wake up the underused muscles that your body has forgotten how to rely on.

If your body keeps pulling in the same direction, you’ll stay stuck in the same pain cycle.

How Chronic Pain Hurts Your Mindset

Back pain isn’t just physical. Chronic pain wears on your mindset. It’s frustrating. It can make you feel defeated or anxious about doing everyday tasks, like climbing stairs or picking up groceries. Luigi, for example, lost out on surfing, something he loved. That kind of disappointment hits your mood, your social life, and your overall outlook.

I see this all the time. People feel like they’re falling behind in life because their body won’t cooperate. But when we stop chasing the symptoms and start working on restoring balance, things begin to shift.

The Core Balance Approach

This is the foundation of Core Balance Training. It’s not about throwing exercises at the problem. It’s about restoring the system that supports your spine.

We use a method called the Three Core Anchors Model. It teaches your body to find strength from the right places, not just the front of your abs, but from deep stabilizers all around your spine.

Here’s what it looks like in practice:

1. Find the Missing Connection: We start by helping you connect to the deep muscles around your core. These are the ones that stabilize your spine and support good posture. They often go dormant when you’re in pain.
2. Move with Intention: Once those muscles are active, we use gentle, intentional movements to help your body relearn how to move in a more balanced way. This helps the overworked muscles relax and the underused ones come back online.
3. Apply it to Daily Life: The final piece is learning how to carry this into your everyday movements. Whether you’re walking, bending, or lifting, the goal is to move from your core. That’s how you start rebuilding your body’s natural balance and stability.
   
   

 Your Turn: Take Control of Your Spine

If you’ve tried all the usual fixes and still feel stuck, it might be time to approach back pain from a different angle.

Instead of trying to strengthen what’s already doing too much, start waking up the muscles that have been left behind. Build a more balanced support system around your spine. That’s where real, lasting relief comes from.

Ready to start? Try our free 7-day trial of Core Balance Training. It’s designed to help you connect with your core, move better, and get to the root of what’s been holding you back.

And if you’ve been dealing with pain, I’d love to hear your story. Drop a comment below and share what’s helped or what you’re still struggling with. You’re not alone in this, and your experience might help someone else take the next step.

Let’s get you moving better, feeling better, and back to doing the things you love. It’s absolutely possible, and you can start today.