Health & Fitness
Questioning Back Pain
By Cheryl Alker
My lower back pain is making my life miserable. I have an office job and sit at a computer for long hours. Is there anything I can do that might help? Susan – Back Pain Sufferer
Join the club! There are approximately 31 million Americans today suffering with back pain. It is the second highest reason for visiting the doctor (upper respiratory problems being the first) and a staggering $50 billion is spent each year – and that is just for the more easily identified costs.
How about this statistic though?
Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic, meaning they are not caused by conditions such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
So what is the number one cause of so much pain?
SHORT, TIGHT MUSCLES – the majority of people’s back problems are a direct result of poor postural alignment.
It is that simple – the fact is that when muscles become short and tight they draw bones closer together resulting in poor joint mobility, pain and discomfort. Tight muscles will literally hold your body in a restricted position.
Tight muscles = poor mobility = pain and discomfort.
Pain and discomfort = poor mobility = even tighter muscles.
It really is a vicious circle!
Your lifestyle is not uncommon in today’s society. The computer age has made many of our jobs sedentary; we literally sit for hours each day, week after week, month after month and year after year. This position will eventually force the body out of alignment, leading to lower and upper back problems, lack of energy, a collapsed ribcage, loss of waistline, loss of abdominal support, shoulders rolling forward and the head sitting in an incorrect position.
Let me give you an example:-
We have a muscle called iliopsoas; it is our hip flexor muscle and is responsible for hip flexion i.e. lifting the leg to climb stairs. Sitting for long periods will shorten this muscle. Our muscles are attached to bone and originate in one area (the origin) and insert into another area (insertion). Iliopsoas originates at the vertebrae in our lumbar region of our spine, it threads through our pelvis and attaches to our femur bone on the front of our leg. Now when this muscle is short and tight it will draw the pelvis into a posterior tilt i.e. your bottom will push back and the lower curve of your spine will be deeper forcing your abdominals out. When your pelvis is being held in this restricted position day in day out the vertebrae in your lower back will be compressed causing the surrounding muscles to tighten causing pain and poor mobility in this area. Over time the gel within the discs will start to bulge causing herniation/slipped discs – now you really are in pain!
To reduce this forced lordotic curve of the lower back you need to stretch this muscle. Regularly stretching iliopsoas will move the origin of the muscle further away from the insertion of the muscle allowing the pelvis to sit in a more neutral position. You will regain mobility, the gel within the discs will be massaged evenly around the disc and your abdominals will pull in. So not only will you be pain free you will have a flatter abdomen!
To receive your FREE DOWNLOAD on how to stretch this muscle and more information please visit www.stretchresults.com.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Around Wellington Magazine, the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.
Cheryl Alker specializes in flexibility training, core strength and postural alignment, working with a select clientele across Palm Beach County. Her company, Stretch Results International, certifies health professionals in her results-based stretching program, educates consumers through public speaking and offers private or class consultations to clients who wish to lose their muscular pain and gain flexibility to achieve full and active lifestyles. For more information, please call Cheryl at (561) 889-3738 or visit www.stretchresults.com.