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Information on this page will be updated regularly and new articles added as
they become available. For more specific details send me an
Email,
Recognizing the Symptoms
The lower back could be considered to be just above the pelvis, the sacroiliac
joint or the gluteal area. Often the condition of each area can affect the
others. In this section I will cover the area just above the pelvis. This area
lies on the back just below the lowest rib and above the hip. Generally if there
are any problems here it will be caused by trauma to the soft tissue and you
will start to feel it form of some discomfort when you move this part of your
body in certain ways. Intermittent discomfort and even constant discomfort is
usually ignored by most of us. The next stage is the development of tightness
that you might feel when bending down to tie your shoe laces, or reaching back
for something. Yes, even this symptom can be adapted to and worked around. So we
learn to adjust to and live with this condition, allowing it to accumulate more
tightness and soon this turns to pain, first intermittent and then constant and
this surely commands your attention.
Possible Causes of tightness and pain
This condition could take a long time to develop, in many cases, several years
and can be caused by something as simple as bad posture. Consider your posture
when working at the computer or waiting in the bank line, walking in a hurry. If
you don't have balance during these actions you could causing trauma to your low
back that you don't notice. But add up all the hours in which this happens over
the years. Yes, the discomfort and tightness has plenty of time to accumulate.
Locating tissue that is affecting the region
Feel your lower back while it is relaxed. Ideally it should be relatively soft,
even if it is muscular. If the muscle is unusually tight and hard especially
close to the spine then this is highly likely the result of the problem and also
the cause of the pain.
Treatment and Client participation in the healing and restoration process
Tightness and pain does not usually affect just one muscle in the low back. It
usually affects a whole group of muscles to different intensities. The tightest
and the most affected is usually at the core of the pain.
Each tight muscle has an activated Trigger Point and this coincides with the
core pain in each affected area in your low back. There are 3 or 4 key trigger
points just lateral to the back bone and another two points further out towards
your side. You could reach back there and use your thumb to locate these points
or you could lie on a tennis ball on the floor and locate locate the points with
the tennis ball. Once located apply gentle pressure on the point for a few
minutes ensuring that you are at the center of the pain at all times.
Repeat this process as many times as you like. You will will feel progressively
better after each treatment. For stretches to complement this treatment, go to
the stretches section.
In the near future I will add more detailed articles on the treatment of this
area and also discuss how it can improve your muscle tone (at rest) and range of
motion. |
