Irritation to the nerves that emerge off your lumbar spine can cause burning and shooting pain down your legs and into your feet. Could poor posture be to blame for your chronic back discomfort and pain?
Chronic back pain and discomfort can also cause poor posture, making it difficult to walk, sit, drive, and perform your routine activities such as laundry, and dishes; to name a few. Chronic back pain and discomfort is a debilitating condition that will affect the majority of Americans at some point during their life. In fact, chronic back pain is one of the leading reasons people go to the doctor and employees miss work.
A strong core means a healthy back. When most people think of the core, they think of the abdominals and doing sit-ups and generally know that one needs to have good core strength. Beyond that, most people don’t know much else about the core. Having weak core muscles means that your arms and legs have to try to work harder to move on the unsteady base that is created by the weak core. This increased work load can lead to excess joint movements throughout the body. It can increase pressure and strain on the discs and ligaments of the spine. Essentially, a weak core can contribute to any number of issues from head to toe with low back pain being the most common issue.
Poor posture from core weakness contributes to neck, back, shoulder or hip pain which can then contribute to issues and pain further down the upper or lower extremities. It is important to address these issues as soon as possible to avoid continued restrictions and worsening of pain and continued restriction from getting dressed, taking a shower, sitting, driving, or enjoying playing baseball or soccer with friends and family.
What are the core muscles?
The core muscles consist of the muscles surrounding and providing stability and postural control to the torso, abdomen and pelvis. These are:
- Abdominal muscles (rectus abdominals – this muscle runs from the sternum (breast bone) to the pubic bone, the internal and external obliques, (these muscles run on both sides along the torso).
- the quadratus lumborum (the deepest abdominal muscle. It’s located in the lower back and begins at your lowest rib and ends at the top of your pelvis.
- the pelvic floor muscles
- the gluteal muscles (group of three muscles which make up the buttocks)
- the iliopsoas (inner hip muscle)
- The latissimus dorsi (located in the middle of the back and runs along the back bone; it is one of the largest muscles in the back.
What do they do? These muscles help provide for a stable foundation on which the arms and legs can move and transfer forces.
Many of us have a wait and see attitude about pain and discomfort. Back pain is no exception. However, if back pain is not addressed, it may become more intense/chronic and refer down into the legs.
What are the symptoms of chronic back pain?
- Muscle aches.
- Shooting and stabbing pain in the back or across the back.
- Pain that radiates down one or both legs.
- Numbness and tingling that can radiate down the legs – Impingement (compression) on these nerves can cause a lack of feeling or numbness and tingling throughout the lower extremities as well as profound strength loss in the legs and/or feet (a sign of an emergent problem).
- Pain that gets worse in specific positions such as sitting, standing, and/or walking.
*** Physical therapy can help you obtain a strong core and healthy back. It can get you back to the things you enjoy doing without delay. Strong core=healthy back.***
CALL Loudoun Sports Therapy Center TODAY at 703-450-4300. Our Physical Therapists will develop an individualized treatment plan specific to your needs. It would be our pleasure to help you get back to leading a healthy life.
CLICK HERE For more information on the importance of core strength in day to day living.
