Low Back Pain - Sydney Chiropractic & Massage

“Shopping List” of Important Back Pain Muscles.

Low back pain is typically described as tension, stiffness, an ache etc… Most people can’t attribute their back pain to one specific incident but rather a general and accumulating sense of discomfort and tension, that comes and goes over years and then may begin to experience it on a more consistent and day-to-day basis, many back pain sufferers will often put it down to just “getting old”. On occasion their might be a sudden and extremely painful episode where the person is unable to move or function without significant pain, this can be a result of a mundane movement such as picking something light off the floor, coughing, house work, an exercise at the gym etc…

Where Low back Pain Is typically Located

Do you feel your pain similar to any of these images? Pain is often felt around the joints of the lower spine. There are several key postural muscles that attach directly on to the spine and may compress and aggravate the sensitive spinal joints and why chiropractors who don’t treat the muscles typically only produce short term relief. Click on image(s) below to get more detail on location of pain.

Causes & Aggravating Factors

Back pain sufferer’s may feel their pain first thing in the morning, typically they have a hot shower and then move around and the pain and tension usually eases. Similarly, people who sit for extended periods of time may feel tension and discomfort in the postural muscles of the spine, once they get up and change postures the pain and tension will usually subside for the short term. Certain exercises, especially weighted ones may also aggravate back pain, sitting on soft/unsupportive couches or seats where the hips are lower than the knees such as driving, or they do something their not accustom to such as extra walking while on holiday, gardening, moving house etc…

“Shopping List” of Important Back Pain Muscles.

There are usually several key postural muscles associated with back pain, once chronic the body will distribute the tension to the muscles of the hips, low back and may aggravate the spine. This is why Kieran always performs extensive muscle and massage therapy prior to chiropractic. The adjustments are only as effective as the muscle work before it.

Quadratus Lumborum

Psoas

Erector Spinae (ES)

Thoracolumbar fascia (TLF)

Multifidus

Glute medius

Success Stories

These are just a fraction of reviews taken from over 180, Sydney Chiropractic & Massage and previous location in Waterloo (closed down). There was no need for x-rays, scare tactics or corrective care plans (scams). Just a comprehensive hands on muscle and spine approach, evidence based and wholistic. Click to see reviews.

Unable to walk due to low back and hip injury resolved after one session

Severe low back pain preventing sleep resolved in 2 sessions

Chronic low back pain & sciatica

2 years back pain resolved in one session

Jumping jacks after one year of chronic muscle tension & pain (2 sessions)

Severe sciatica which cortsone injections & physiotherapy did not help

The importance of muscle work and chiropractic

The difference between a chiroprator that wants to help vs one who just wants your money

If you’re looking for effective treatment for low back and hip pain book online and claim your initial appointment offer today.

The most classic and typical form of low back pain is an ache that runs right across the low back on both sides, just on or above the belt line, some may feel it higher as it extends further up the spine where the low back meets the ribs.

Low back pain on one side of the low back, just off the center where the spine and pelvis meets at or around sacroiliac joint.

Pain on one side, can be felt as high hip and low back pain, and/or pain that runs parallel to the spine and lower rib.

Rarer location of pain, may be felt centrally over the spine itself, the tips of the spine i.e the spinous processes may even feel tender almost bruised to touch.

Perhaps the most common muscle associated with with low back pain.

Notice how QL attaches to top of pelvis, each individual vertebrae and bottom ribs. One side contraction bends spine to side of contraction, both sides contract extend/arch back and also involved with breathing. Extremely important muscle!!!

Usually felt anywhere between upper hip and bottom rib and approx 5-7 cm’s to side of spine where muscle attaches, may feel like a deep and constant ache.

Prolonged sustained posture may aggravate, such as sitting, standing and walking. Lifting with bending and twisting, even with trivial weight, excessive bouts of coughing. Pain when rolling over in bed.

Associated with tightness and dysfunction of the erector spinae, glute medius and psoas, chiropractic adjustments alone have no effect.

Although muscle attaches to front of spine and pelvis, pain is often felt as an ache that runs parallel to the spine of the low back and across belt line very similar pattern to QL and ES.

Have difficulty raising from sitting position to standing up straight as muscle in front of spine/pelvis prevent spine from straightening.

Particularly aggravated when sitting with hips lower than knees such as such as couch or driving.

Sleeping in fetal position may aggravate as it shortens and compresses the muscles, however don’t usually feel when in that position, only once you stand up straight.

Long bike rides with spine in flexed position.

May experience pain in front of hip and groin, feels like hip joint is impinged. Pain in front of hip when tie shoes and low back pain.

Perhaps the 2nd most common muscle associated with low back pain after the QL. Runs full length of spine, has facial connections with hamstrings and fascia in bottom of feet. Vey important posture muscles, as name suggests keeps spine erect.

Aggravated by sustained use and muscle fatigue, especially in sitting and standing. carrying object one sided, such as suitcase, heavy hand bag, laborer’s carrying objects on one shoulders as opposite ES will have to contract to counter balance.

Usually felt as “classic low back pain” tense and dull ache that runs across belt line, heavily associated with QL’s. Pain also felt around S.I joint where spine and pelvis meets. May also be felt one sided.

This isn’t a muscle per se, but a very dense thick connective tissue name the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF), and it’s only something I come to appreciate in the last several years in regards to the importance of low back pain, especially when chronic.

This image doesn’t show the connections in to the hips/pelvis and legs.

Studies have been done where researchers injected an irritant into the TLF and into the muscles and the participants rated more pain with the TLF compared to the muscles.

I have found once back pain has become chronic (years) there are “lumps” that develop in the facia where the low back and hip/pelvis joins, they almost feel like cycts when in fact they’re large knots/adhesions/dense tissue.

People will often experience quite bad back pain on a day to day basis, with no real clear pattern in terms of what aggravates the pain, it always feels tense, weak and venerable. Once it gets to this stage it takes a high emotional toll on the back pain sufferer and they often feel hopeless.

Although this type of pain back is quite resistant to treatment, but by manually breaking up the adhesions/dense tissue and combining it work on plenty of deep release work on the quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, glutes and hamstrings pain will often subside.

It takes an enormous amount of effort, dedication and skill from the professional treating you, to get rid of it long term.

Deep, persistent ache on the spine that is usually on one side only but will become bilateral over time. Pain doesn’t feel muscular in nature, rather it feels like “bone pain”.

Part of the erector spinae group but deeper, may need to be dry needled.

Spinous processes of the vertebrae become tender, almost feels bruised to the touch.

Noticeable stiffness develops in the spine, especially rotating spine left and right.

Changing positions doesn’t help to relieve pain.

Associated with articular dysfunctions (spinal joint syndrome), fast relief after chiropractic adjustments then returns quickly, back pain sufferer’s will also feel need to rotate lumbar spine to crack it in order to “release tension/pressure”.

Glute medius is the muscle most associated with hip and low back pain when standing and it tends to be more one sided than both sides.

The pain tends to be a bit more vague and back pain sufferers usually find it difficult to locate the pain. They will often dig their thumb into to side of the hip and into to QL muscle trying to get relief.

The glute medius and minims (a smaller deeper muscle) may also refer pain down the leg and in to the foot, often described as “pseudo sciatica”, often being misdiagnosed as sciatica.

Pain may also be felt centrally around the sacrum and sacroiliac joint. Sometimes the hip will feel like it going to give way when walking and activates such as walking and running may cause lower back pain on that side similar to QL pain.