Low Back Pain
The Trigger Points That Cause Low Back Pain
Low Back Pain Treatments
Low back pain is the most common pain disorder of modern times. But despite the fact that millions of people suffer through it every year, there exists very few effective treatments for it. Pain killers can help in the short term, but in the long term than can do more harm than good. Chiropractic treatments can hit or miss, and are rarely an effective long term solution. Surgery is an invasive, and inconsistently effective treatment option.
So why are all these treatment options not really effective? The "big mystery" to understanding low back pain is understanding the source of the pain. The modern medical establishment is trained to examine the nerves and joints for sources of low back pain. While these structures may be involved occasionally, it is the muscular system that takes much of "wear and tear" of daily life and therefore is much more likely to be the source of the pain.
Acute (one week in duration or less) low back pain disorders respond very well to Clinical Trigger Point Therapy. Long term low back disorders can become complicated, involving many muscle groups and multiple trigger point interactions. It can take some time to effectively address the complexity of chronic back pain conditions, but Clinical Trigger Point Therapy is very effective in these situations.
The Muscles and Trigger Points that Cause Low Back Pain
There can be as many as twelve muscle groups involved in a low back disorder. A simple case of low back pain may only involve two or three muscle groups, but if left untreated, up to ten additional muscle groups may become involved. The trigger points in these additional muscle groups can produce Sciatica symptoms like radiating pain or numbness that travels down the leg (click here for more information about Sciatica). The following four muscle groups are primary factors in nearly all low back disorders:
Low back pain is the most common pain disorder of modern times. But despite the fact that millions of people suffer through it every year, there exists very few effective treatments for it. Pain killers can help in the short term, but in the long term than can do more harm than good. Chiropractic treatments can hit or miss, and are rarely an effective long term solution. Surgery is an invasive, and inconsistently effective treatment option.
So why are all these treatment options not really effective? The "big mystery" to understanding low back pain is understanding the source of the pain. The modern medical establishment is trained to examine the nerves and joints for sources of low back pain. While these structures may be involved occasionally, it is the muscular system that takes much of "wear and tear" of daily life and therefore is much more likely to be the source of the pain.
Acute (one week in duration or less) low back pain disorders respond very well to Clinical Trigger Point Therapy. Long term low back disorders can become complicated, involving many muscle groups and multiple trigger point interactions. It can take some time to effectively address the complexity of chronic back pain conditions, but Clinical Trigger Point Therapy is very effective in these situations.
The Muscles and Trigger Points that Cause Low Back Pain
There can be as many as twelve muscle groups involved in a low back disorder. A simple case of low back pain may only involve two or three muscle groups, but if left untreated, up to ten additional muscle groups may become involved. The trigger points in these additional muscle groups can produce Sciatica symptoms like radiating pain or numbness that travels down the leg (click here for more information about Sciatica). The following four muscle groups are primary factors in nearly all low back disorders:
- The Quadratus Lumborum
- The Gluteus Medius
- The IlioPsoas
- The Rectus Abdominis
The
Quadratus Lumborum
muscle group is composed of several small muscles
that are located deep within the lower back muscle
mass. It attaches to the lowest rib, at several
spots along the lower (lumbar) spine, and along the
pelvic rim. The Quadratus Lumborum contracts to
help stabilize the spine, and to flex the trunk to
either side. This muscle group can contain up to
four trigger points that refer pain to the low
back, groin, hip, and gluteal regions. A person
with active Quadratus Lumborum trigger points will
typically experience severe pain when their trunk
is in an upright position. Often they will
instinctively brace and support their upper body
with their arms to avoid this severe pain.
Alternatively, they may be forced to move about on
all fours. Coughing and sneezing produce agaonizing
pain. Referred pain from Quadratus Lumborum trigger
points may activate other trigger points that in
turn produce sciatica-type symptoms.
The
Gluteus Medius
muscle group is a small fan shaped muscle that lies
partially underneath the larger Gluteus Maximus
muscle group. It attaches just under the rip of the
pelvic bone, and runs diagonally downward to attach
on the leg bone at the hip joint. This muscle
functions to raise the leg to the side, and to
stabilize the pelvis during walking. Trigger points
in this muscle refer pain to the buttocks and along
the belt-line. A person with active Gluteus Medius
trigger points will have pain during walking, and
difficulty laying on their side while
sleeping.
The
IlioPsoas
muscle group is composed of two distinct, but
functionally related muscles, the Iliacus and the
Psoas muscles. The muscle group is located very
deep in the abdominal cavity, on either side of the
spine. It attaches at various points along the
spine, to the pelvis, and on the large leg bone
(femur). It contracts to stabilize the trunk on the
hips, and to flex the trunk forward and/or lift the
thigh. Though this muscle is in the front of the
body, its trigger points refer pain to the low
back, in a vertical pattern that runs parallel with
the spine. People with active IlioPsoas trigger
points will typically have more pain when standing,
and have a difficult time performing a
sit-up.
The
Rectus Abdominis
muscle is the "six-pack" muscle group in the
stomach region. It attaches to the breast bone and
adjacent ribs, and runs downward to attach to the
pelvis. This muscle contracts to flex or curl the
trunk on the pelvis, and helps stabilize the trunk
during upright activities. Trigger Points in this
muscle group can refer pain to the belt-line,
across the mid back, and at various places in the
stomach region. Additionally, the trigger points
may produce such diverse symptoms such as abdominal
bloating, heartburn, nausea, and may even resemble
the pain associated with appendicitis.
Important:
The following content is provided for information
purposes only. A proper diagnosis of any condition
requires a physical examination by a licensed
doctor.