Lower Back Pain and Deep Muscles

 

Back pain isn’t always caused by problems in the back itself. At the J Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Nitro, our experts in integrative medicine regard the musculoskeletal system holistically, and are trained to consider how each of its components interact with the others. Pain in the lower back, specifically, is often related to problems in the hips and upper legs. This week, we’re going to take a closer look at one kind of muscle dysfunction, Piriformis Syndrome, and how it relates to the spinal column.

The piriformis muscles are deep, wedge-shaped muscles that connect the lumbar vertebrae of the lower back to the tops of the femurs. There is one piriformis muscle on each side of the body. These muscles help to rotate the leg outward and stabilize the lower back when a person is walking on an incline or up stairs. The sciatic nerves, which run from the lumbar vertebrae down each leg, pass around or directly through the piriformis muscles. Swelling in the piriformis muscles could not only cause them to pull more on the lumbar vertebrae, resulting in local soreness when they are in use, but could also compress the sciatic nerves, leading to radiating pain down the lower half of the body.

Piriformis Syndrome is diagnosed largely through the process of elimination, although one tell-tale sign is that it tends to only show up on one side of the body. For immediate pain relief and removal of pressure on the sciatic nerve, we use techniques including spinal adjustments, deep tissue massages, and electric muscle stimulation. But for sustained reduction in strain on the piriformis muscles, patients will have to build up the strength and flexibility of other muscles supporting the lumbar vertebrae and femurs. This will mean doing core-strengthening exercises and hamstring stretches, as well as stretches that target the piriformis muscles themselves.

Dr. Jay McClanahan is the owner and chiropractor of Dr. J Chiropractic & Wellness Center. Our office is located in Nitro, WV. To schedule an appointment with Dr. McClanahan visit our website or call 304-776-1520.