These days, low back pain is an extremely common complaint in our society. Is it because we overuse those muscles? For most people, the answer is no. Most of us are not working our low back muscles, bending and lifting on a daily basis, but we still have low back pain. So where does it come from? Low back pain is actually an imbalance in the muscles of the body resulting from repetitive activity. “Activity” doesn’t have to be active, however. These days, we spend an increasing amount of our time immobile.
When we think about how the world has changed, we realize that the positions we are in for prolonged periods are actually new to the human body. In generations past, most people were doing physical work, rarely sitting for long periods. In fact, most people were not even driving a car a hundred years ago. While before we were walking and standing for a large portion of the day, we now spend most of our hours seated in a car, at a desk, on a couch. This seated position causes the large muscles on the front of body to contract; specifically, the psoas muscle. Generally, low back pain involves the psoas muscle in some way.
So, What Is the Psoas?
The psoas muscles are located on either side of the body, attaching to the lowest part of the spine (to the last five vertebrae), running through the pelvic area, and attaching to the femur bone. The psoas is unique in that it is the only muscle that attaches the spine to the lower body, making it one of our most important muscles. This deep-seated core muscle is responsible for many functions—we use our psoas muscle for core movement, but also for standing, walking, and running, and it is vital for balance. The psoas muscle is crucial in our body’s range of motion. When the psoas becomes shortened, it creates discomfort in the low back and tightens in the hips.
The National Association of Sports Medicine reports that too much sitting causes a tight psoas, which can lead to lower back and hip problems, stiffness, and reduced mobility. A shortened psoas will also throw off your posture. Muscles in their natural state are long and pliable, able to move freely and allow us range of motion. Muscles that are shortened lose flexibility and create pressure on the body. As large muscles like the psoas contract, they are difficult to lengthen again. Creating sustained pressure is the best way for large muscles to soften and relax and return to their lengthened state.
Put Pressure on Yourself — in a Good Way
Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy applies gentle, static pressure to a specific area of the psoas at programmed intervals. This pressure relaxes the psoas, lengthening the muscle fibers back to their original state. This lengthening process alleviates the tension on the bone structure and nerves and once this occurs, mobility increases and posture improves, decreasing low back pain. In a relatively short period of time, symptoms are relieved and an increased flexibility is seen. Many people see improvement after just one session. Don’t live with your back pain, thinking there is no solution. Robotic Muscular Therapy could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Theresa Edmunds is a Certified Health Coach and co-owner of Precision Robotics Muscular Therapy. She is passionate about helping people feel better inside and out. In addition to bringing this patented muscular technology to the Naples area, she enjoys coaching individuals and family to a healthier lifestyle. To make an appointment for Robotic Muscular Therapy or for a free 20-minute health coaching session contact her at 734.308.7105 or [email protected].