Are you experiencing tightness and pain in your lower back? If so, then you understand how much it can affect everyday activities, including those as mundane as standing for too long or bending over to tie your shoelaces.
The discomfort may come on immediately or build up over time. No matter how quick or slow the onset, this kind of pain can become debilitating if left unchecked. Lower back pain can affect people from a variety of backgrounds and lifestyles. Whether you’re an office worker, athlete, or retiree, you may find yourself struggling to perform certain daily functions.
These are some of the most common reasons why people suffer from lower back tightness and pain:
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Muscle strains
Muscle strains are a common cause of tightness and pain in the lower back. There are certain habits people may depend on every day that cause the back muscles to become overused. Some of these habits include:
- Lifting objects that are too heavy, especially with poor form
- Repeating movements too often during exercise or manual labor
These habits can lead to overuse and make you more likely to develop strains in the muscles and tendons of the lower back. Such strains can potentially cause soreness, limited motion, and tightness.
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Poor posture
Poor posture is another common trigger of lower back tightness and pain. Habits that can trigger this issue include:
- Slouching too much while sitting
- Standing unevenly, as in shifting weight to one hip more often than another
Poor posture habits like these can certainly contribute to stress on the lower back because they lead to spinal misalignments. And these misalignments can lead to tighter, more painful lower back muscles, especially if you engage in them for long periods.
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Weak core muscles
Your core is made up of more than just your abs. In actuality, the abdominal muscles combine with the back muscles to offer support to the spine. If your core is too weak, then your lower back may need to work harder to keep you upright. If left untreated, muscle fatigue and tightness will often increase.
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Stress and tension
It may not be immediately obvious, but emotional stress can play a significant role in contributing to muscle pain. The truth is that there is a correlation between the mind and body. The higher your stress levels, the more likely it is that your body holds tension in the shoulders, neck and lower back. Stress also increases sensitivity of the nervous system, heightening pain responses.
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Arthritis or age-related changes
As you age, so does the spine. Over time, the spinal discs thin, and joint stiffness increases. These kinds of changes are quite common. If left untreated, this condition can lead to discomfort and reduced flexibility in the back.
Other less common causes
In less frequently occurring cases, lower back pain may be caused by sciatica, spinal stenosis or a herniated disc.
These conditions may cause your lower back pain to spread to your legs and worsen with certain movements. A licensed physical therapist can assess your symptoms and refer you to a specialist if needed.
Address lower back pain and tightness with physical therapy
Physical therapy is a safe and effective way to manage and reduce lower back tightness and pain without the need for medication. Here are some of the most effective PT approaches:
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Dry needling
Dry needling is a physical therapy technique that relies on tiny needles to alleviate stiffness and improve blood flow in painful regions of the muscles. Now, it does bear some similarities to acupuncture, but it is not quite the same.
Acupuncture relies on a specific type of traditional Chinese medicine that aims to restore the body’s energy flow. Acupuncture needles are inserted underneath the skin, while the dry needles are inserted into muscle bellies.
Dry needling relies more on contemporary science to target trigger points. In this physical therapy approach, the needles cause the targeted muscle to twitch. This quick contraction and relaxation of the muscle helps reduce tension and pain in the area. It also increases blood flow to particularly tight areas..
At Forever Fit, dry needling is only offered at specific locations.
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Manual therapy
During manual therapy, licensed physical therapists use gentle pressure and massage-like movements to decrease stiffness and soreness around the joints and muscles.
The practice is great for reducing inflammation as well as improving flexibility by increasing blood flow. If you’re looking to target joint stiffness or reduce the pain of soft tissue injuries, consider giving manual therapy a shot.
Physical therapy for lower back pain near you
Are you struggling with persistent lower back pain or tightness? Do you live in Maryland? If so, then you’re in luck. Forever Fit offers personalized physical therapy services in Severna Park, Frederick, Gaithersburg and other areas of Maryland.
Whether you’re looking to avoid surgery, return to your routine, or simply looking to prevent injury, physical therapy can be a great option for strengthening the lower back. If you’re seeking physical therapy for lower back pain, then don’t hesitate to reach out. Reach out to our team today to schedule your initial consultation.