If you have lower back pain, then there is a good chance that your muscles and your spine are contributing to your discomfort. A chiropractic professional can realign the spine to reduce muscle stress, but most individuals also need some help with stretching and relaxation of the back muscles. This is where massage therapy comes in. When meeting with a massage therapist, there are a few areas that should be massaged.
Lumbar Muscles
There are several sets of muscles that sit across the lower back. These muscles include the latissimus dorsi, serratus posterior, the external oblique, and the quadratus lumborum. All of these muscle groups can contribute to muscle pain.
The quadratus lumborum muscles connect directly to the spinal vertebrae, so they can cause more discomfort than the other muscle groups. The muscles help to flex the spine to encourage smooth movements. They also support and stabilize the spine. If these muscles become tight, then this can cause substantial discomfort whenever you move by placing direct pressure on the vertebrae. The quadratus lumborum muscles are also deeper than the other back muscles, making them more difficult to reach.
Speak to your massage therapist about stretching and massaging the quadratus lumborum muscles. This can be done while you lie on your side and receive a deep tissue massage. While the massage may not be pleasant due to the deep movement of the fingers to relax the muscles, you will feel relief when the treatment is over. Both sides of your back will need to be massaged, so be prepared for two sessions with your body positioned on its right and left sides.
Gluteus Muscles
Most people are familiar with the term gluteus maximus. This is the muscle that makes up the buttocks. However, there is also a gluteus medius and a gluteus minimus. The gluteus medius is the muscle that sits along the back of the hip and runs down the buttock area. The muscle sits underneath the gluteus maximus, but a large portion of it, the origin, sits on the crest of the hip bone. When this muscle is strained, it pulls on the hip and can contribute to lower back pain.
Make sure that your massage therapist pays attention to the gluteus medius muscle to reduce your discomfort. Strain of the other gluteus muscles can cause some pain too, so a general massage of the lower back, hip, and buttocks area can also be helpful.
If you want to know more about the muscles that can cause or contribute to lower back pain, speak with either your chiropractor or your massage therapist. For more help, contact a company like Burgman Chiropractic Clinic PC.
Share27 February 2018
Ever since childhood, I’ve been a driven person. Even as a young kid, I always strived to make good grades. With my schoolwork, I was never satisfied unless I made a perfect score. As an adult, I still tend to be a perfectionist. For instance, I won’t leave my home until every hair is in place on my head. In my career, I work diligently to please my many clients. Unfortunately, my perfectionist nature often causes me to become tense. Whenever I’m stressed about something, the muscles in my neck and shoulders become extremely tight. Sometimes, this issue leads to tension headaches. Thankfully, I know where to go when I begin experiencing muscle tightness. I visit my trusted chiropractor. On this blog, you will discover the methods a chiropractor uses to relieve tension headaches.
