What causes pain when you arch your lower back? The relationship between lordosis, hip joints, and back stiffness.
My lower back hurts when I arch it.
When I stand up and puff out my chest, I feel a tightness in my lower back.
Standing for long periods of time makes my lower back feel heavy.
My back hurts when I look up or hang up laundry.
Do you have any of these concerns?
At first glance, the movement of arching the lower back might seem like a problem limited to the lower back alone.
However, in reality,
- A posture that tends to cause the lower back to arch
- Stiffness in the front of the hip joint
- Difficulty stretching the back
• Pelvic position
・How to use your glutes and core
These may be related factors.
In particular, if your hips or back don't move well, you can easily compensate by arching your lower back.
This time, we will explain the common physical characteristics of people who experience pain when arching their lower back, and the points that should be reviewed during chiropractic treatment.
Cause ①: You are in a posture that makes it easy for your lower back to arch.
Many people who experience pain when arching their lower back tend to have a posture that easily causes them to arch their lower back.
for example,
- My stomach tends to stick out when I'm standing.
- When you puff out your chest, your lower back also arches.
- Front thighs tend to get tight
- When I sleep on my back, my lower back hurts.
- My lower back hurts when I stand for long periods of time.
That's the kind of person they are.
However, it's not advisable to simply assume that "having an exaggerated lumbar curve causes back pain."
What's important isn't the shape of the waist itself, but whether other parts of the body are moving and whether the movement is concentrated in the waist .
Cause ②: Stiffness in the front of the hip joint
When you arch your lower back, your hip joints also need to extend.
However, if the front of the hip joint is stiff, it becomes difficult to extend the leg backward.
Then, you can easily compensate for that movement by arching your lower back.
especially,
- Tightness around the psoas muscle
- My front thighs are stiff.
- Short stride length
- Difficulty pulling the leg back
- My lower back arches when I stand up after sitting for a long time.
For those individuals, it would be advisable to also check the movement of the hip joint.
Even if you loosen up your lower back, if your hip joints remain stiff, the strain on your lower back will easily return when you stand or walk.
Cause ③ Difficulty straightening the back
When you arch your back, you stretch not only your lower back but also your spine.
Those with particularly stiff thoracic spine (the area of the back) tend to arch only their lower back when raising their upper body.
for example,
・ Prone to slouching
• Long hours of desk work
- Difficult to open the chest
- Shoulders tend to move forward
- My back stiffens when I take a deep breath.
That's the kind of person they are.
Because the lower back compensates for the limited movement of the spine, this can sometimes cause a feeling of pressure or tightness in the lower back.
Cause ④ The pelvis is tilted too far forward.
People whose pelvis tends to tilt forward are also more likely to have a pronounced arch in their lower back.
especially,
- My front thighs are always tense.
- I can't use my buttocks properly.
- When standing, my stomach sticks out forward.
- My lower back is always tight.
For those who are experiencing this issue, checking the position of your pelvis is also an important point to consider.
However, simply tilting your pelvis backward is not the solution.
What's important is that the pelvis can move back and forth, and that the hip joints and core muscles work together.
Cause #5: Weak support from the buttocks and core.
When performing actions such as standing, walking, or bending backward, not only the lower back but also the buttocks and core muscles support the body.
If you can't use your glutes properly, or if your core support is easily lost, your lower back muscles will end up doing all the work.
especially,
- I can't maintain my posture without arching my lower back.
- Unstable standing on one leg
- Difficulty engaging the gluteal muscles
- My lower back gets tired when I stand.
If this sounds like you, you should reconsider how you support your entire body, not just your lower back.
Cause 6: Pain occurs when standing or walking for long periods of time.
For those who experience pain when arching their lower back, symptoms may worsen when standing or walking for extended periods.
In this case as well, the cause may not be solely due to lordosis or muscle stiffness.
especially,
- Standing causes pain in the buttocks and legs.
- My legs go numb when I walk.
- Leaning forward or sitting down makes it more comfortable.
- The distance I can walk has become shorter.
In such cases, it's necessary to consider neurological issues such as lumbar spinal stenosis.
In such cases, we recommend consulting an orthopedic surgeon rather than relying solely on chiropractic treatment for diagnosis.
Symptoms to watch out for when your lower back hurts when you arch it
If you experience any of the following symptoms, we recommend consulting a medical professional.
- I have numbness in my legs.
- Difficulty putting strength into the legs
- Symptoms worsen when walking.
- The pain is severe even when at rest.
• Has a fever
- Abnormalities in urination or defecation
The pain is gradually getting worse.
Lower back pain can have multiple causes, so it's important not to overdo it by bending your back too much or continuing with strenuous stretches based on self-diagnosis.
Re-Set checks not only the lower back but also the hip joints and upper back.
At Hashimoto's chiropractic salon Re・Set, for those who experience pain when arching their back, we don't just massage the lower back,
- How to arch your lower back
• Pelvic position
- Hip joint flexibility
- Firmness of the front of the thighs
• How easily the back stretches
・ How to use your buttocks
- Core support
Standing posture and walking style
We will perform the treatment in a way that suits you, taking into consideration factors such as these.
"It hurts when I arch my back."
"My lower back gets stiff when I stand."
"My front thighs are always tense."
"Massaging only the lower back won't fix it; it will go back to normal quickly."
If this sounds like you, why not take another look at your posture, including not only your lower back but also your lumbar curve, hip joints, spine, and pelvis ?
If you are looking for a chiropractic clinic near Hashimoto Station, please contact Re・Set Chiropractic Salon.
