back pain relief Related Resources & Guides

Do You Know How To Ease An Aching Back?

If you or anyone you love has ever suffered from any type of aching back pain then you are well aware of how uncomfortable and pain it can be. Chances are you have started browsing the internet for valuable tips and information that you can use to get rid of it. We believe that everyone should understand what the causes of back pain are and how they can begin taking steps to get rid of it.

Postural Muscles And Back Pain

Poor posture is a leading cause of back pain. Postural muscles, also called tonic muscles, maintain the body’s posture and support the body against gravity. Other muscles, called phasic or movement muscles move the body. Examples of phasic muscles are the abdominals and gluteals. Postural muscles include the hamstrings at the back of the legs, erector spinae muscles that run down the spine and the pectorals or chest muscles. Postural muscles have a high level of endurance and can support the body for long periods. However, if they tighten up, posture is likely to be distorted over time. Muscles also depend on each other to be effective. In other words, if the postural muscles are weak or tight, the phasic muscles will have to compensate and will tire out easily.

Why Postural Muscles Matter To Back Pain

Poor posture is a leading cause of back pain. Postural muscles, also called tonic muscles, maintain the body’s posture and support the body against gravity. Other muscles, called phasic or movement muscles move the body. Examples of phasic muscles are the abdominals and gluteals. Postural muscles include the hamstrings at the back of the legs, erector spinae muscles that run down the spine and the pectorals or chest muscles. Postural muscles have a high level of endurance and can support the body for long periods. However, if they tighten up, posture is likely to be distorted over time. Muscles also depend on each other to be effective. In other words, if the postural muscles are weak or tight, the phasic muscles will have to compensate and will tire out easily.

Stretching The Hamstrings To Help The Lower Back

The lower part of the spine or the lumbar region is the region where most people experience back pain. This part of the back carries the weight of the body and the muscles are prone to strain. The diagram of the spine illustrates the vertebrae of the spine. Notice the ‘S’ shape of the spine, which I refer to later.