Low back pain is a very common condition. Anywhere from 58%-84% of adults will have an incident of low back pain at some point in their life. It’s the most common burden that our patients seek help from us about. And it is true that the core plays a big part in lower back pain. You’ve probably heard people say, “My back hurts… I need to work on my core muscles or something…”. But why? How useful is it and is it really that important? Or is everyone just chasing a 6-pack for this coming up summer?
You’ve Said Core 20 Times… What is that Exactly?
Let’s talk about what the core is. Most people think of the core muscles being their abs, which is partially true. Those muscles play a big part in the overall core. But what the core actually is, is the collection of muscles in the lower part of the torso in general. Front and back. This totals 8 different muscles that need to be strong and in balance for us to function at our best and without pain. These muscles work to transfer the work between your arms and legs when doing everyday things. More importantly, they work to make sure the spine is nice and stable while still being able to move properly.
Stable and Moving Properly is Important?
Very important. If things are unstable, then it’s putting a ton of pressure on the lower back and the muscles that are there. They are struggling to keep things together and need some support to be able to do their job and keep up with the demands you are putting on it. If things aren’t moving properly, that puts stress on the joints of the spine, the discs, and on the nerves that travel throughout your body. This comes with a whole host of issues and can be a main contributor to bone spurs and arthritis of the spine, along with issues with how the nerves are working with the rest of your body. This could present as low back pain with issues going to the restroom, digestive issues, muscle spasm, cycle issues, impotence, and pain/numbness/weakness/tingling down into the leg(s).
That Sounds Rough…
It unfortunately is. And up to 84% of people are going to experience that as adults. Fortunately, you aren’t without hope. We adjust to get those bones and joints moving properly, free up the nerves, and make custom exercise plans based on exactly what our patients need. These are all safe and proven therapies to help people get back to living their life and going out to enjoy things without the fear of low back pain.
You don’t have to wait until your back is getting in the way of living your life. You can start living a healthy lifestyle today! Give us a call, and we can answer your questions.
