The most common cause of aches and pains in the back is excessive muscular tension. In almost all cases the underlying cause for the accumulation of muscular tension is poor posture and inefficient body use leading to a repetitive overtrain. Individuals who have to maintain a fixed posture for sustained periods at work are therefore particularly susceptible to developing excessive muscular tension. The development of postural tension is exacerbated by underlying muscle imbalances and deviations in the spine such as scoliosis and excessive lordosis or kyphosis. Failure to stretch correctly after sport and exercise also contributes to the problem.
Excessive muscular tension results in a reduced blood supply and therefore a reduction of nutrients and oxygen and an accumulation of waste products. This contributes to muscle fatigue which in turn leads to more muscular tension. Muscle tension pain results from:
- Ischemic muscle pain due to reduced oxygenation of the muscles
- Muscle fatigue leading to microtears and inflammation within the muscle
- Trigger points (localised hyperirritable knots of tension)
Self help for muscular tension
- Correct posture
- More efficiently body use (Alexander technique provides good tuition on correct body use)
- Self massage techniques
- Heat Therapy
- Developing core muscle strength to support good posture
Treatment of muscular tension
- Identification and correction of local muscular imbalances
- Deep tissue massage to release tight muscles
- Osteopathic manipulation and stretching of spinal joints to improve mobility and suppress neurological over stimulation of muscles (facilitation)
- Assessment and treatment of global postural imbalances (leg length difference, scoliosis, twisted pelvis) that may be placing strain on symptomatic area
Osteoapth treatments available in Clapham, Balham and Battersea.
Tags: back pain
