Is a Weak Core the REAL Cause of Your Lower Back Pain?

PhysiowinnipegHealth and WellnessLeave a Comment

Image courtesy of pixabay.com

Image courtesy of pixabay.com

A weak core gets blamed for an awful lot – especially lower back pain. While a weak core can indeed trigger pain and irritation in the low back region, it is not always the source of that pain. Read on to find out how a weak core causes back pain, and discover if it is the true source of your aching back.

You Might Have a Weak Core IF…

Low back pain can be an indicator of a weak core. Dr. Ronald B. Tolchin of Baptist Health South Florida explains why:

A weak set of stomach muscles can contribute to back problems. Weak abdominal muscles can cause lower back pain by encouraging a forward-leaning posture and less stability when doing spinal motions. Since abdominals work in conjunction with back muscles when bending, straightening or lifting, you could be more prone to back pain with a weak core.”

Dr Mehmet Oz also points out why flimsy core muscles breed back pain. He explains, “…core tissue – made of muscles, ligaments, and tendons – acts as your own natural back brace…if you have a brace that’s loose, weak, and about as supportive as a size-XXL jacket on a size-S body, then even reaching around to hand your kid a bottle in the back of the car (don’t try it now) could result in your writhing in kill-me-now pain.”

What Is Causing Your Back Pain?

 A weak core is a major cause of low back pain, but it is not the only one. Here are some others:

Poor posture

Automobile accidents or falls

Decreased trunk extensor endurance

Lack of flexibility in hamstrings

In general, there are several things that can trigger low back pain. The million-dollar question is, what is causing your pain? This is where a professional comes in, namely a physiotherapist. Physiotherapists are specially trained to assess and treat low back pain. They can tell you with relative certainty whether your pain is caused by a weak core, poor posture, or something else.

Overall, physiotherapy is a highly effective treatment for low back pain. The article A Weak Core Could Be Causing Your Low Back Pain states, “Core stability exercises can help decrease these impairments and restore patient function. Proper motor control of the back muscles and spine position are the keys to maintaining spinal stability during activities. Stabilizing exercises have been proven to be more effective in reducing long term pain compared to treatment by a general practitioner.” Core stability exercises are often an integral part of a patient’s physiotherapy program. If he or she deems you a candidate for physiotherapy, a physiotherapist will design a program targeted to strengthen your muscles and reduce your back pain.

Low back pain may have you down, but you don’t have to stay there. Get back up by resolving to find the true source of your pain, which may well be a weak core, and then having it treated.

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