Percussion massage for female patient in therapy room of rehabilitation center closeup. Male masseur does deep tissue treatment for regenerating after sport injury. Alternative medicine equipment
The body is a connected whole and more than just separate parts and regions. When back pain presents, it might not be the back muscles or spine but could be tense, tight hips, and hamstrings causing low back pain. How it happens, how to stretch and loosen up, and target these areas could help alleviate the pain.
When the hip flexors and hamstrings become tense, the tightness can alter the pelvic alignment. This affects spinal alignment leading to discomfort and low back pain. The hip flexors are a group of muscles around the front of the hips, and they activate when moving the leg and knee upward. The hamstrings are the muscles in the back of the thighs that allow for flexion of the knees and hip extension. Muscle tightness in the hips and/or hip joint stiffness can also contribute to low back pain. Not being able to rotate, flex, or extend the hip forward or backward can affect:
Hamstring tightness can be a side effect of:
The factors creating this tightness can come from:
Losing the ability to function through the entire length of motion can also indicate muscle weakness and a lack of joint movement where the joint around the muscle becomes stiff. This can be caused by:
Stretching exercises can be the first line of treatment. It is recommended to start with gentle stretches targeting these areas. What works best for the individual is the stretch they are comfortable repeating enough to make a difference. Warming up the muscles first will generate the best results. An easy place to begin is a gentle forward fold stretch.
For the hip flexors, stretches include:
If the stretching does not bring relief, it is recommended to progress to a personalized treatment and stretching program with a chiropractor or physical therapist. Chiropractic and physical therapy can relieve the problems without medication, injections, or surgery and provide lifelong techniques for maintaining optimal flexibility, mobility, and strength. The hands-on treatment loosens and relieves the tense tightness, reinforcing the flexibility and range of motion. Treatment includes:
Monounsaturated fat is considered healthy fat. This type of fat makes up a significant component of the Mediterranean diet. Studies have shown monounsaturated fats like extra-virgin olive oil can help prevent adverse events related to cardiovascular disease. A meta-analysis evaluating diets high in monounsaturated fats indicated a significant reduction in:
Another study showed the protective effects of monounsaturated fatty acids reduced the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Monounsaturated fats can have a positive impact on overall health. Monounsaturated fat sources include:
Estruch, Ramón et al. “Retraction and Republication: Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease with a Mediterranean Diet. N Engl J Med 2013;368:1279-90.†The New England journal of medicine vol. 378,25 (2018): 2441-2442. doi:10.1056/NEJMc1806491
Gillingham, Leah G et al. “Dietary monounsaturated fatty acids are protective against metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease risk factors.†Lipids vol. 46,3 (2011): 209-28. doi:10.1007/s11745-010-3524-y
American College of Physicians. (February 2017) “American College of Physicians issues guideline for treating non-radicular low back pain†https://www.acponline.org/acp-newsroom/american-college-of-physicians-issues-guideline-for-treating-nonradicular-low-back-pain
MedlinePlus. (2019) Hip flexor strain – aftercare https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000682.htm
NCBI. (2021) Hamstring Injury https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK558936/