Here’s what you can do to improve your lower back muscle pain

When you have lower back pain, it can interfere with your ability to carry out everyday activities. It can be difficult to climb stairs and reach down to pick up clothes from your bedroom floor. In your lower back, there are several different muscles around your spine that can be the source of pain, including the quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas, multifidus and gluteals.

If you’re experiencing persistent, worsening or recurring muscle pain in your lower back, talk to your doctor about your concerns. They can help you figure out which muscles are the source of your pain and the likely cause. You can also request a referral for physical therapy to start treating your lower back pain.

How to alleviate muscle pain in your lower back

There are a variety of treatment options that can help to reduce muscle pain in your lower back. Be sure to talk to your doctor or physical therapist about the safest and most effective courses of action.

Here’s what you can do to improve your lower back muscle pain:

• Postural adjustments — Poor posture is a common cause of lower back pain, and it can also worsen the symptoms of other back issues, such as sciatica or muscle strains. Making the proper adjustments to your posture as you stand and sit can help reduce muscle pain in your back. Keeping your chest forward, shoulders straight and hips tucked can decrease the strain on your lower back muscles.

• Heat — Heat therapy is a common type of self-care for muscle pain that you can do at home. Apply a hot compress to your lower back for 20 minutes at a time. The goal of heat therapy is to accelerate the recovery process by increasing blood circulation to the area. It works to relax your muscles while decreasing the pain signals being sent to your brain.

• Exercises — One of the most effective ways to reduce muscle pain in your lower back is to target it with the right
  exercises. A physical therapist can show you exercises, such as planks and glute bridges, that will increase the strength of your back muscles for increased spinal stability and support. They can also show you stretches, like child’s pose, to loosen the muscles and increase the flexibility of your lower back.

Excel PT can help improve your lower back muscle pain

Your lower back muscles play an important role in your everyday physical activities, such as standing up from your chair after a long day at work and lifting your groceries out of your trunk. At Excel Sports and Physical Therapy, we can help alleviate your lower back muscle pain with a variety of treatments tailored to the cause of your pain and your physical therapy goals, such as exercises and postural adjustments.

Call us or request an appointment today to improve your lower back muscle pain.