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How Is Lordosis Related To Lower Back Pain?

Posted by Stephen Akamine in Health on 08 8th, 2009 | no responses

by Stephen Akamine

Is Lordosis a common cause of lower back pain?

Lordosis is an abnormal excessive front-to-back curvature of the lower back Lumbar Spine. It is also known as Hyperlordosis or Swayback or Saddleback. Lower Back Pain is a common symptom of Lordosis, and is a correctable condition if addressed properly before any permanent damage is dome to the Lumbar Spine.

What causes Lordosis?

Anything that causes the pelvis to rotate forward will move the body’s center of gravity forward. The body will compensate by moving the upper torso backward to reposition the center of gravity in a vertically balanced position. When that happens, the end result is an excessive front-to-back lumbar curve given other names Hyperlordosis, Swayback, or Saddleback. The resulting Postural Dysfunction of the lower back Lumbar Spine causes muscular imbalances as well as incorrect positioning of and in the Lumbar Spine. What this basically means is that Hyperlordosis is fundamentally a postural and developmental problem that develops over a period of time rather than a condition that happens overnight.

What does Foot Position have to do with Lordosis?

Lordosis occurs when the heels of the feet are lifted higher than the balls of the feet. Lordosis is caused by wearing high heeled shoes, which results in postural dysfunction of the lower back. That postural dysfunction then causes muscular imbalances ot occur where there are weak and inhibited muscle groups in opposition to corresponding anterior and posterior hypertonic muscle groups in the pelvis and lower torso. This results in Lower Crossed Syndrome, a common muscular imbalanced condition of the lower torso.

What are the Lower Crossed Syndrome corresponding Hypertonic (Excessively Tight) Muscle Groups?

The Hip Flexors (Psoas Muscles) and the upper anterior thigh muscles (Rectus Femoris and Sartorius) are the anterior hypertonic muscle groups directly related to Hyperlordosis and Lower Crossed Syndrome. The muscles of the Lumbar Spine (Erector Spinae, Multifidi, Quadratus Lumborum, Rotatores) are the posterior hypertonic muscle groups directly related to Hyperlordosis and Lower Crossed Syndrome.

What are the Weak and Inhibited Muscle Groups that correspond with Lower Crossed Syndrome?

The posterior weak and inhibited muscle groups directly related to Lordosis are the buttocks muscles (Gluteus Maximus) and the posterior upper leg muscles (also known as the Hamstrings or Biceps Femoris). The anterior weak and inhibited muscle group directly related to Hyperlordosis is the abdominal Muscles (Rectus Abdominus).

How is Lower Back Pain caused by Hyperlordosis?

A secondary dysfunctional source of pain is created in addition to a primary dysfunctional source of pain when the spine positioned in an excessive lordotic curve. The primary pain source is the improperly positioned lumbar spine. The secondary pain source is the abnormal tissue hypertonicity that is created.

How does the improperly positioned Spine cause Lower Back Pain?

The improperly positioned lumbar spine due to Hyperlordosis results in unbalanced, uneven, and abnormal weight bearing loads upon the Lumbar Vertebrae and the Intervertebral Discs, which could result in nerve impingement and/or Sciatica. The excessive curve also results in incorrect Lumbar Facet Joint movement i.e. reduced Lumbar Facet Joint movement and /or Lumbar Facet Joint Compression which can turn into Lumbar Facet Syndrome. That Facet Syndrome could be a stuck open or closed Facet Joint or a Facet Joint that sticks or binds. This could also cause Facet Arthritis.

What Pain Symptoms are directly associated with the Improperly Positioned Spine?

Facet Syndrome Pain Symptoms due to the improperly Hyperextended Lumbar Spine are the result of Facet Joint Compression, decreased Facet Joint movement, and irritation caused within the limited Facet ROM-Range of Motion in a Hyperextended state. The development of Osteophytes (Bone Spurs) and degeneration of Intervertebral Discs would result in additional pain symptoms over time, and would have an effect upon nerve roots in the Lumbar area. Pain could be localized, radiating, or Radicular-nerve root pain in nature.

How is Lower Back Pain related to Tissue Hypertonicity?

When Lordosis occurs, the hypertonic tissues experience excessive soft tissue loading and compression as well as reduced circulation due to the compressive state. The excessive tissue loading in turn causes reduced circulation that results in the inability to move waste products out of the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissue, as well as impeding the flow of nutrients into cell structures. The result of this multiple cause and effect issue is significantly reduced circulation that not only results in lower back pain, but can also result in Ischemia (lack of Blood Flow) or Myofascial Pain Syndrome or Trigger Points.

What can be done about Lordosis?

The first thing that should be done is to alleviate as much as possible any condition that positions the heels higher than the balls of the feet while standing. The best Hyperlordosis approach to treatment is a Diagnostic Pain Assessment conducted by a skilled Medical Massage Therapist or other Healthcare Professional prior to Hyperlordosis Treatment. Comprehensive compilation of information based upon Postural Analysis, Range of Motion Testing and other Special Tests will be used in the Assessment to formulate the most effective treatment plan for this condition.

About the Author:

Stephen Akamine has extensive experience in the treatment of Myofascial Pain and is highly regarded as one of the top Licensed Medical Massage Therapists in the State of Hawaii. You can find Facet Joint Pain information and information about soft tissue treatment for pain at his Online Resource Center.