Category: Massage

IT Band – Is It Causing Your Lower Back Pain

The IT band (iliotibial band) is something you are only likely to hear about when it causes problems. A thick band of connective tissue and fascia, it runs from your hip to the outside of your knee, which is where it can be the source of pain. This is known as IT band syndrome. But a tight IT band can also lead to issues in your hip that result in lower back pain.

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How Does The IT Band Cause Lower Back Pain

IT Band Anatomy
| Inflammation of the IT band causes outer knee pain and can also affect your hip

The IT band works along with other muscles to extend your hip and move your leg away from your body (abduction). It also helps to rotate your hip and therefore your leg, as well as stabilising your knee(1). Problems can develop when the IT band become inflamed from overuse. This is usually from running, cycling or any sudden increase in activity levels. The result is usually knee pain which comes on with exercise or walking. But because the IT band connects to your hip via your TFL (tensor fascia lata) muscle, it can also cause lower back pain.

As mentioned in other articles, the gluteus medius and other muscles of the buttocks can often be the undiagnosed cause of lower back pain. If they are tight or weak, other muscles will have to do more than their fair share to compensate. The result of which can be lower back pain or even injury. But this can begin further along the chain if the cause of your gluteus problems comes from a tight or inflamed IT band.

How To Treat Lower Back Pain Caused By The IT Band

Tight IT Band Before Massage In York
| The IT band runs along the outside of your upper leg

The first step is to identify the cause of your tight IT band and avoid it, or at least make some changes where possible. If running is the culprit, try  some different exercise for a while such as cycling or a cross trainer machine(2). This will help with the repetitive strain side of things that can cause and maintain inflammation.

The next step is to loosen up the IT band. Plus any other muscles along the chain that have lead to your lower back pain. A massage therapist will relieve any tightness, as well as specific areas of tension, knots or adhesions. This is also true of the gluteus (buttock) muscles and lower back muscles such as quadratus lumborum (QL). Stretching without massage can have limited benefit, such as pain relief, but the effect will only be temporary. The same goes for use of foam rollers. Things might seem better for a few hours but you will most likely wake up the next day back at square one.

Stretching and foam rollers can be a useful accompaniment to massage, but a deep-tissue massage or sports massage will be far more effective.

Book A Mobile Massage

If you would like to book a mobile massage in York please contact me on 07713 250352 or email david@massageinyork.co.uk. Includes sports massage, deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. For more information on booking click here

Tight Hamstrings And How They Cause Back Pain

Most people have suffered back pain and it will be worse at some times than others. While good posture and lifting technique will help prevent it, the cause is often left untreated. Tight hamstrings are very often neglected but can be a major reason back problems develop.

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What Causes Tight Hamstrings

Tight Hamstrings Massage In York For Back Pain
| Tight hamstrings can pull your pelvis out of position and lead to lower back pain

Hamstrings are the muscles at the back of your upper leg. They start at the base of your hips, run behind the knee and connect to the bones of your lower leg. They are primarily responsible for bending your leg. But they also play a large part in keeping your pelvis in the correct position. Spending many hours sitting down, whether at desk, driving or watching TV, causes your hamstrings to shorten and become less flexible. As do activities like jogging, lifting weights, or anything else that involves using your hamstrings to bend your leg.

In contrast, bending at the waist with your legs straight will lengthen the hamstrings. Most people do this a few times a day at most however, so it does little to undo the hours spent sitting or running.

How Tight Hamstrings Cause Back Pain

The muscles of your upper leg connect to the lower parts of your pelvis and the muscles of your back the upper parts. Together they play a major role in its alignment during certain activities. For example, your pelvis has one position it would prefer to be in while standing upright and another it would prefer to be in while sitting down. Also, as you bend forward or do squats your pelvis tilts. This is why good technique involves all of the muscles connecting to it, including your hamstrings.

Unfortunately hamstrings that are tight or considerably weaker than the muscles of your thigh can prevent this. Sitting for long periods or standing with your pelvis in a poor position can allow your hamstrings to shorten. In turn this means it becomes difficult or in some cases impossible to have good posture, making the problem worse.

The constant pulling effect from tight or weak hamstrings can also lead to pain in the lower back(1).

How To Treat Tight Hamstrings

Stretch After Tight Hamstrings Massage In York
| Stretching can help improve tight hamstrings, but only if done correctly

The ultimate goal when tight hamstrings are leading to back pain is to correct bad posture. This stars with your hamstrings becoming more flexible. There are various stretches for this which should be done every day to start with. As they loosen up the frequency can be decreased, but the best way to achieve this is with massage. In some cases back pain may prevent stretches being done at all, which is why it’s always best to consult a qualified massage therapist.

Book A Mobile Massage

If you would like to book a mobile massage in York please contact me on 07713 250352 or email david@massageinyork.co.uk. Includes sports massage, deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. For more information on booking click here