Lower back pain|muscles|walking

Author: Jennifer Chu, M.D.

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Date Created: May 30, 2007 - 2:48:08 PM
Last Updated: May 10, 2008 - 12:52:32 AM

Lower back pain due to irritation of the lower lumbosacral nerve roots causes pain and spasm in muscles of the lower back and the lower limbs.  There will be loss of balance with tendency to fall when muscles do not contract quickly in a coordinated fashion due to pain, spasm or weakness. 

The muscle important for walking is the gluteus maximus at heel strike which has to undergo a lengthening contraction to stabilize the hip joint. The quadriceps muscles and muscles that pick up the foot and ankle (dorsiflexors) also undergo lengthening contractions as the body weight is gradually transferred over the supporting limb.   

When the body weight is totally transferred over to the supporting limb, the gluteus medius of the supporting limb is important to prevent the non-supported hip and pelvis from dropping.  The soleus muscle is active during mid stance to prevent the knee from buckling. 

During the push-off phase, the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles are important for lifting the heel off the ground. 

To lift the lower limb and swing it forward, the hip adductors and hip flexors are very important. In the mid and late stance as well as the swing phase of walking, the muscles undergo shortening contractions and are not as vulnerable to injury. 

A person is most prone to injury during the early phase of stance since most of the muscles have to undergo lengthening contractions. When this is compounded by presence of pain spasm or weakness the person will have a tendency to fall. 

Therefore shortening contractions are important for strengthening the gluteus maximus, gl uteus medius, quadriceps and foot and ankle dorsiflexors.

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Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, pioneered eToims Twitch Relief Method that utilizes surface electrical stimulation to locate motor points (trigger points).   The motor points are then stimulated to induce strong local muscle contractions, termed twitches.   This results in reduced muscle pain and discomfort in the areas that were stimulated.   The involved pain/discomfort-relieving mechanism is thought to include local muscle exercise and stretch effects.

eToims Soft Tissue Comfort Center® specializes in diagnosis and treatment which ends muscle discomfort and pain.

Author: Jennifer Chu, M.D.
Date Created: May 30, 2007 - 2:48:08 PM Last Updated: May 10, 2008 - 12:52:32 AM
Email this article  Printer friendly page