New Research: Low Back Pain Caused By Muscle Inhibition?

Dec. 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Lower back pain is a very common problem and the chances of having it reoccur are likely, but why is this?  Low back pain can be caused from many different tissues and pathologies, but the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) are one cause that is often overlooked and neglected.

The lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) stabilize the spine when in a neutral position.  When the spine is injured, a reflex occurs that can inhibit the activation of the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM).  When this inhibition persists, atrophy and fatty invasion of the muscle will ensue and often persist after the pain is gone.  When the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) atrophies, it causes instability within the lower back which can lead to prolonged pain.  Assessment of the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMM) as a source of pain with reoccurring low back pain is often overlooked.  If the LMMs are the cause of pain, rehabilitation is essential if longterm resolution is to be achieved.

We use several advanced neuromuscular retraining techniques to reestablish firing, coordination and reconditioning of the lumbar multifidus muscles (LMMs) in our clinic.  For more information on our clinic, please visit http://www.alliancechiropracticcenter.com, and visit on research based blog at http://www.drbradshook.com.

Freeman MD, Woodham MA, Woodham AW. The role of the lumbar multifidus in chronic low back pain: a review. PM R. 2010 Feb;2(2):142-6