Importance of the Lumbar

Low back pain is one of the foremost afflictions of modern life.

And it begins with the lumbar: by diameter, the five largest vertebrae in the human body are those of the lumbar and they are responsible for bearing the weight of the upper body. In fact, we would be fortunate if all they had to do was support our weight; we often call on them to do a lot more, which is why they are the most often injured. Motions such as lifting or twisting are too often performed with the lower back as the primary power input or force creator, causing strain to the large muscles and ligaments which support the vertebrae in the lower back. 

The importance of the lumbar region

Besides the weight bearing duty, we also see a network of nerves known as the lumbar plexus that exit the spinal cord in the lumbar region and influence many critical functions of movement- namely the mechanics of the abdomen and legs. 

The most common reasons for lower back pain

• Muscle strain- 
• Disc herniation 
• Disc degeneration
• Bone spurs 
• Breakdown of the cartilage
• Facet joint syndrome

These conditions become more likely with age, as our lower backs begin to succumb to the compounded years of movement which we have put them through. The problem is also worsened when we don’t take care of our bodies, i.e. carrying around too much weight with weak supporting muscles, or executing movements without awareness of proper body mechanics. This is where we step in. 

How we make a difference at Hayes Family Chiropractic 

 Prevention is key: if you are in the fortunate position of owning a lower back that doesn’t give you too much grief, there is no better time than now to start strengthening it against the incursions of age. Through strengthening of the auxiliary muscles, application of good posture and proper body mechanics, we can ensure that the lower back has the greatest possible advantage. And if it is feeling under fire, we have modalities such as spinal adjustment, decompression and trigger point therapy that will help speed the recovery process and get you to a point where strengthening and moving forward is a real option. Give our office in Dunedin a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Chris Hayes, D.C.