What is the Best Position for my Low Back?
We are going to answer this question with a very ambiguous answer. "It depends."
Everyone is different, what might be good for your back may not be good for your spouse's/significant other's/child's back. But there are some general guidelines that you can look for to see if your back is in a decent position.
When you are looking at your back from the front or from behind, it should be relatively straight when it is in a neutral position. That means, if you are standing or sitting up strait and not leaning to one side, your low back should also be straight. If you can't stand up strait or sit strait, there could be some joint irritation there. The cause would have to be figured out by us, and we can guide you to an upright back.
Looking at your back from the side is a completely different story. Your back should not be straight. It should have a curve. This curve in the lumbar spine is called lordosis (the neck should have a similar curve also). The middle of your back should curve the opposite way, called kyphosis). There are different things that we look for to check if you have too much, too little, or just the right amount of curve. Again, everyone is different, so there is no uniform answer for this.
Does Injury or Pain Change my Low Back Position?
Again, the answer is that it depends. Injury can cause you to lean to one side, or change the natural curve of your back in order to avoid painful positions. We see this often and can guide you with the tools that you need to correct this.
Injury can also cause decreased movement of the low back. You may not be able to move your back to bend forward, backward, or to the side. This can come from the joints of the back or the soft tissues in the low back. Sometimes it can even be caused by the bones or nerves. There are times when it is more than one of these.
As you can see, the answer is not simple and will change depending on you versus your neighbor. We cannot stress enough how you are different than our last patient, so your treatment will be different. This is why an evaluation is important. Together we can get on the correct path to recovery.
Why is Low Back Position Important?
The low back has a lot of work and responsibility on its plate. The low back is where the upper and lower body connect. It is responsible for stabilizing the upper body when you use your lower body for things like walking, running, or squatting. The opposite is true when you are using your upper body to lift overhead, or throw. The low back helps transfer energy from the upper body to the lower body. This area is the primary weight bearer for any load above the waist.
With all that your low back is responsible for, it needs to be able to move and be stable when stationary. If it is not in your ideal position, it can cause issues in other parts of the body like the hip, shoulder, or feet. Any of these areas can be treated, but we want to know how your entire body operates. Is it working together as a team or is your body fighting itself due to some unresolved issues?
In Summary
Everyone is different, but everyone needs their low back to function optimally for them. If you workout, run, work at a desk, play with your kids, or move boxes around you will benefit from keeping your low back in an optimal position and learning how to move your low back. Just remember that your back is your back. It needs to do what you need it to do, not what I need it to do, or not what your partner needs it to do.
If you have issues with your back (pain, aches, stiffness, numbness) we would love to help you to solve them. If you want a free guide on how to relieve some of your symptoms, try out our 10 free tips "BodyFix Your Back." We are happy to get on the phone with you and discuss what is going on as well (425-202-5687)
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