Lower Back Pain: Could Your Hips and Glutes Be The Problem?

1. Lower Back Pain: Could Your Hips and Glutes Be The Problem?

2. The Hidden Web Behind Lower Back Pain If you suffer from lower back pain, you are not alone. According to the Versus Arthritis Report, approximately 1 in 6 adults in the UK experiences some kind of back pain. At Clinical Massage MK, chronic lower back pain is the most prevalent condition that clients seek to resolve, and it’s not surprising given that lower back pain can restrict your ability to move freely. Problems with chronic lower back pain can impact every area of your life and lead to issues in other parts of the body if left untreated. This article is part of a bigger personal mission: to help you understand your back pain, guide you through potential causes, and ultimately help you move pain-free, without chronic pain or the constant fear of triggering it in the future. As part of that mission, I’m excited to share insights that tie into my new lower back programme, designed to guide you through the path to relief from chronic pain, solving lower back issues from the ground up — literally.

3. The link between your hips, glutes, and spine According to the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 79% of patients with lower back pain had at least one provocative hip test. Understanding the link between your hips, glutes, and spine is often thekey to pain-free movement.Tight, overworkedhipflexors and sleepy glutes are often the quiet instigators behind the chaos.Toooften,people chase the symptom,believing that lower back stretches,massages, or heat packswill lead to lastingreliefwhen the realculpritsfrequently lieelsewhere.

4. The Postural Puzzle: What Is Lower Crossed Syndrome? At the root of many back complaints lies a common but often under-recognised condition known as Lower Crossed Syndrome (LCS). It’s a classic postural distortion pattern where the hipflexors and lower back muscles become tight and overactive, while the glutes and abdominals grow weak and underused. This criss-cross pattern of tension and weakness alters the body’s posture and function.

5. How Do I Know If I Have Lower Cross Syndrome (LSC)? LCS is common in anyone who spends most of their day seated with their hips perpetually flexed and the pelvis tipping forward, either at a desk, behind the wheel or even slouched on the sofa. It’s not about laziness; it’s muscle behaviour shaped by repetition. Visually, it often presents as an anterior pelvic tilt, creating an exaggerated curve in the lower spine. The belly may protrude slightly, the bum sticks out, and the posture looks strained. This position compresses the lumbar spine, irritates surrounding nerves, and over time, can compress the lower spine, irritate nerve roots, and lead to chronic discomfort. It’s a slow burn, often unnoticed until pain becomes a regular companion.

6. Sciatica & Referred Pain: More Than Just the Nerve ‘Sciatica’ is a condition that is assigned by clients with lower back pain, and is not only misunderstood but frequently blamed for any shooting pain down the leg. While sciatica involves compression of the sciatic nerve, often from a disc issue, many symptoms are mimicked by muscular dysfunction. Tightness in the piriformis, for example, can compress the sciatic nerve in a condition known as piriformis syndrome. Even more commonly, trigger points in the gluteus minimus or medius can cause pain down the leg and produce sensations like sciatic nerve pain, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Understanding the difference between nerve impingement and muscular referral is vital to determining your treatment path. This blog post offers a more detailed Understanding of sciatica causes, symptoms, and treatments.

7. The Role of Trigger Points: A Game-Changer in Treatment Trigger points are tight, irritable knots in your muscle that can refer pain to other regions of the body and are often major contributors to, or the cause of, stubborn and chronic lower back pain. These hyper-sensitive spots can refer discomfort to different areas of the body. A trigger pointin the QL may feel like a dull, nagging backache. One in the piriformis could radiate down the leg. Trigger point therapy at Clinical Massage MK In my clinical experience, it’s common to discover trigger points in the glutes, hip flexors, and QL, especially when lower back pain is the complaint. The good news is that when trigger points are found and treated, they can be the turning point on your road to recovery. Combining manual therapy to release these points with structured rehab to correct the underlying movement patterns can be a game-changer. I always aim for the gold standard in treatment and focus on long-term relief, improved function, and sustainable recovery.

8. Structured Rehab: From Pain Relief to Power • Some clients find short-term massage treatment helpful, but this is not always enough on its own. True transformation and lasting results are only possible when the root of the problem is treated effectively with progressive rehabilitation. • While stretches for lower back pain can ease tight muscles, trigger point therapy pokes at painful spots and gives almost instant relief. You need to restore symmetry, mobility, and strength. This means: • Releasing overactive tissues and tight muscles • Activating underused muscles (hello, glutes!) • Improving joint range and mobility • Retraining movement patterns, restoring control

9. How I Cured My Lower Back Pain You might be surprised to learn that my journey to become a Clinical Massage therapist began with a personal struggle following a sports injury that left me with a bulged disc and severe back pain, so I understand how frustrating and debilitating this condition is. My own experience ignited a passion for helping others through difficulties with chronic pain. 5 Proven Techniques You Can Use Today To Relieve Your Lower Back Pain The good news is that you can get started today by downloading my FREE P.A.I.N Relief Blueprint, a comprehensive guide that is packed with knowledge bombs, easy-to-follow lower back pain exercises, and strategies for helping yourself.

10. Contact Us 07522 504 724 pavol@clinicalmassagemk.co.uk www.clinicalmassagemk.co.uk Fortuna house, 651 S Fifth St, Milton Keynes, MK9 2PQ