The spinal column consists of a series of small bones called “vertebrae” which are stacked on top of each other. Each of these bones is connected to one another through a series of joints including the intervertebral discs and the facet joints. These joints between each vertebrae allow the spinal column to bed, which is important to all of our everyday movements. However, spine mobility comes at a cost because it makes the spine less stable. To protect the spine, a complex series of muscles surrounds the spinal column to control movement and protect the area from injury.
The health of the back depends on a complex interaction of muscular contraction to move and stabilize each joint in our spine. If any of the muscles that surround the spine become tight, weak, or uncoordinated, it will place excess strain on the other surrounding muscles and on the spine itself. Over time, if this imbalance in the muscles and resulting abnormal back motion is allowed to continue it can eventually develop into a more severe back condition.
The root cause of many leg complaints can also arise from problems at the hip, lower back and lumbar spine. The nerves that supply our lower extremity exit from the lumbar spine and sacrum and must pass through and around several soft tissue before they reach the muscles that they control and sense. Pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness of the upp