Back Muscles
Deep Paraspinal Muscles
Location The deep paraspinal muscles are a group of muscles located next to the spine. Similarly to the superficial paraspinal muscles, they extend from the base of the spine to the neck. They differ from the superficial paraspinal muscles by their location. As their name indicates, they are located deeper in relationship to the superficial paraspinal muscles. They are also found right next to the spine and connect the individual vertebras together. The three main deep paraspinal muscles are called multifidus, rotatores, and semispinalis. Of these three muscles, multifidus could be considered the most important one.
FunctionThe deep paraspinal muscles are mainly involved in the rotation of the spine, side bending and extending of the spine backward. Deep paraspinal muscles and pain in the spineUnlike most trigger points around the body which refer pain further away, trigger points in the deep paraspinal muscles refer pain very locally. When these muscles develop trigger points, you will usually feel pain right in the spine next to the trigger point. This concern about something being wrong with the spine itself is what brings many individuals to their doctor’s office. You should always seek an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional if you develop a new pain in your spine. If the examination does not reveal any obvious pathology, try to look for trigger points in the deep paraspinal muscles. If the trigger points are to blame, the pain will begin to slowly resolve within few acupressure treatments. If the pain is caused by problems in the spine, trigger point massage will not improve the condition.
Most characteristic pain caused by trigger points in the deep paraspinal musclesAs mentioned earlier, the pain originating from the deep paraspinal muscles is usually localized directly into the spine next to the trigger points. This is usually also accompanied by a feeling of significant stiffness and decreased ability to side bend or bend backward. The pain is usually felt like a very sharp and stabbing sensation. The deep paraspinal muscles connect each individual vertebras and therefore if a particular group of muscles is very tight, they can create high tension between the two connecting vertebras in the spine. The tension can generate sufficient pressure to cause compression of the nerve which exits from the spine at that level. This will cause further pain which will be in addition to any pain already caused by the trigger points in the muscles. These muscles are very prone to develop trigger points when we assume unbalanced position. This happens especially in individuals who spend extensive hours sitting in a twisted position while working on a computer or doing other manual work. Having a poor posture and being constantly slouched is another very important perpetuating factor that not only leads to formation of new trigger points but also prevents the existing ones from resolving, despite a well-targeted trigger point massage. Location of trigger points & Acupressure tipsThe trigger points in the deep paraspinal muscles are located immediately next to the spine, in the groove between the mount of the superficial muscles, and the bony prominence of the spine. They can be found at any level from the base of the spine, all the way up to the neck. To reach these trigger points is not easy, because they are covered by the layer of the superficial paraspinal muscles closest to the spine. To massage these trigger points, you will need to apply a very pinpoint pressure directly next to the spine, but not over the spine. This can be achieved by a smaller hard rubber ball or a lacrosse ball. If you use a 35 mm bounce rubber ball, you can lean against the wall to apply enough pressure. If you want to use a tennis ball, however, you will need to lay down on the tennis ball to generate enough pressure, because the ball is much softer. Leaning against the wall is preferred because it allows for more freedom to move around. A foam roller is not recommended to address these trigger points since it cannot provide the specific pinpoint pressure needed to address these trigger points effectively.
Summary
SymptomsDeep achy pain in the spineSharp pain in the low back and the base of the spineRestricted range of motion in bending forward, sideways, backward and twistingThe back feels as stiff as a rockTenderness in the tailbone Location of trigger pointsImmediately next to the spineIn the groove between the mount of the superficial muscles & the spineAt any level from the base of the spine all the way up to the neck Pain radiationInto the spine at the same levelSometimes to the base of the spine and the tailbone (coccyx)
Causes for development of trigger pointsMaintaining any twisted or unbalanced positionWeak abdominals lead to excessive load on the back m.Sudden overloadRepetitive motion or poorly coordinated movementSlouching and poor posture
Trigger points self-acupressureLocate the trigger points as described abovePlace the ball between the wall & your backMove the ball vertically up and down over the tender spotRepeat the processExamine the areas above & below the location of pain
General recommendationsMove ball over the tender area 15-20 timesFind a new spot & repeat the processApply this massage at least 2-3 x a daySeveral short daily sessions are preferableDo not apply very strong pressureIncorporate into HOME TREATMENT PROTOCOL
Stretching Exercises
