Treatment of back pain is a very complex matter and there is no one best treatment that fits all. When it comes to identifying muscles that may be involved in back pain, it is usually very difficult if not impossible to isolate one particular muscle that is responsible for the pain. In most cases, back pain is caused by several muscles that form kinetic chains and are functionally interconnected.Chronic back pain should be treated ideally by a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the most optimal results. The conservative home treatment approach which focuses on self-acupressure and stretching can be very effective component of the multidisciplinary approach. To simplify the search for the most involved muscles in back pain, the following guide has been created. In order to maximize the benefits of the home treatment, it is important to understand that treating only the area of the most intense pain, may provide only temporary relief. It is essential to look beyond the location of the pain and search for all the pertinent muscles which refer pain to the painful area. The longer-lasting effect can, therefore, be achieved by treating the local muscles, but also distal sources of the pain.
To identify the most involved muscles in back pain, we can use two simple methods. The first method takes advantage of the fact that all the major muscles have established referral pain patterns. Therefore we know that pain in the lower back can originate in the Gluteus Medius, Iliopsoas, Deep Paraspinal Muscles, Superficial Paraspinal Muscles, Quadratus Lumborum or Gluteus Maximus in order from the most involved to the least involved.The second methodlooks at the activities that cause the most pain. Knowing which muscles are involved in performing these activities helps us search for trigger points in these muscles. Ideally, we try to cross-reference both methods. The muscles which have been identified in both groups take the most precedence. The most involved muscles should be searched for tender trigger points and treated first.STEP #1To start your search for the most involved muscles in your back pain, please select the location of your most significant pain from the menu on theft hand side.If you already know which muscles you want to start working on, click on the tab "Muscle Monographs" for detailed information on treatment of a particular muscle.
