Are you suffering from Lower Crossed Syndrome? Plagued by a nagging, achy pain in the low back that makes it difficult for you to stand or sit upright; and you need to move around or hunch forward for relief?

Do you also get a sensation of tightness through the front of your upper thighs, and the backs of your knees – that you just can’t seem to stretch out, no matter what you try?

Sound familiar? Then there is a high probability you may be suffering from Lower Crossed Syndrome (LCS).

WHAT IS LOWER CROSSED SYNDROME?

Lower-Crossed Syndrome is a condition characterised by muscle imbalances of the low back, the core, and the pelvis.

It is a maladaptation of the body; whereby the body has responded to a persistent, repetitive stress, over time, by changing or adapting in a manner that is harmful to the individual.

It is most commonly seen in people who sit for prolonged periods of time, with poor posture (desk-bound work), and those who are generally physically inactive or lead a sedentary lifestyle (couch potatoes).

This condition will often result in joint pain and dysfunction, particularly at the L4-L5 and L5-S1 segments of the spine, the sacroiliac joints, and the hip joints.

Left uncorrected – the progressive change will contribute to degenerative damage in the affected areas, and make you more susceptible to recurrent injuries of the discs and soft tissue; ultimately leading to chronic pain.

If you suffer from lower crossed syndrome, you will exhibit a very specific pattern of muscle imbalance that the chiropractors at Back II Life are highly trained in recognising.

Typically, there would be weakness or inhibition of the deep abdominal muscles and buttock muscles (gluteus maximus / medius), coupled with tight overactive muscles in the mid back (thoraco-lumbar extensor muscles), and the hip flexors (iliopsoas and rectus femoris) at the front of the pelvis.

Due to these imbalances you would present with a forward pelvic tilt, slightly flexed hips, increased lumbar curvature (hyperlordosis) with protruding abdomen, and mild knee hyperextension.

So what can we do to help?

The team at Back II Life are well versed in dealing with this condition!

Chiropractic care will help you to regain optimal function of the joints of the spine and pelvis, and restore proper alignment, whilst stretching overactive muscle groups, and strengthening inhibited ones; to reinstate balance to all of the involved structures.

A comprehensive and tailor-made care plan will ensure that we identify the problem correctly, address all the contributing biomechanical and lifestyle factors, and then work together, in unison, to get you out of pain and Back II Life!

Dr Steven Holmes
Chiropractor

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The information in this article is not intended as a substitute for medical professional help or advice, but is to be used only as an aid in understanding injuries and related conditions.