Muscles of the lower back don’t come in for enough attention

Instead, we focus on building mirror muscles such as the abdomen, biceps, and triceps that enhance our appearance. And while looking great is a key to feeling great, lasting health comes from developing the muscles that matter to keep you upright and pain-free as you age. One of the ways we can do this is by devoting a bit of time out of each visit to the gym to the soft tissues supporting the spine.

The muscles of the lower back

There is a complex network of muscles that provide a vital service for your back: by holding the body upright, supporting the spine, making good posture easier, and allowing your body to move in many directions without incurring injury. These are the extensor, flexor and oblique muscles of the core and lower back. 

• Extensors: attach to the back of the spine, provide support for the spine and allow for motions such as lifting. 
• Flexors: muscles like the abdominals, which attach to the front of the spine, allow for range of motion including bending and arching the lower back. 
• Obliques: attach to the sides of the spine, these muscles allow for rotation of the spine and provide support for maintaining good posture. 

Unfortunately, these muscles come in for bad publicity because their weakness is a key contributor to back pain. 

Strengthening the muscles of the lower back in Houston 

At Holmes Chiropractic, we have a plan to develop and maintain the strength of the core and soft tissues that surround your spine. By focusing on strengthening and stretching, we can make inroads toward solving pain and preventing surgery. We’re not saying you should stop working out the mirror muscles, but by paying equal attention to the muscles of the lower back, you can ensure that your body is well-equipped to handle the extra load that new muscle will bring on. Give our office in Houston a call to schedule an appointment today. 

Dr. Randall Holmes, D.C.