Lower Back

The spine of the lower back has five lumbar vertebrae and below these the sacrum, a triangular-shaped bone which fits between the bones of the pelvis with a sacro-illiac joint on each side. The coccyx is a small tail-like bone below the sacrum.

The bodies of the vertebrae are bound together by the intervertebral discs. These discs with their tough outer rim of cartilage and jelly-like core serve as shock-absorbers, and are shaped to give the lumbar spine its natural forward curve. The vertebrae form a bony canal containing the spinal cord. The spinal nerves exit from the cord through openings between the vertebrae, and supply the skin and muscles of the legs and feet, the lower abdomen and groin areas. Branches from these nerves also lead to the internal organs, such as the digestive, reproductive and urinary systems.

The Causes of body Stress in the Lower Back

The Lower Back is probably the area most subject to Body Stress, due to bad posture, eg. sitting in a slumped position; lifting heavy or incorrectly, i.e. bending forward, stretching out, or being twisted while lifting; the jarring effect of accidents and falls may strain ligaments and muscles and result in stress becoming stored in the structures and become locked into the lower back.

Also, the wrong kinds of exercise - those which involve twisting movements or repeated forward bending, may stress the lumbar spine, exerting pressure on the intervertebral discs. Reversing the normal lumbar curve can have a detrimental effect on the efficiency of our body's.

Sitting slouched like this may give temporary relief from back pain, as it causes the joint spaces to open up at the back and thus reduce pressure on spinal nerves for a short time. However, this posture builds up pressure on the discs and in time the back walls of the discs may weaken and develop a bulge. This would result in pressure being exerted on a spinal nerve.

The Effects of Stress in the Lower Back

Irritation to the spinal nerves of the lower back may result in back pain and this may be referred along the nerve pathways into the abdomen, groin, hips, legs or feet. Often pain is felt along the same sciatic nerve which passes through the buttock and down the back of the leg.

There may also be sensations of numbness in any of these areas. Muscle function may be affected, resulting in stiffness or weakness. The compression effect in the lower back may be so severe that the back muscles lock up in a protective spasm, pulling the spine sideways (Scoliosis) or forwards.

Scoliosis

While body stress remains stored in the lower back, the irritation to the nerves may undermine or disturb the normal functioning of the areas and organs they supply. Thus body stress may lead to digestive problems, e.g. constipation/ diarrhea, bladder complaints and may adversely affect sexual function.

Sometimes a person may not be aware of the body stress in the lower back other than feeling stiffness on arising in the morning. After BSR a person may be pain-free for a period, then experience a return of the problem for no apparent reason. This signals that the lower back is ready to undergo further deeper releases of body stress.

If the body stress has been present in the lower back for a long time (the cause may have originated in childhood), it may be necessary for the stored tension to be released in 'layers' over a period of time.

As the foundation of the spine the lower back area affects the stability of the rest of the spine. Therefore, if body stress is stored in the lumbar area, muscular tension will be referred to the upper back and neck.