Say Goodbye to Back Pain

When this muscle group contracts, it pulls the body forwards and thereby prevents it
from falling backwards.

Summary

The spinal column is supported by groups of muscles on either side called paraspinal
muscles. These muscles are also responsible for a variety of movements of the spine.
Two paraspinal muscles – the erector spinae and multifidus groups – are frequently
damaged due to abnormal posture and/ or improper excessive weight lifting. We will
learn in the next chapter how these and other muscles are also affected due to poor

posture thus leading on to persistent back pain.

Muscular spasm is a very important and most common cause of back
pain. It may coexist with other conditions such as a degenerative

or slipped disc. It is important to remember that the spasm may have
occurred simply to safeguard the spine from further harm during an
abnormal movement and that the degenerative or slipped disc may
have been there for months or even years without causing any pain.
To operate on such a patient in the

absence of any red flags (we will learn about red flags later on in this book) would have
disastrous consequences. The surgeon would have to push aside and damage the erector
spinae muscles and cut through the multifidus muscles before he can reach the
intervertebral disc. This would destabilize the spine in that area and lead to a further
increase in back pain to such an extent that the person is permanently incapacitated.
Damaged muscles are repaired by the body with connective tissue which is non-elastic
and stiff. No wonder many patients who undergo back surgery complain of back
stiffness for the rest of their lives.

Now that we know about the bones, ligaments and muscles that make up the backbone
and have some idea as to why we get back pain, let us find out what the main causes are.
These can be subdivided into:

of back pain.

common cause

and most

a very important

Muscle spasm is