Niggly lower back?

Are you one of those blessed humans who has never experienced any lower back problems?

(Lucky you, honey)

HOWEVER, if you, or a woman you're close to, has issues with stiffness/ tenderness/ weakness in this crucial area of the body, then please read on...

There's something I want to tell you about that might bring a eureka moment. 

I wonder if you've ever been asked by your GP or physio whether you have a hypertonic pelvic floor? 

There's some really compelling research that suggests women who have very tight muscles "downstairs" struggle to relax enough when going to the loo...

And this restricts the process of emptying the bladder and bowel, causing symptoms that include lower back pain.

This is fascinating! 

Granted, it might not be relevant in your case, but it's worth being aware of as you explore managing your symptoms. 

Practitioner conversations around pelvic health tend to lean towards identifying weakness, with questions like "any leaking when you run, sneeze, or cough?" 

But what's missing is education and understanding of the other side of the coin - an overactive (hypertonic) pelvic floor. 

A quick recap on what I'm referring to via this awesome diagram from The Female Body Bible (which is well worth a read, btw!)

Imagine trying to flex and clench your biceps all day. It would be exhausting for the muscles and you'd feel pretty sore after an hour, let alone an entire day! 

It's the same for our pelvic floor. The muscles need to be able to release for extended periods, otherwise soreness in connected areas (like the spine and coccyx) can flare up.

I'll leave you with a few of the most common signs (beyond lower back pain) to look out for...

- Do you catch yourself holding your stomach in a lot? Our abdominal muscles are connected to our pelvic floor and excessive constriction can cause overactivity.

- Do you experience deep pain in the vaginal wall during or after penetrative sex and/or inserting a tampon?

- Ever have difficulty starting to urinate?

If any of this is resonating, there are brilliant experts out there who can help. 

My Recommended List Of Women's Health Physios

Have a glorious weekend,

NB xx