| The stress connection to low back pain is one of | | | | with organ stress. In the case of the adrenal |
| the more common scenarios seen with patients | | | | glands, one of the primary muscles involved is the |
| who are suffering from this sometimes debilitating | | | | sartorius. It is a major pelvic as well as medial |
| condition. Back pain is a 60 BILLION dollar problem | | | | knee stabilizer. This is why so many people, |
| in the U.S. and stress is one of the biggest factors | | | | including athletes, injure their knees when under |
| involved. Stress is defined here as anything that is | | | | stress. There was a pre-existing imbalance from |
| having a negative affect on our nervous systems | | | | the adrenals causing an improper or inadequate |
| and consequently influencing our musculoskeletal | | | | response on the part of the sartorius muscle. The |
| systems. Stress can be dietary, physical, | | | | demand on the muscle exceeded its threshold to |
| emotional, occupational, etc. It all counts and it is all | | | | handle it resulting in an injury. Another affect from |
| accumulative regarding the potential to impact our | | | | exhausted adrenals is ligament weakness. |
| physiology in a manner that is far from positive. | | | | Ligaments hold joints together. Put a demand on a |
| The U.S. is one of the most stressful countries to | | | | joint and the body responds by getting stronger |
| live in. Americans work longer hours and take less | | | | to resist that demand. When one has an adrenal |
| time off than the rest of the industrialized world. | | | | syndrome issue, there is an opposite affect. |
| Dealing with ever increasing required government | | | | There will be weakening of the joint when |
| demands, taxes, etc. to keep the treadmill running | | | | challenged. This is another major reason why |
| is a fact of life here. Combine that with the | | | | people injure themselves under stress. |
| Standard American Diet (SAD) and it is a recipe | | | | The direct connection to the low back from |
| that guarantees physical ailments like low back | | | | stress is that the sartorius imbalance in the front |
| pain and chronic degenerative disease. Americans | | | | of the thigh has an impact on the sacroiliac (SI) |
| consume more junk food (756 doughnuts per | | | | joint integrity on the posterior side of the pelvis. |
| person per year), more refined sugar, and use | | | | When the SI is affected by either the sartorius or |
| more prescription drugs than any other people in | | | | from weak ligaments, there can be pain directly |
| the world. The different sources of stress also | | | | at the joint, or the lower lumbar vertebrae may |
| feed off each other. For example, many who are | | | | be the source of discomfort since their position |
| emotionally stressed, may find comfort in high | | | | may be altered. Further, the gluteus maximus |
| sugar snacks or alcohol. Because of their stress | | | | muscle on the involved SI side will be weakened. |
| they can't sleep or have panic attacks and wind | | | | Muscles that attach to or cross an involved joint |
| up taking prescription drugs for these problems. | | | | will be affected as well. The gluteus maximus |
| Their short term solutions may exacerbate the | | | | muscle is a strong, major lifting and anti-gravity |
| stress response in the body. | | | | muscle. People with weakness will experience |
| What happens physically when we are under | | | | difficulty getting up from a seated position. They |
| stress? The body secretes stress hormone | | | | will usually put their hands on their knees and push |
| (cortisol) that has a flight or fight function. This is | | | | themselves up. In grocery stores, these people |
| very good if you are running away from a tiger, | | | | are often leaning over their shopping carts to |
| but very bad if this response is going on all the | | | | support themselves. |
| time. Excess cortisol depletes your immune | | | | Treatment should be muti-faceted. Balancing the |
| system, which is why people get sick when they | | | | adrenals is a must. This needs to be done |
| are continually stressed. Cortisol also leaches | | | | specifically based on individual needs, but some of |
| calcium from your bones causing osteoporosis, | | | | the common natural supports are choline, licorice, |
| puts a toxic load on your liver and kidneys, | | | | ashwaganda, rhodiola, and Siberian and American |
| contributes to diabetes, and makes you fat. It | | | | ginseng. Structural work, focusing on involved |
| also affects the brain, lowering intelligence and | | | | nerve roots and muscle balancing techniques work |
| causing memory loss. There's more, but you get | | | | well to eliminate or reduce pain. I also utilize a cold |
| the picture. This is not a good thing. | | | | laser to "reset" the adrenals (techniques from Dr. |
| What does this have to do with your back? | | | | George Gonzalez, Quantum Neurologist). Of |
| Under stress, it is the adrenal glands that must | | | | course, emotional stress must be dealt with to |
| respond. If they are over stimulated they | | | | change one's response to the triggers. A |
| become exhausted. When the adrenals fatigue, | | | | counselor, aromatherapy, journalling, etc. may be |
| there are direct consequences to the | | | | useful. Exercises should focus on the extensor |
| musculoskeletal system. For starters, the nerves | | | | muscle groups and forward flexion movements |
| supplying the adrenals are affected. Nerves are | | | | should be limited. Over exertion should be avoided. |
| two ways streets. They can not only be affected | | | | Tai-Chi and Chi-Gong are excellent. A low sugar |
| at the spinal level of origin, but also peripherally, at | | | | and carbohydrate diet is essential. Higher protein |
| their destination, back to the spine. One of the | | | | and vegetable consumption is recommended. |
| common lumbar areas affected is at the third | | | | Organic sodium should be increased, as sodium is |
| lumbar vertebra. Muscles are also affected. All | | | | dumped in the urine when one is stressed. |
| muscles innervated by the irritated nerve can | | | | Zucchini, squash, green beans, and celery fit this |
| contract. Trigger points can develop. There are | | | | need. Proteolytic enzymes help pain as do |
| muscle-organ correlations. The work of Dr. | | | | anti-inflammatories like turmeric, ginger, and yucca. |
| Goodheart in the 1960's has withstood the test of | | | | Dr. Dennis K. |
| time. There are predictable muscle imbalances | | | | |