I once read and article by an “expert” in the massage field that stated that the quadratus lumborum was responsible for a whopping 65% of all back pain. It certainly has some merit, and releasing the QL can bring pain relieve…occasionally. But, I had to laugh when I heard that his statistic on back pain! Knowing my industry pretty well, I imagined white smock coats and clip boards and millions of patients suffering from back and hip pain, all lined up reporting that the QL was the most painful muscle when 9 or so muscle groups that I believe are responsible for back pain, were palpated.

 If you have pain in these two areas you should ask your massage therapist or other skilled technician to check your quadratus lumborum, but not to stop there in his or here investigation. The “expert” in the massage field, who graced many of the national massage magazines, was  highly skilled, but back pain isn’t that simple to deal with, at least not in my experience. 

The “expert” totally ignored a discussion about the importance of  the iliopsoas muscle. And in my experience, you have to deal with both important muscles in order to break the painful back syndrome that plaques many in our sedentary computer driven society. And I think, the psoas would rank as one of the most difficult muscles to communicate effectively and safely in order to relieve our clients of the pain they are experiencing in their pelvic region. And if I had to choose one muscle as the statistical culprit in back pain, it would be the iliopsoas. But, don’t quote me on that because its never that simple.

Since both of the above mentioned muscles attach for the most part on the lumbar vertabrae on opposite sides of the facets (quadratus has two other attachment sites), sitting down all day compresses the lumbar vertabrae much like a shock absorber with a constant load sitting on it. Compressed discs then sit on nerves much like someone standing on a garden hose. Then that diminished signal (flow) begins to dry up the “garden” and oops you have nagging pain that isn’t going to be totally relieved by NSAIDS. Nope, you need someone that understands the global, three dimensional viewpoint of structure and how to integrate all the muscles, so that the attachments create symmetry and by doing so a pain free condition. If you have back pain, find a therapist that understands this concept, and more than likely you will be glad you did!