Most of us don’t consider just how closely the lower back and buttocks are linked. At least, we don’t until we begin feeling lower back and buttock pain.
Pain can easily radiate through nerves from the lower back to the butt and vice versa, and lower back pain is one of the most common forms of pain. In fact, medical professionals estimate that approximately 31 million Americans are living with lower back pain right now. A physical therapist can help you discover the cause of your lower back and buttock pain, and you’ll find that these specialists can help you treat your pain effectively, too.
These five issues are common causes of lower back and buttock pain
Physical therapists are trained to treat a huge range of musculoskeletal disorders, which includes many issues that can lead to lower back and buttock pain. A few of the issues that could be causing your pain are:
- Sciatica — This is a condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve is pinched or irritated somehow. The most common sciatica symptom is a sharp or burning pain that radiates from the lower back into one buttock. It can even reach down into your leg.
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction — The inflexible joints that join the pelvis to the lower spine are called sacroiliac joints. Inflammation in these joints can trigger discomfort in the buttocks and lower back.
- Muscle strains — The lower back and buttocks have many muscles that can be strained. A strain occurs when a muscle is overstretched or partially torn, and it can cause pain to radiate out into the surrounding tissue.
- Herniated lumbar discs — The lumbar spine has cushioning discs between its vertebrae. Damage to or wear and tear on these discs can cause their outer covering to tear, and the disc’s inner material can then poke out through the tear. The exposed inner material can often irritate nerves and trigger pain in the lower back, butt and legs.
- Piriformis syndrome — This condition involves the piriformis muscle. This muscle starts in the lower back and runs through the buttock. Inflammation in this muscle is often called piriformis syndrome, and it can lead to lower back and buttock discomfort.
What can physical therapists do to treat lower back and buttock pain?
There are many therapy techniques that can help treat issues that lead to lower back and buttock discomfort, including:
- Active Release Techniques®
- Therapeutic exercises
- Graston Technique®
- Whole body vibration therapy
- Posture training
SOL Physical Therapy offers top-notch treatment for lower back and buttock pain
Are you ready to reduce the aching in your lower back and buttocks? Our SOL PT team is here to help you find relief from pain caused by all the issues mentioned above. To start, our therapists will evaluate your body to determine what is causing your pain. Then, we’ll build you a customized therapy plan designed to reduce your pain and prevent it from coming back. You’ll even be able to do your therapy from home if you sign up for a virtual therapy session with our team.
Contact our team today for more information about how we can help with your pain or to schedule your initial appointment.
