How do you know where your low back pain is coming from?

Here at our practice in Porter Ranch, CA approximately 70% of our patients come in for treatment of low back pain. Two of the most common joint problems in the low back are the lack of movement in the sacroiliac joint and the other is a rotated pelvis normally caused by joint fixation or muscle imbalance.  Here is one way and two signs that will tell you where your pain stems from.

Try this. Stand up straight with your feet together and arms at your sides. Close your eyes and do your best to remain still.  Allow your body to move on its own. You will notice that your body will rock or slightly sway on its own without you making any effort.

If your body rocks back and forth, your back pain is being caused by dysfunction in your sacroiliac joint. Your chiropractor can tell you whether this condition is being caused by muscle imbalance or joint fixation. Chiropractic can help relieve the pain by releasing the pressure off the sacrum. The health of the sacroiliac joint is of utmost importance because it plays a part in the circulation of spinal fluid.

If your body sways from side to side, the root of the problem is your rotated pelvis.  A chiropractor will test for a rotated pelvis by doing a “short leg” test, where one patient’s leg may appear shorter than the other because of the improper rotation of the pelvis. Generally, he or she will apply a technique called sacro-occipital technique (SOT) to align the pelvis to its proper position.

Watch the videos below for a demonstration.

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