Babin PT: Back Pain and Difficulty Walking

NEWSLETTER BACK PAIN & DIFFICULTY WALKING

INSIDE:

• 9 Things That Stifle Your Stride • Relieve Pain In Minutes • Patient Success Story • New Year, New You!

Did you know that the way that you walk may be causing your back pain? Many people use mechanically incorrect movements while walking that cause long term wear and tear on their bodies. The experts at Babin Physical Therapy are trained in treating walking disorders and will help teach you corrective walking techniques. By changing the way you walk, it is possible to eliminate and prevent back or any other types of lower extremity pain. On a daily basis, you walk more than any other physical activity and your gait has a large impact on your overall physical abilities. We can help you discover if something with the way you walk may be the reason that you are having pain. You walk over a million steps in a year Your gait involves many body structures all interacting together to produce your walking style. It is as natural as breathing, and if any of your six (two ankle, two knee, two hip) weight-bearing joints are not in correct alignment, you may be at risk for structural pain. One minor walking error

repeated millions of times can do an incredible amount of damage to your back, muscles, nerves and joints. This can also eventually cause pain and arthritis. In addition to improper gait, another major cause of back pain is poor core strength -- specifically, weakness in the abdominal muscles. A person’s pelvis is held in place by numerous muscles, including the abdominals, hamstrings, gluteals, and hip flexors. An imbalance or weakness in these muscles can lead to pelvic misalignment, causing the pelvis to tilt forward or backward. A forward tilt of the pelvis leads to a sway back which can change the way a person walks. In addition to abdominal weakness, a lack of strength in the gluteals and hamstrings can lead to forward pelvic tilt. While the abdominals stabilize the pelvis by pulling upward on the front, the gluteals and hamstrings offer stability by pulling down on the rear of the pelvis. Exercises must be completed to strengthen both the abdominals and gluteals. In general, an extensive walking program provides the gluteals with a very solid workout if the individual is walking with correct gait.

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