Many people suffer from low back pain. What many people don’t realize is that pain can often be linked to a lack of flexibility in the hamstrings.
Let’s talk about some anatomy first. The hamstrings are located in the back of the thigh and connect the lower pelvis to the lower leg. They help in leg extension and bending of the knee. The upper part of the pelvis is then connected to the spine and many different muscles. The ones we will focus on right now are called the erector spinae. These muscles run alongside the spine and help with posture, core stabilization, and spinal movement. If the hamstrings become tight then they can begin to limit motion in the pelvis. Consequently, if the pelvis has limited movement this can cause the muscles of the low back to become tight, which can lead to low back pain. Many times people will present with this condition. This is why it is important to work on proper flexibility in your hamstrings. Increasing hamstring flexibility will help increase the motion of your pelvis, which will in turn take tension off of your low back helping to decrease your back pain.
