Stiff Lower Back

More than likely, at some point in time, you will experience a stiff lower back. When you do, you will be joining millions of other people who have stiff back pain.

What causes this immobility? 

It could be a number of things...

...but from my own experience I have found that there are a few common causes of stiffness in the lower back. most of which I have been able to treat successfully with simple back pain home remedies.

What Causes a Stiff Lower Back?

Although they seem to appear out of nowhere and without reason, there usually is an underlying cause for a stiff and sore lower back.

As with any back problem, a stiff lower back may need to be evaluated by a medical professional, especially is there has been a recent back injury or illness.

A doctor or back pain specialist can best determine if a problem is from arthritis...

...degenerative disc disease, or a similar condition, or if there is a serious medical reason for your stiff lower back.

With luck, you will be told that you are stiff and sore due to nothing more than...

Morning Back Pain...

Not utilizing correct sleeping posture can have a huge impact on how the back feels in the morning.

For instance, do you sleep curled into a fetal position, or on one side, with a leg bent downwards toward the mattress? Both of these sleeping positions can be cause havoc on the back, as does a mattress that lacks proper support.

For my own stiff back in the morning...

Stretch exercise for morning back pain has worked great for me on many occasions, and if throughout the day my stiff lower back pain persists, I usually take time to also do lower back stretches.

But for long-term relief from morning back pain, I try to maintain a straight-line sleeping position, whereby my head, neck and spine are aligned with each other, and I sleep only a supportive surface.

Poor Sitting Posture...

It is so easy to slump or slouch into a seat when sitting for long periods of time. And, to make things worse, many people don't move frequently when they sit, causing muscles and joints to become stiff.

A few tips for correct sitting posture...

...try not to slump or slouch, keep the upper back, shoulder and neck muscles relaxed, avoid leg crossing, change sitting positions often, sit in an ergonomic posture chair, or use lumbar support cushions or pillows. AND...

...you may want to consider doing office chair exercise.

At a minimum, once you are up, walking for exercise to help stretch the hip flexors can often be useful in overcoming a stiff lower back from sitting.

Improper Bending and Lifting Techniques...

How many times have you heard that you should bend at the knees? How often do you do that?

For people who have knee pain or knee joint injuries, it can certainly be difficult to bend at the knees. However, for those of us who don't have knee problems...

...squatting, rather than bending at the waist, can help reduce stress on the lower back muscles, thus preventing stiff lower back soreness.

And if you are lifting something, raising yourself up from a squatting position will allows the thighs, rather than the back, to absorb the majority of the objects weight.

Inactivity...

As the saying goes, a body in motion stays in motion. Not only can everyday activity be a reason for stiff lower back, but inactivity can be just as harmful.

Sitting, standing, laying down, or being in any position for a prolonged period of time can lead to excessive stiffness in muscles and joints, making it much more difficult to be mobile when you do try to move them again.

Even slight shifts in body weight and flexing of the joints and muscles can prevent them from becoming tight and stiff.

This website is written by a patient NOT a practitioner. Exercises and techniques discussed here were provided to me - for my specific needs. To avoid serious injury, they should only be done with the advice of a health care provider. Also, NEVER attempt exercise after a back injury, or back surgery, without medical consent.

Stiff Lower Back Pain Treatment

If your doctor or other medical professional has told you there is nothing seriously wrong with your back, they may recommend simple home remedies for back pain, such as...

• ice therapy
• heat therapy
• limited bed rest, and
• exercise

Exercises may by the last thing that you feel like doing for a stiff lower back, but they are a common treatment for back pain.

Especially, gentle...

• exercises to strengthen lower back
• lumbar stretch exercise

Did you know that stomach muscles also play a role in lower back problems?

For years, physical therapists, chiropractors, and other back pain specialists have repeatedly told me about the role stomach muscles play in good back health.

Because they help form the "girdle" that supports the spine, they too need regular strengthening, and your doctor may suggest that you try easy stomach exercise as another way to overcome, or prevent, a stiff lower back.

You may also be interested in:
Back Exercises
Back Pain
Upper Back Exercises