L4, L5, S1 low back pain treatment involves stretching a tightened psoas muscle. Lengthening the psoas muscle is essential for repairing the L4, L5, S1 region. The best method of opening the psoas muscle is not through massage therapy. The best way to open the psoas is through Active Isolated Stretching The relationship between L4, L5, S1 region low back pain and psoas muscle restriction is poorly understood by the medical community. Techniques on how to unlock a tight psoas muscle are also poorly understood.
L4, L5, S1 issues are resolved by advanced stretching techniques
Low back pain treatment involves more than one muscle being tight. A series of tight muscles are involved. Correcting the psoas muscle is an essential element of low back pain treatment. Chiropractic adjustments, epidural injections, and acupuncture do not lengthen a tight psoas muscle. Massage is unable to reach all the attachments of the psoas muscle. Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) has the best method for opening the psoas muscle. The therapist assisted psoas stretch in AIS involves the client laying face down on a table and a strong therapist pulling the leg upward – separating the space between the junction of the upper thigh and the pelvis (see picture below: back exercises psoas). The target psoas muscle lies towards the front of the pelvis but it attaches to the lumbar vertabrae (L3, L4, L5, S1). A tightened psoas muscle will pull down on the L4, L5, and S1 discs, the pressure of this action causes low back pain.
After the client has received AIS assisted stretching for the psoas, the client will be taught the self-applied psoas stretch, but psoas lengthening initially requires the help of a trained therapist. The self-applied stretch will maintain an open psoas but not open it initially. In the early stages of recovery, the client may have to do the self-applied psoas stretch two or three times a day to keep it open.
L4, L5, S1 massage will not work. AIS will work.
L4, L5, S1 issues involve a tightened psoas muscle. For L4, L5, S1 massage to be corrective, massage must be able to fully repair the psoas. However, the psoas cannot be opened through deep tissue massage. Some massage therapists have techniques for trying to open the psoas, but it is a muscle that needs to be stretched. Massage techniques are ineffective because the psoas has so many attachments to the vertebrae that it is impossible to massage each attachment. Furthermore, the psoas lies deep inside the stomach. It is too deep to affect with massage.
L4,L5,S1 Low Back Pain Treatment
L4,L5,S1-psoas-stretching
Herniated disc, bulging disc, degenerative disc in the low back
Back pain that originates in L4, L5, and S1 is commonly diagnosed. But psoas stretching through the AIS method is not fully understood by other back pain specialists. Unfortunately, too many diagnosed with L4, L5, S1 pain are opting for surgery. Surgery does not elogate the psoas. Which is why the pain surrounding the L4, L5, S1 region frequently returns after back surgery. Back surgery will shave off or fuse the discs in between L4, L5, and S1. Often times a tightened psoas results in bulging disc, herniated disc, or degenerative disc. Why is the disc bulging, herniating, or degenerating? The cause is a tightened psoas. That’s what needs to be adjusted, not a microdiscectomy or spinal fusion.
Back surgery or AIS therapy?
The back surgery approach theorizes that if the disc around L4. L5,or S1 is fused or shaved then the pain will diminish because the disc protrusion is irritating the nerve. Unfortunately, this theory does not address why the disc is protruding. The AIS approach claims that a tightened psoas is principal cause of L4, L5, S1 low back pain. If the psoas is lengthened to normal position, the disc will be encouraged to slide back inside the vertebral column.
Hello Rahesh Kharb,
There are no Active Isolated Stretching practitioners in India yet. So you have to do what’s available in your region. That would be ayurvedic medicine.
Try it. Try different people and see if it helps.
Best regards,
Anthony Ohm
Hi Jennylyn,
I’ll be in Honolulu, Hawaii during February, March, and part of April 2012 if you would like to see me for treatment.
There’s a practitioner in Manilla. His name is Chris Watts. His website is stretchasia.com
The website points to Hong Kong, but he recently started an office in Manilla.
Hope you improve,
Anthony Ohm
Hello Mr. Ohm. My name is Jennylyn, I am 34 years old and I have been suffering from posterior disc bulge,L4-L5,with minimal ventral thecal sac indentation for about 2 years now. I feel as if my body is losing the battle it faces everyday with severe backpain and I fear the worst is yet to come. I saw your video of the stretches you did to that man on the bench and though I know they seem to cling right to the desired location for healing the disc, it seems physically impossible for me to raise my leg like the way you raised that mans. I am located in Philppines and I wish to see you though I am not sure how…
Hi My name is Rajesh Kharb from Gumana,Sonepat,Haryana,India . I am suffering from L4L5S1(PIVD). Please suggest me what to do?
Hi Pradeep from Shimoga India,
I practice a method called Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening (AIS) which is a highly effective form of treatment for lower back pain in the L4, L5, S1 region. Unfortunately, there are no practitioners of this method in India. So unless you can travel (a long distance) to an AIS practitioner, then you have to try the methods that are closer to your region. These other methods are not as good as AIS, but that doesn’t mean that they will not help you. Try the techniques that are available in your region.
In India, there is a long tradition of Ayurvedic medicine that has their own approach towards lengthening muscles. Look for people that can help you to stretch and seek out massage from skilled practitioners.
Do you do a lot of bicycle riding? And you are relatively young? And you sit at a desk for long periods of time? If these conditions are true then you need to have someone help you lengthen muscles in your body that may have become shortened through your activities. Some of the muscles that you need to focus on are: hamstrings, thigh (quadricep) muscles, iliotibial band, calves, and psoas muscles.
When you are trying out different techniques ask them and ask yourself if these techniques are lengthening the muscles in your body that are causing pressure in your low back.
Don’t rush to get surgery on your back. Low back pain is usually caused by a series of muscles being overly tight. Athletes are prone to low back pain because of the stress that they place on their muscles. And office workers are susceptible to low back pain from sitting for long periods of time. If all methods fail, then you’ll have to use your marketing skills to organize a group of students that want to bring me over to India to teach Active Isolated Stretching and Strengthening. I would be very happy to bring AIS to India. If there were a group of thirty students that were serious about learning, I could conduct a teaching seminar in your country.
Hi, My name is Pradeep from Shimoga (Karnataka) INDIA, I am suffering from Low Back pain (L4 S1), please suggest me the proper treatment. I am working as Marketing Executive (More Bike Riding) Please suggest me.
Hello Mr. Ohm. My name is Konstantine, I am 23 years old and I have been suffering from L5-S1 herniation for about 3 years now. I feel as if my body is losing the battle it faces everyday with this herniation and I fear the worst is yet to come. I saw your video of the stretches you did to that man on the bench and though I know they seem to cling right to the desired location for healing the disc, it seems physically impossible for me to raise my leg like the way you raised that mans. I am located in New York and I wish to see you though I am not sure how…
[...] on the sciatic nerve. The glutes, hamstrings, calves, ilio-tibial (I.T.) band, quadriceps, and psoas muscles all play a part in creating excessive pressure around the L4, L5, S1 region of the low [...]