Músculos de la espalda y lumbalgia

Los tejidos blandos que rodean la columna vertebral también desempeñan un papel clave en el dolor lumbar.

Hay un grupo grande y complejo de músculos que trabajan juntos para sostener la columna vertebral, ayudar a mantener el cuerpo erguido y permitir que el tronco del cuerpo se mueva, gire y se doble en muchas direcciones.

Los músculos extensores, flexores y oblicuos y el dolor de espalda

Hay tres tipos de músculos de la espalda que ayudan al funcionamiento de la columna vertebral: extensores, flexores y oblicuos.

• Los músculos extensores están unidos a la parte posterior de la columna vertebral y permiten estar de pie y levantar objetos. Entre estos músculos se encuentran los grandes pares de músculos de la parte inferior de la espalda, llamados erectores espinales, que ayudan a sostener la columna vertebral, y los músculos de los glúteos.
• Los músculos flexores están unidos a la parte delantera de la columna vertebral y permiten flexionar, inclinarse hacia adelante, levantar y arquear la zona lumbar. 
• Los músculos oblicuos están unidos a los lados de la columna vertebral y ayudan a rotar la columna vertebral y mantener una postura correcta.

El papel de la actividad física y el ejercicio en el mantenimiento de la salud muscular

Back muscles, like any other muscle in the body, require adequate exercise to maintain strength and tone.

While the leg and thigh are used everytime we walk or climb a step, the deep back muscles and abdominal muscles are usually not actively engaged during everyday activity. Unless muscles are specifically exercised, back muscles and abdominal muscles tend to weaken with age.

Physical therapy and exercise for lower back pain usually focus on strengthening the flexor, extensor, and oblique muscles. This in turn helps reinforce support of the spine, thereby reducing low back pain.

See Easy Exercise Program for Low Back Pain Relief

The Role of Back Muscles In Causing Back Pain

When the facet joints or certain other structures in the spine become injured or inflamed, the large back muscles can spasm and cause low back pain and marked limitation in motion.

Watch Video: What Is Your Back Muscle Spasm Telling You?

An episode of lower back pain that lasts for more than two weeks can lead to muscle weakness (since using the muscles hurts, the tendency is to avoid using them). This process leads to muscle wasting and subsequent weakening, which in turn causes more back pain because the muscles of the back are less able to help hold up the spine.

Chronic stress can also lead to muscle weakness and back pain. Stress causes back muscles to tighten in a fight or flight response, depriving muscles of energy needed to support the spine.

See Stress-Related Back Pain

Another key structure in low back pain is the hamstring muscles, the large muscles in the back of the thighs. Patients with tight hamstrings tend to develop low back pain, and those with lower back pain tend to develop tight hamstrings.

See Specific Hamstring Stretches for Back Pain Relief

Muscle strength and flexibility are essential to maintaining the neutral spine position. Weak abdominal muscles cause hip flexor muscles to tighten causing an increase in the curve of the low back.

An unhealthy posture results when the curve is overextended called lordosis or swayback. Proper posture corrects muscle imbalances that can lead to low back pain by evenly distributing weight throughout the spine.