Tennessee School of Therapeutic Massage

Get rid of your back pain through massage & EASY exercise

Multifidus Muscle Recovery

The muscles of the spinal column play an important stabilization role in the body, and they assist in a number of the torso's movements. Injuries to these muscles, including the multifidus, can cause back pain and make normal movements uncomfortable. Only your doctor can diagnose a specific injury to the multifidus. Treatments to the injured muscle may include massage therapy sessions, ice, and exercise.

Importance

The Nicholas Sports Medicine Institute says although most lower-back pain will resolve in a couple of weeks, 60 to 80 percent will result in a recurrence of pain within a year. Current research has reported that in most cases of LBP, certain muscles of the back that stabilize the spine are reflexively inhibited (shutdown) after injury. These muscles do not spontaneously recover even if patients are pain free with a return to normal activity levels.

What is the Multifidus Muscle?

• According to Sports Injury Clinic, the multifidus is a muscle that runs up the spine, all the way from the sacrum to the base of the skull. This thin muscle is responsible for extension of the spine, moving the spine to the left or right, and rotation of the spine. The multifidus muscles cross each spinal segment, making them one of the best muscles to help stabilize the spine. People who've had back pain, even once, may lose the ability to work the multifidus muscles in the problem area. If the multifidus muscles aren't working right, the problem segment is left unprotected and is free to shift around during daily activities. 

Massage for the Multifidus

• The multifidus rests deep within the groove of the spinal column. Since it is rarely touched, deep tissue massage to this muscle can be especially pleasing. Massage therapy can also help to repair any muscle strains in the area, and promote proper blood flow to the damaged tissue. The massage therapist will use his fingers to dig into the spinal groove. Starting at your neck, he will trace your spinal column to the sacrum. Usually, this stroke will be repeated numerous times.

3 Best Lumbar Multifidus Exercises

The multifidi are the deepest layer of muscles in the lower back. Together with the transversus abdominis muscles in the front of the torso, they form a protective blanket like a corset for a core of stabilization supporting the lower back and protecting you from injury. Specific exercises are needed to strengthen these muscles.

References

• Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma; Physical Therapy Corner: Low Back Pain and Lumbar Stabilization Exercises; March 2007
• "British Journal of Sports Medicine"; Rehabilitation of Lumbar Multifidus Muscles...; R.S. Jemmett; 2003
• Chiro Geek; Dynamic Lumbar Spine Stabilization Exercises; Douglas Gillard
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Karen Grimes-Kelley

Student Massage Therapist

equinoxlmt@gmail.com

If you want further info:

http://www.massage-research.com/blog/?p=112

http://www.nismat.org/ptcor/lbp

http://www.livestrong.com/article/391123-what-are-the-multifidus-back-pain-solution-exercises/

http://www.ehow.com/info_7974968_exercises-strengthen-multifidus-muscles-spine.html

Posted by Lorie Warren - Tuesday, 10/25/11, 08:51 PM - Comments -