Table of Contents
The body’s lower extremities have a very important role as it helps support the upper body’s weight and provide stability to the lower body. The lower half of the body consists of the lower abdominals, hips, pelvic, and buttock regions, which have various muscles surrounding the lumbar and pelvic areas of the spine. These muscles help protect the lower vital organs and work with the central nervous system to utilize the sensory-motor function of the legs and feet. When normal factors like prolonged sitting or standing begin to affect the lower body, it can cause referred pain to travel down to the legs and push the lower extremities to develop symptoms associated with trigger points on the lower torso. Today’s article looks at the lower torso, how trigger points affect the lower torso, and therapeutic ways to manage trigger points in the lower torso. We refer patients to certified providers who incorporate various techniques in more inadequate body pain treatments related to trigger points to aid people suffering from pain-like symptoms along the lower torso muscles along the body’s lower extremities. We encourage and appreciate patients by referring them to our associated medical providers based on their diagnosis, especially when it is appropriate. We understand that education is an excellent solution to asking our providers complex questions at the patient’s request. Dr. Jimenez, D.C., utilizes this information as an educational service only. Disclaimer
Have you been feeling stiffness around your hips lately? Have you noticed that you are leaning forward constantly, causing strain on your lower back? Or have you been experiencing pain in one location in your lower half? When dealing with these issues in the lower half of the body, it could correlate with somato-visceral symptoms associated with trigger points in the lower torso. The lower torso of the human body, or the lower abdominals, is defined as the anterior region of the trunk between the thoracic diaphragm and serves as the cavity to house the digestive, urinary, endocrine, and parts of the reproductive system. The lower torso has various muscles and nerves that surround the lower back, the hips, the pelvis, and the buttock region of the body that stabilizes the legs when in motion and supports the upper body. The muscles in the lower torso also surround the lumbar and pelvic areas of the spine to protect the joints and vertebrae from becoming dysfunctional. When issues begin to rise and affect the lower torso, it can lead to overlapping problems affecting the body’s lower extremities.
Some of the issues affecting the lower torso that most people don’t realize are that prolonged sitting or standing can cause problems to the legs, hips, pelvis, and feet. This causes the blood supply to pool into the legs and feet, thus causing swelling and muscle weakness in the lower torso muscles. Another issue is when the lower torso has been through a traumatic event that can cause the affected muscles to develop tiny nodules known as trigger points to cause problems in the lower back, hips, pelvis, and buttock region of the body. Studies reveal that trigger points are often characterized by pain causing a limited range of motion in the joints while causing muscular contracture and mimicking other chronic conditions affecting the muscles. When trigger points affect the muscles in the lower torso, “Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction,” written by Dr. Janet Travell, M.D., pain associated with movement can cause tingling or electric sensations down to the lower extremities causing somato-visceral referred pain to the lower torso. Since the nerve roots from the spinal cord branch out to the various muscles and become irritated, causing referred pain to different areas of the lower extremities.
Have you been dealing with hip mobility issues? What about experiencing low back pain after being in a hunch position for an extended period? Or have you been experiencing problems in your pelvic region? Many of these issues are correlated with trigger points associated with the lower torso. Trigger points or myofascial pain syndrome are caused when the affected muscles have been overused or been through a traumatic event that causes referred pain to different body locations. The video explains where trigger points are located in the lower torso, especially in the abdomen and how to release them through palpations and massage. These techniques can help reduce the pain symptoms that affect the lower torso and manage myofascial pain from developing in the future.
Pain specialists like chiropractors and massage therapists will use various techniques to reduce the pain and alleviate the trigger points from the affected muscles. Many often go to a pain specialist who deals with trigger points through recommendations by their primary doctor. They will go through an examination process and explain to the pain specialist where the pain is located. Afterward, they will devise a treatment plan with the patient’s primary doctor, allowing them to follow a routine to prevent the pain from returning. Various techniques like stretching the abdominals, exercising, and resting can manage trigger points from returning to the affected muscles and even help bring muscle strength back to the body.
The lower torso consists of the hips, lower back, pelvis, and buttock region while protecting the body’s vital organs. The lower torso helps stabilize, the lower body extremities and supports the upper body’s weight. When normal issues like prolonged sitting or standing start to cause muscle strain to the lower torso region, it can develop trigger points to cause various problems to that region and cause mobility issues in the lower abdominal area. When the pain becomes unbearable, many individuals go to a pain specialist to help manage the trigger points from affecting the lower torso region and bring back mobility function to the lower extremities.
Akamatsu, Flavia Emi, et al. “Anatomical Basis of the Myofascial Trigger Points of the Gluteus Maximus Muscle.” BioMed Research International, Hindawi, 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5733974/.
Travell, J. G., et al. Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual: Vol. 2:the Lower Extremities. Williams & Wilkins, 1999.
Wade, Christian I, and Matthew J Streitz. “Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis, Abdomen – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 25 July 2022, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK553104/.
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information herein on "Trigger Points Affecting The Lower Torso" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
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Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
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Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, RN* CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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