Three causes of lower back and buttock pain

Why do my lower back and buttocks hurt? If this is a question you’ve been asking yourself, the answer is there are many issues that can cause pain in these areas. After all, both these structures are vital to routine activities like walking, standing and picking up objects. Here are three common issues that cause lower back and buttock pain: 

1. Sciatica

Sciatica is one of the most common reasons people have a combination of lower back and buttock pain, and this condition occurs when one of the sciatic nerve roots in the lower back is pinched or irritated. The pinching or irritation can lead to pain and other symptoms, and these symptoms can happen in almost any part of the lower body. This is because the sciatic nerve runs from the lower back, through the buttock and down the back of your leg. If sciatica is causing your pain, you can also expect to notice other symptoms. Some of these symptoms include numbness, tingling and muscle weakness. 

2. Core muscle weakness

Another reason you could have pain in your lower back and buttocks is your core muscles are weak. The core muscles include many of the muscles in your lower torso. For instance, the abdominal muscles are considered core muscles. This category also includes the obliques in your sides, the diaphragm, the lower back muscles and even the pelvic floor muscles. 

When these muscles are weak, it places extra stress on the spine, and this can lead to pain in your lower back. Also, muscles like the glutes must work harder when the core muscles are weak, and this increases the risk of overuse injuries to the buttock muscles, which can cause pain. 

3. Poor posture

Lower back and buttock pain could also be the result of poor posture. Posture is the way you hold your body when moving and sitting or standing still. For every part of the body, there is a correct posture, but there are also many reasons people develop poor posture habits. 

For example, craning your head forward to look at your laptop screen or cellphone can increase stress on the lower back and buttock muscles. Over time, this additional stress can turn into pain. Repetitive activities like lifting heavy objects can put you at greater risk of a muscle injury in your lower back and buttocks. This is especially true if you aren’t using proper posture when doing the lifting. Such injuries can lead to pain, muscle spasms and other issues. 

Find help with lower back and buttock pain at Armor Physical Therapy

At Armor Physical Therapy, our team has the ability to treat many types of pain. We can help you identify the root cause of your pain, and the main tool we use to do this is our free screening. Our team can help you treat pain with an individualized treatment plan that may include multiple therapy methods like: 

• Spine and back therapy
• Manual therapy
• Therapeutic exercise
• Redcord^® training

Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to begin treating your pain.