🦴 Why Your Lower Back Pays the Price
The transverse abdominis doesn’t just support the front of your body.
It also plays a key role in stabilizing your lumbar spine.
When this muscle contracts properly, it increases pressure inside the abdomen, creating a natural support system for the lower back.
Think of it like an inflated cylinder.
As long as the pressure inside is maintained, the structure remains stable.
When that support is reduced, the muscles surrounding the spine must work much harder to keep your body upright.
The result?
From the front, you may notice a protruding lower abdomen.
From the back, you may experience stiffness, tightness, or fatigue.
Different symptoms—but often connected through the same deep core muscles.
📐 The Psoas Muscle: An Important Part of the Puzzle
Another key muscle is the psoas, a deep hip flexor connecting the lumbar spine to the thigh.
Long periods of sitting can cause the psoas to become shortened and tight.
A tight psoas may contribute to an excessive forward tilt of the pelvis.
Imagine your pelvis as a bowl holding your abdominal organs.
When the bowl tips forward, gravity shifts the abdominal contents downward, increasing pressure on the lower abdominal wall.
At the same time, this pelvic position often increases the curve of the lower back, placing greater demand on the lumbar muscles.
Normally, the transverse abdominis helps stabilize the pelvis.
If it’s not functioning effectively, the psoas can dominate, allowing the pelvis to tilt further, which may contribute to both a more prominent lower abdomen and increased lower back strain.
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