Brian Bradley
Brian Bradley is vice president of education and therapy protocol at Egoscue, Inc., in San Diego. Egoscue.com
Our bodies are full of surprises. Sometimes that pain in our lower back has nothing to do with our lower back. Instead, a problem somewhere else, such as shoulder misalignment…uneven hips…or a tilted pelvis is really the culprit. When you correct these other imbalances, the back pain eases. That’s the thinking behind the Egoscue Method, a nonmedical technique that incorporates stretches and exercises that realign the body and restore proper muscle and joint function. The technique is based on the concept that pain occurs when biomechanical imbalances place abnormal stress on muscles and ligaments. When Egoscue practitioners work one-on-one with patients, they look very carefully at the individual’s anatomy to determine why the imbalances—and the resulting pain—occur.
Brian Bradley, vice president of education and therapy protocol at Egoscue, Inc., says that the three exercises below are most often recommended to help ease low-back pain. You may be surprised to find that you experience some pain relief the very first time you do these exercises. Most people experience less pain in a few weeks (the amount of time varies by individual). You can incorporate all three of these exercises into your regular fitness regimen—and you can do them indefinitely to keep your body aligned. You won’t believe how easy they are…
This exercise engages the shoulder muscles, which, in turn, helps to stabilize and strengthen the muscles of the mid-spine, resulting in less low-back pain.
This exercise promotes pelvic stability by supporting the shoulders and spine as you engage the pelvic muscles and extend the mid-spine.
This exercise promotes proper function of the hips and stabilizes the pelvis. Be sure to wear nonskid shoes when performing this exercise.