Lower Cross Syndrome.... It's in Your Posture

Many of us are guilty of poor posture, and the fact that a good percentage of the population spend hours hunched over a computer all day really isn't helping.

Lower cross syndrome can develop in individuals who sit for long periods of time in slight flexion, whether this be at a desk, or whilst driving. This causes the lower back muscles to continually contract in order to hold the body's weight upright, while the constantly flexed position of the hips shortens the length of the hip flexors. Through continued contraction, the muscles adapt and shorten in length, leading to muscle tightness.

As the body acts like a series of pulleys, when one muscles gets shortened, another will usually become lengthened. In the case of lower cross syndrome, this is the abdominals and the glutes.

Due to these tightened and lengthened muscles, the patient will typically present with an anterior tilt of the pelvis, which could look like they are always hunched, or have a 'duck bum'. They may also have increased lumbar spine curvature. These conditions help to further enforce the lower cross syndrome, often resulting in lower back pain for many individuals.

All sound a bit too complicated?! Take a look at the image below which will hopefully help to explain the condition further.