Can Too Much Stretching Cause Low Back Pain?

Many times people do stretching routines in order to overcome back pain, but soon realize that a lot of stretching can actually cause back pain. If you stretch too can develop what is known as hypermobility syndrome. This means that a joint movement develops and becomes too unstable.
  I see a good number of these cases each year and often the patient is fully aware that its stretch caused the problem. In fact, many patients try to stretch to relieve pain. What they are really doing is aggravating the problem. They often have trouble accepting that stretch contributes to pain, because they feel their back muscles are tight.
  One joint that often develops instability is the sacroiliac joint. At the base of the spine is a triangular bone called the sacrum. The sacrum forms a whole with a part of the pelvic bone called the ileum. You are both right and left sacroiliac joints. A number of ligaments that hold the joint together. When ligaments are overstretched the joint becomes unstable.
  An unstable sacroiliac joint can cause pain and muscle stiffness. The muscles work to overcome the unstable joint being tightened. They try to stabilize the loose joint. Many people think that these muscles should be stretched to continue the stretch or even worse stretch.
  I've seen these syndromes develop in people who are very flexible, such as dancers and yoga practitioners. In many cases people who are flexible, to begin taking the stretch that creates the problem of instability.
  Sacroiliac instability presents as low back pain in the right or left side usually below the belt line. Sometimes the pain can radiate to the buttocks, groin or back of thigh. There is a deep muscle in the buttock called the piriformis muscle, which may also be involved. This muscle works to stabilize the sacroiliac joint becomes loose and strong and painful. In some cases the piriformis muscle can affect the sciatic nerve that runs down the back of the leg. It is important to remember that muscles are the body shape to stabilize the joint.
  A test of the sacroiliac instability is lying on your back and lift the left and right legs one at a time. A positive test is when pain is worse with the lifting of both legs or leg feels weaker than the other during the uprising.
  Treatment of sacroiliac instability is first to avoid stretching the ligaments and creating more damage. Physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and ice can help. A healthcare provider such as a chiropractor or physical therapist may also prescribe stabilization exercises similar to those found in pilates routines. In some cases, a sacroiliac belt also called trochanteric support can help to support the joint. This belt is placed around the widest part of hips. In many cases, the belt provides immediate relief of pain.
  If you have any of these could have sacroiliac instability:
  1. Traumatic injury to the lower back.
  2. Treatment of low back pain that is not working.
  3. Low back pain after taking stretching or yoga.
  It is best to obtain a diagnosis from a health care provider can also provide appropriate treatment to help heal. In general, in most cases stretching is a good thing for the lower back, but for some very flexible that it can cause damage to the sacroiliac joint. As with any back injury, early intervention by a qualified professional will prevent a minor problem to become an aggravating, a chronicle.