Two forces may be at play.
They may even be happening at the same time:
Both scenarios can affect your pelvicalignment.
If your alignment is off, your posture may suffer and the pain may increase.
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This article will explain why tight quads can cause back pain.
It will also help you figure out if you may have tight quads.
A healthcare provider is best able to confirm or dismiss your hunch.
Tight Quads Pull the Pelvis Down
Pain or injury may force you to expand your medical vocabulary.
But doing so may also help you to better understand your condition and communicate with your healthcare provider.
Start with the quadriceps, which are the big muscles in the front of your thigh.
Think of your ASIS as the front part of your hip bone.
The ASIS is a place you’ve got the option to actually touch.
The pelvis tips downward, or forward.
(Technically, this position is called the anterior tilt of the pelvis.)
You may know that the spine wedges in between the two halves of the pelvis.
A bigger arch in the lower backcalled excessive lordosisoften causes tightened (and painful) back muscles.
This puts the hamstring “on a stretch,” as therapists like to say.
And yes: This can hurt.
If you sit a lot at home or work, you could probably feel your “sitting bones.”
These small bones need hamstring muscles to stay attached to your hip.
Generally,good posture (and good hamstring tone)helps pull down your pelvis in the back.
This is a good thing because it helps keep your pelvis in a comfortable position.
Pain, and often lots of it.
It can be tricky to know for sure, especially if you spend most of your day sitting.
There is no substitute for a trip to your healthcare provider and/or physical therapist.
A posture evaluation is the most accurate and reliable way to test your quads.
See your healthcare provider or physical therapist for a diagnosis.
Or in the meantime, try some self-assessments to see if your quads are tight.
Frequently Asked Questions
They could.
The effectiveness of foam rolling is controversial.
If done correctly, it could lengthen and stretch tight muscles.
It could also break up adhesions in thefascia(connective tissue) that covers the muscles.
(Just remember: Never foam roll your spine.)
Franciscan Health.What causes hip pain after sitting?
(And what to do.)