Where is thoracolumbar fascia

The thoracolumbar fascia is a tough membrane composed of three layers that cover the deep muscles beneath the back, covering the thoracic spine. Muscles are also enclosed within the layers. This fascia tissue crosses the entire low-back area and it connects the shoulder to the opposite hip.

This transitional area between the upper and lower half of the body allows forces to be transferred as needed for athletic and daily movement. Besides enabling movement, the thoracolumbar fascia is also important for stability and sensory roles. Some tasks can take a toll on the fascia, resulting in thoracolumbar fascia back pain or a loss of mobility of this tissue over time.

Excessive strain, overuse, repetitive stress or having poor posture when lifting an object or squatting can bring on thoracolumbar pain in the low-, mid- or upper back. This injury is relatively common among those who lift moderately heavy loads on a regular basis at work, such as construction workers or farmers. It is also seen among athletes, especially those who lift weights without proper form.

BraceAbility offers a lifting back belt that lessens the strain on your back, eases existing back pain, prevents further damage, and encourages proper lifting techniques listed on the right. Check out our blog post for more tips on proper heavy lifting techniques. Sitting all day can also damage the thoracolumbar fascia. If you are looking to correct your posture try wearing a posture brace or following these simple tips while sitting at your desk.

Besides pain in the back, you might also develop trigger points in the fascia, adhesions and scar tissue that can diminish your strength and range of motion. Pain in the back can also cause you to alter your motion to compensate for the discomfort, leading to pain elsewhere in the body. These symptoms can worsen if you do not pursue thoracolumbar pain treatment. Learn more about other back pain conditions and their causes as well as additional treatment options. Most instances of thoracolumbar pain can be remedied using conservative methods, such as tissue manipulation, relaxation techniques, exercise and stretches, or wearing a thoracolumbar treatment brace.

Middle Layer: This layer attaches to the medial edge of the transverse processes resulting in formation of the Transverse Abdominis Muscle. Posterior Layer: This layer covers all the muscles of the lumbosacral region through to the thoracic region. This layer attaches to both the erector spinae and gluteus maximus aponeurosis.

This layer of the Thoracolumbar Fascia is the one which is actually responsible for a person being able to move and walk normally. The signs and symptoms which may point to a thoracolumbar fascia injury resulting in thoracolumbar fascia pain are:. Thoracolumbar Fascia Release: This can be done through manual therapy using soft tissue mobs. Some of the examples of this are active release, Rolfing, myofascial release and the like.

Therapists also recommend laser therapy , ultrasound , and the like. Brace: Wearing a back support brace can be helpful for people suffering from thoracolumbar fascia pain. Braces applies compression to the thoracolumbar spine. Apart from the conservative treatment for thoracolumbar fascia pain mentioned above, following exercises can also be helpful:.

Bird Dog Exercise: To do this exercise, place the knees and hands flat on the floor. Place your hands at a shoulder-width distance with each other and your knees at hip-width distance. Keep the back flat and it should be parallel to the floor. Now, extend the right arm and simultaneously lift and extend the left leg off the ground such that both are parallel to the floor and in-line with the back.

Biomed Res Int. Nickelston P. Thoracolumbar fascia: The chronic pain linchpin. Dynamic Chiropractic. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

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