2024, Fitness, Health, Uncategorized

The Posterior Chain

16 Comments

I have been struggling on and off over the past couple of years with sciatica down both my legs. The whole situation is complicated by my lumbar scoliosis. I have been in physical therapy for the past several months, and it has kind of helped, but I still have a lot of pain, or at least did until now.

My physical therapist changed her strategy a couple of weeks ago and has focused on what she calls the posterior chain, the muscle system that runs from one ankle, up the leg and across the lower back and glutes, and then down the other leg. All the muscles work together, so that I can feel the stretches in my right ankle when she manipulates my left leg. I figured out the source of the whole problem last week on my own, and I am proud to say and the culprit is my bifocals.

I realized last week that I walk consistently with my head down so that I can see where I am going and I don’t trip. I lowered my head to get a clear view right in front of me because of my bifocals. My lowered head was messing up the weight distribution up and down my back. The minute I started making sure I kept my head up. 75% of my leg pain disappeared. Some of my other back muscles have protested with the change, but that is to be expected. I haven’t tripped yet. It is a hard habit to break, though.

How is your posterior chain? What are your recent exciting discoveries?

16 thoughts on “The Posterior Chain”

  2. Posterior chain is tolerable as it has been for 45-some years. Always an issue, but never debilitating. I also have a bit of scoliosis in my mid-back that has annoyed me since my early 20s. I’ve used chiropractors for decades. This past year is my first time without one since about 1983. So far, so good. Still have issues now and then, like a recent lower left back pain that wasn’t fun for about 3 weeks. But as long as I can swing a golf club, I’m happy.

    My recent exciting discovery is that using the claw grip on my putter has improved my putting by leaps and bounds! 😮 Oh happy day! I’ve tried so many grips and putting strokes and ideas like closing my eyes when I putt that never seemed to help in the long run. But I think the claw may be the answer.

    (Have I put anyone to sleep yet??)

    Chris in Owatonna

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  3. I have lumbar scoliosis too. I’ve only had occasional sciatica, although I have debilitating pain in L5 in the morning. Some mornings it’s really hard to stand and walk because of the pain. It gets better with time, but I’m obliged to sit with my low back against a heating pad while I drink my coffee (not a bad thing, actually.) Usually it’s tolerable and I can take Pippin for a walk within an hour. I think it’s just arthritis in that particular location and it gets stiff overnight. The pain is really severe those first minutes of every day though. It might help to lose some weight. My knees have been killing me lately too. I think it’s arthritis.

    I never heard of the posterior chain before. You learn something new every day, isn’t that great!

    My recent exciting discovery is the Fiber Friends group I found on Monday nights at Cannon Valley Makers in Dundas. It’s a multi-generational, multi-gender group. I’ve attended twice. Last time I met some new people, and watched a young woman using raw wool and a drop spindle to make yarn, then wind the ball using a ball winder. Someone else demonstrated the use of a yarn swift. Another woman was incredibly excited to teach me to do Viking chain knitting to make bracelets out of copper or silver wire. I learned so much! Then I learned that there are several notary publics at the library. I love learning new things!

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  6. Bad! Bad!
    My hamstrings have never allowed me to touch my toes. And I’ve been plagued with a tender facet on the right side for decades.
    I have recently discovered that 45 turned Christian. I thought he was agnostic but suddenly he turned Christian. Weird.

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  7. I’m actually all about my ankle the last year or so. But the good news is on Friday my therapist put me into “soft discharge” which means that unless I have an issue in the next couple of months, I’m done with appointments. Still have daily exercises, but have not really experienced any pain for several weeks. Just in time for State Fair.!!!!!

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  8. Reading the electronic board at the gas station, I discovered $8.44 is good price for a pack of cigarets.
    And, Ben, yesterday I discovered at least one slant 6 is still on the road. A well restored 1973 Dart was in the lane next to me, a model I know on sight because we had one for a few years and enjoyed, using it to pull our lightweight camper. However, it could be a V-8, I think that engine was an option that year.
    Clyde
    My back, BTW, is a shambles from neck to lumbar beyond repair, but I keep trundling along.

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  10. Better Late Than Never, Baboons,

    My posterior chain was injured in the Boundary Waters in 1986, and it never entirely recovered. After my hip replacement two years ago, it did improve somewhat. The SI pain I experienced went away with the hip replacement which is not supposed to happen. But it is true.

    I discovered a much busier day than I expected. At the end of the week is the High School Girls Reunion. I am trying to prepare for that. Lou will go stay with my sister and her husband so I can party–or at least as much as we party these days.

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  11. I don’t really have any idea how my posterior chain is. I suppose that means it’s not a problem. Yet.

    I have a motorized standup desk so I can stand or sit when I’m working. I prefer to stand.

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  12. my body is messing with me. stuff keeps on being discovered as an issue where none exosted before. i was 18 when i broke my leg eithput scknowledging it and that threw my hips off and started my curvature. posture has always been bad and a couple years ago my hand going numb was attributed to my spine getting pinched
    this broken leg of current therapy focus has messed with my curvature something fierce.

    my sister calls old people getting together and talking about medical issues organ recitals. all us geezers do it.
    renee how about getting glasses without the bifocals for use when youre not at your desk my chinese glasses company sells non bifocals for about $50 or $60 tops to your perscription

    my recent discovery is an ai ap for design i am going to use for design drawings for a new product line im going to launch next year
    i was anti ai but went to a conference this past year and became a believer.

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