Low Back Pain — The Surprising Role Your Glutes Play
Most people naturally assume pain comes directly from the spot that hurts — and in most cases, that’s true. But when it comes to stubborn low back pain, it’s time to start thinking what else could be the issue.
Low back pain affects so many people and can seriously impact daily life. Even a mild ache makes sitting, walking, or standing uncomfortable. Over time, the pain doesn’t just stay in your back — it creates a ripple effect through your whole body. You might notice changes in how you move, shifts in posture, even dips in mood and quality of sleep.
When Local Treatment Isn’t Enough
If you’ve tried massaging, stretching, or direct treatment to the low back without lasting relief, you’re not alone. Sometimes the problem isn’t just structural — like joints, discs, or tight muscles around your spine — but functional. That means the way your muscles work together is off.
For example, the glute muscles, especially the gluteus medius (a small stabiliser muscle on the side of your hip), are often overlooked. These muscles support your pelvis and low back but can become “lazy” or underactive.
When the glutes don’t do their job, other muscles, like the Quadratus Lumborum in your low back, overwork to compensate. This imbalance puts extra stress on your back muscles, leading to pain and tension.
How Acupuncture Helps
Motor Point Acupuncture is a modern acupuncture technique that targets specific “motor points” — the spots where nerves connect to muscles and are most responsive. By applying gentle needles and sometimes electrical stimulation to these points, we can “reset” the muscle’s firing pattern.
Think of it like rebooting a frozen computer. The muscle gets a reminder to wake up and start working properly again.
When we activate the glutes this way, it relieves the pressure on the back muscles. Patients often notice their pain eases — not because the back itself was directly treated, but because the underlying muscle imbalance was corrected.
The Bigger Picture
Low back pain is rarely just about what hurts. It’s about how your whole body moves, compensates, and adapts. When we look beyond the obvious and treat both structure and function, lasting relief becomes possible.
If you’re dealing with low back pain that won’t quit, it might be time to look at the muscles around your hips — and consider how acupuncture can help you find balance again.
What to Expect When You Visit
We'll start by talking about where your pain is located and work together to pinpoint the source contributing to it. After assessing a few key movements and identifying which areas are tight and tense, we’ll being the treatment. If you’re not comfortable trying Motor Point Acupuncture right away, we can start with regular acupuncture. I always like to end the session with a firm massage to help the muscles relax even more.