The QL muscles play an important role in supporting our movement and posture. We need to learn to understand and care for these deep muscles..... Our quadratus lumborum muscles or QLs for short, are found on either side of the lumbar spine (lower back) and are important core muscles that help stabilise the lower back. They essentially connect the lower spine to the pelvis and assist with movements like side bending and ‘hiking’ the hip. Many of you may know about these muscles in relation to back pain, and they are often the source of great discussion when trying to identify lower back issues. However, they are sometimes unfairly blamed as the sole culprit for pain and we can easily forget that the QL is just one part of a whole system of muscles that work together to support, stabilise and mobilise the spine. They are very difficult to identify on your own body as they lay deep in the lower back and it's nearly impossible to feel them yourself. If you place your hands on your hips (thumbs facing backwards) your thumbs will be hitting the edge (or close to it) of the point where the muscle attaches to the hip bone.
A qualified bodywork specialist will be able to help you locate them. In order to look after our QL we need to understand its relationship with the muscles around it, its anatomy and what we can do to strengthen it and release it. Let’s start with some anatomy! The QL is found on either side of the lumbar spine. They attach to the iliac crest (top of the hip bone), the transverse processes of the L1- L4 (lumbar vertebrae) and the twelfth rib (your last rib). Essentially they connect the hip to the lumbar spine and the lowest part of the rib cage. Lateral flexion: When working unilaterally (only one side contracting) they laterally flex your spine, meaning you bend over to one side. Extension: They can also extend the lumbar spine. A good example of the lateral flexion and extension action of the QL in yoga would be Triangle Pose. One side contracts to aid lateral flexion and both muscles work to extend the spine, helping to keep your spine long as it bends to the side.
Stabilization: They play a major role in stabilising the lower back, especially when seated. The QL is very active, for example, when you are sitting and even more so when bending sideways whilst sitting to pick something up off the floor. Respiration: The QL also plays a role in inhalation - fixing the 12th rib when taking deep breaths or coughing - and helps the diaphragm to contract. Elevator: It also acts as a hip ‘hiker’ - i.e lifts the hip towards the rib cage. The QL is considered to be a 'postural' muscle. This means that its main job is to support and stabilise us during smaller, less active movements like sitting, side bending etc. Muscles involved in more explosive actions (such as running, jumping etc) are sometimes called 'phasic' mucles. This helps us to understand why when we have QL issues, it's usually always related to it being tight and dysfunctional. As with anything to do with pain and dysfunction of our body, this can often arise from overuse, repetitive strain, general weakness or incorrect movement -
You’ll often feel referral pain along your iliac crest over the top of your thigh (greater trochanter) This can often be quite superficial pain. Deeper aches can be felt over the sacroiliac joint area and deep in the centre of the buttock. If we get a tight and unhappy QL, we have to look at the bigger picture. This muscle never works alone, and if he is overworked and underappreciated it’s because his co-workers are not doing their job properly either :) The QL is often overworked when we are sitting. So anybody out there who works in an office chair, this is especially important for you. A strong core is very important in stabilising your lower back when sitting for long periods of time. If your core is not that strong, your QL (the marathon runner of muscles) works overtime in supporting us. This means it gets tight and tired. So work on your core to protect your QL! Your deeper gluteal muscles (medius and minimus), among many other things, help to stabilise your pelvis during walking.
So the QL and the glutes work together to stabilize our posture when moving. If your gluteal muscles are weak, again your QL will overcompensate. The erector spinae are a group of muscles that run along either side of your whole spine. They extend the spine and when only one side is contracting, bend your spine to the side. Immediately you’ll recognise the identical actions as our QL. They are very close co-workers. If your erector spinae are weak, again your QL has to take up the slack. An important thing to note is the the QL’s work together, so if one is in trouble, the other one will be too! Your QL is a deep muscle and therefore can be quite difficult to target. Any side bending poses can work. A particularly good exercise is to lie on your back, knees bent. Hook your right ankle over your left knee. Then using a little force, allow the left knee to fall in towards the right, pushing it down gently with your right ankle. If you feel any sensitivity in your knees while doing this, stop.
Other things you can try are: EkhartYoga members try - Relax and release - side bending practice, a class with Sandra Carson (level 1, Hatha, 45 mins) Free video: Try this 6 min class on YouTube - Open your side body and hips with yoga. By strengthening your core, you will help to support your QL. Yoga poses like EkhartYoga members - find out latest core classes here. Free videos: You can find some of our short core classes on YouTube These guys work together with the QL to support your posture so it’s important to make sure these muscles are happy. One legged balancing poses like Tree pose are great for strengthening these muscles. EkhartYoga members try Esther Ekhart's "Legs and butt fix" classes 1 and 2 Engaged backbends are great for the Erector spinae muscles. Poses like Locust or Low Cobra for example are perfect. Try this heart opening class from Sandra...... A three week guided yoga practice where we focus on releasing tension within the mind and the muscles and fascia/connective tissues of the body including the QL muscle!