Low back & hips
Why backs lock up after sitting, what hips have to do with it, and what actually helps.
Most low-back complaints are not a back problem in isolation. The hips, quads, adductors and psoas all pull on the pelvis, and the back pays for it. These answers walk through what is happening and what to try first.
Answers
- Why does my low back hurt after sitting?Sitting shortens the front of your hips and thighs. When you stand up, those shortened hip flexors, quads and adductors tug the pelvis forward, and your low back muscles clamp down to keep you upright. The ache you feel in your back is usually the result of tightness in the front of your body, which is why loosening the hips and thighs often relieves it faster than working on the back itself.
- Why are my hips so tight even though I stretch?Stretching pulls on muscle, but most hip tightness lives in the connective tissue wrapped around and between those muscles. That tissue responds to sustained pressure and active movement far more than to a passive 30-second hold, which is why the same stretch can feel necessary every single day without ever getting easier.