LOW BACK PAIN TREATMENT - QUADRATUS LUMBORUM MUSCLE (QL): PATHOLOGY AND MYOFASCIAL TREATMENT . Overuse of the QL is one of the major causes for chronic pain in the lower back. One typical cause is the habit of sitting at the desk using a reclined seat, which releases the intrinsic back muscles and weakens them in the long term. The weak back muscles must now be compensated by the QL leading to painful stiffening. Other causes can be direct damage, weak gluteal muscles or any type of imbalance of the pelvis or spine which forces the QL to stabilize them. . A shorten and tight QL can restrict pelvic movement, pull the ribcage down and put an abnormal curve in your back, making you appear to have scoliosis or a short leg. . QL trigger points can lead to referred pain in the lower back, buttocks and down of your leg as you can see on the red marked zones in the picture. . Before you start working on the QL you need to clear the hips and pelvis! For the diagnose it is very important to eliminate every single reason which could lead to hip and pelvis imbalances, that means always check the full body: feet, knees, hips, pelvis, upper body and don’t forget in this case especially the colon, the kidneys and the diaphragm as they are located ventrally to the QL . Dr Ayaz Physiotherapy weight loss hair and skin clinic