“Well, it’s just part of getting older.”
How many times have you heard this when telling a doctor about back pain?
If I’m being honest, it just sounds like lazy medicine…
Yes, lower back pain becomes more common as we age, but that doesn’t mean it’s caused by aging. And no, it’s not inevitable. In fact, blaming back pain on age alone is one of the reasons millions of people suffer far longer than they should.
Here’s what’s really going on…
The Real Problem Isn’t Age. It’s Neglect.
Around your spine lives a deep, stabilizing muscle called the transversus abdominis (TVA)—sometimes called your body’s “natural weightlifting belt.” It wraps around your midsection, providing critical support for your spine during every movement you make.
But by the time you’re in your 50s or 60s, there’s a good chance that muscle has gone completely offline.
Why? Because our modern lifestyle makes it nearly useless.
- We sit more than ever before, which disengages the TVA.
- We don’t lift, twist, or stabilize much, especially after retirement.
- And many mainstream workouts (even some physical therapy routines) ignore these stabilizing muscles entirely.
Result: Your spine loses its built-in protection and absorbs all the shock that your core was supposed to handle. That leads to disc compression, nerve pinching, and chronic inflammation in the lower back.
Why Most Mainstream Treatments Fall Short
Most people with back pain are sent to:
- Physical therapy for generalized stretches
- Chiropractors for short-term realignments
- Orthopedics for painkillers or injections
None of these treat the root cause though: your dormant TVA and destabilized core.
You might feel relief for a day or two… but the next time you twist wrong or bend to pick something up, the pain comes roaring back. That’s not healing; it’s a bandage.
What the Research Actually Shows
In a clinical study published in Spine, patients who performed specific stabilization exercises (targeting the TVA and multifidus) had significantly better outcomes than those doing generalized back exercises alone.
Another study found that deep core activation reduced recurrence of back pain by over 70%—a staggering number considering how common flare-ups are.
Even elite physical therapists like Dr. Stuart McGill emphasize that “the spine needs stability, not mobility” to heal chronic pain.
How can you create more spine stability without exhausting yourself?
The Solution: Reactivate Your Deep Core
The TVA doesn’t need hours in the gym to work. It just needs to be activated, consistently and correctly.
In fact, simple movements like controlled abdominal bracing or specific resistance routines done with the right tools can start waking up this dormant muscle within days.
When it turns back on, it acts like scaffolding for your spine. Less pressure. Less pain. Less aging.
Our team at CTU Lifestyle just released our new exercise ball, called the VitalBall, to help reactivate the TVA and stop back pain in its tracks. Click here to learn more.
The good news is you’re not falling apart. You just haven’t been given the full story. Now that you know all it takes is a small change in your daily life, we hope you can relief in some simple movements with the VitalBall.
References:
- Hides JA, et al. “Evidence of lumbar multifidus muscle recovery following a specific stabilization exercise program.” Spine, 1996.
- Stuge B, et al. “The efficacy of a treatment program focusing on specific stabilizing exercises.” Spine, 2004.
- McGill SM. Low Back Disorders: Evidence-Based Prevention and Rehabilitation, 2007.
- Hodges PW, et al. “Transversus abdominis is the first muscle activated during lower limb movement.” Spine, 1996.
