What is abdominophrenic dyssynergia?

Abdominophrenic dyssynergia is a coordination problem between the diaphragm and abdominal muscles that can cause abdominal bloating and distension without excess gas or food.

Why do I look bloated even when I barely eat?

With abdominophrenic dyssynergia, bloating is often caused by muscle coordination and pressure-management patterns rather than food volume.

Is abdominophrenic dyssynergia related to pelvic floor dysfunction?

Yes. The diaphragm and pelvic floor work together as part of the core pressure system, so dysfunction in one can affect the other.

Can pelvic health physical therapy help abdominophrenic dyssynergia?

Yes. Pelvic health physical therapy can retrain breathing mechanics, rib mobility, abdominal wall coordination, pelvic floor timing, and nervous system regulation.

Is abdominophrenic dyssynergia the same as IBS?

Not exactly. Symptoms can overlap, but abdominophrenic dyssynergia is primarily a neuromuscular coordination issue rather than a primary digestive disorder.

How long does it take to improve abdominophrenic dyssynergia?

Many people notice improvements within weeks with consistent therapy, though timelines vary based on contributing factors like stress, posture, postpartum changes, and pelvic floor involvement.

Low Back Pain and Hip Mobility: What’s the Connection?

Mar 28

Written By Dr. Erin Policelli, DPT

Low back pain is one of the most common complaints we see but it’s often misunderstood. In many cases, the issue isn’t the back itself. . . It’s the hips.

If the hips don’t move well, the lower back will compensate. Over time, that compensation can lead to stiffness, irritation, and persistent discomfort. If you’ve been treating your back but not seeing results, it may be time to look at what’s happening around it, especially through the hips.

Why Hip Mobility Matters for the Low Back

The hips are designed for movement. The lumbar spine is designed for stability. When that relationship gets reversed, when the hips become stiff and the low back starts moving more than it should problems start to show up.

Limited hip mobility can lead to:

Increased stress on the lumbar spine
Altered movement patterns
Muscle overuse and guarding
Reduced efficiency in walking, bending, and lifting

This is one of the most common patterns behind chronic low back discomfort. As we explain in hip pain isn’t always a hip problem, symptoms don’t always originate where you feel them.

The Compensation Pattern

When the hips lack mobility—especially in rotation and extension—the body has to find movement somewhere else. That “somewhere else” is usually the lower back.

Over time, this can create:

Repetitive strain in lumbar joints
Tightness in surrounding muscles
A feeling of stiffness or “locking”
Pain that comes and goes depending on activity

This is why stretching the low back alone often doesn’t solve the problem.

It’s Not Just Muscles. . . It’s the System

Mobility isn’t just about muscle length. It involves coordination between joints, fascia, and the nervous system. Restrictions in areas like the adductors and hip capsule can limit how the hips move, which then changes how force travels through the body.

If you haven’t addressed these contributing factors, you may continue to chase symptoms instead of resolving the cause. This is also why tight inner thighs can play a role—something we break down further in adductors and hip pain.

How Stretch Therapy Helps

At STRETCH Kinetics, we take a full-body approach to mobility. Rather than isolating the low back, sessions focus on restoring movement through the hips and surrounding structures.

This may include:

Hip joint mobilization
Adductor and posterior chain lengthening
Assisted stretching using PNF techniques
Neuromuscular re-education
Integration with breathing and core coordination

The goal is to reduce the need for compensation—so the low back doesn’t have to do the hips’ job.

What This Means for You

If you’ve been dealing with low back pain that:

Comes and goes
Feels worse after sitting
Improves temporarily with stretching or massage
Returns with activity

There’s a good chance your hips are part of the equation. Looking beyond the area of pain is often the key to actually resolving it.

The Takeaway

Low back pain isn’t always about the back. Sometimes, it’s about how the hips are (or aren’t) moving. When mobility is restored where it should be, the body no longer has to compensate and symptoms often improve as a result.

FAQ’s

Can tight hips cause low back pain?

Yes. Limited hip mobility can force the lower back to compensate, increasing strain and leading to pain or stiffness over time.

Why does my low back hurt after sitting?

Prolonged sitting can reduce hip mobility and increase stiffness, causing the lower back to take on more movement when you stand or walk.

Should I stretch my back or my hips for low back pain?

In many cases, improving hip mobility is more effective than stretching the low back alone, especially when the hips are the source of restriction.

References

American Physical Therapy Association. Low Back Pain Clinical Practice Guidelines. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2021.
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Interventions for the Management of Acute and Chronic Low Back Pain: Revision 2021.
National Institutes of Health. Low Back Pain Fact Sheet.
Spine Journal. The association between hip mobility and low back pain: A systematic review.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy. The influence of hip range of motion on lumbar spine mechanics.
Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Regional interdependence and its role in musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction.
Thomas W. Myers. Anatomy Trains: Myofascial Meridians for Manual and Movement Therapists.

Dr. Erin Policelli, DPT

Erin is the founder and owner of STRETCH Kinetics in Atlanta. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from LA College in 1998, she worked in the Pediatric Department at Woman's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette, LA and in the NICU at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, NC. In 2002, she graduated from Duke University with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. She received her first certification in Stretch Therapy from the Stretch to Win Institute in 2004. With over 13 years of STRETCH experience, she is currently a Level 2 Fascial Stretch Therapist™ and has also studied Table Thai Massage. Erin is certified in NeuroCoreKinetics, a Pilates based exercise method utilizing flexibility, strength, neuro-motor control and proprioceptive training for the core muscular system . She has worked with high level executives as well as high level athletes, including former NBA player Charles Barkley, former Atlanta Falcons player Keith Brooking and former Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saint's player Curtis Lofton.

http://www.STRETCHKinetics.com