Why is Back Stiffness Often Worse in the Morning?
During sleep, your body moves much less, lubricating fluids in the joints, called synovial fluid, gets slightly more viscous with lack of movement- often referred to as “gelling”- this can cause some stiffness. Muscles which during the day contract and relax, have not been active during sleep cycle.
As one starts getting out of bed, during those first 30min of the morning, the body and back can feel quite stiff- this is very common. A gentle mobility routine for the joints helps you get ready for the day.
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When Stretching is Not Enough
For most people, morning stiffness eases within 30 minutes and improves significantly with regular movement and exercise. However, if your back
• Is painful- severe or getting progressively worse
• Stiffness lasts more than an hour after waking
• Is associated with leg pain, numbness or tingling
• Follows a recent injury or fall
…then it is recommended to have a medical professional assess you.
Our physiotherapists can identify the specific cause of your pain, rule out anything that needs further investigation and put together a personalised treatment plan to get you moving freely again.
