Do you know what alarming consequences can arise from the slouched postures or one-sided habits we casually adopt in daily life? In modern medicine, flank pain is intricately linked to a wider variety of causes than one might think. Sitting in a chair for long hours or looking down at a smartphone turns the spine into a C-shape rather than an S-shaped curve, which weakens the deep muscles around the spine. In particular, when core muscles such as the transversus abdominis or multifidus muscle lose their proper function, they can no longer stably support the spine.
If this condition persists, musculoskeletal imbalances arise: the shoulders round forward, the neck juts forward like a turtle, and the pelvis tilts to one side. To compensate for this imbalance, our body overuses certain muscles, classic examples being muscles in the flank area such as the abdominal external oblique muscle, internal oblique muscle, and quadratus lumborum. These muscles function to bend or rotate the spine sideways, and when they become excessively tense or shortened, they induce stiffness or soreness in the flank.
Furthermore, spinal instability can compress the nerve roots emerging from the spinal cord, causing radiating pain. When the intercostal nerve distributed along the chest, abdomen, and flank is compressed, one may feel a sharp stabbing pain or numbness. If accompanied by disc issues, nerve compression can become even more severe. In addition, tension in muscles and the fascia wrapping them is an important cause of pain. Poor posture twists the fascia, reducing flexibility and triggering pain even with minor movements.
Looking deeper, disruption of the autonomic nervous system cannot be ignored. Chronic pain and stress activate our body's stress response, which affects the regulation of the autonomic nervous system, including heartbeat, blood pressure, and digestive function. Autonomic nervous system imbalance further deepens muscle tension and lowers the pain threshold, making one perceive greater suffering even from minor stimuli. What Donguibogam described as stagnation of liver qi can be interpreted in modern terms as these complex neurological and musculoskeletal issues. Beyond simply releasing one or two muscles, restoring the balance of our entire body and the harmony of the nervous system is key.
