Specific exercises can help strengthen the muscles supporting the tailbone and improve overall spinal health. These exercises may include:
- Pelvic tilts: Lie on your back with knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Tighten your abdominal muscles and gently tilt your pelvis upward, flattening your lower back against the floor. Hold for a few seconds, then release.
- Cat-cow stretch: Start on your hands and knees, with wrists directly under shoulders and knees under hips. Inhale as you arch your back, dropping your belly towards the floor and lifting your head and tailbone towards the ceiling (cow position). Exhale as you round your spine, tucking your chin to your chest and pressing through your hands and knees (cat position). Repeat several times.
Chiropractic care: Chiropractors can use manual adjustments to help realign the spine and pelvis, reducing pressure on the tailbone and surrounding structures. These adjustments can improve joint mobility and alleviate pain. Additionally, chiropractors may use soft tissue techniques to release tension in muscles surrounding the tailbone.
Tailbone adjustments: Chiropractors may perform gentle adjustments to the tailbone itself, known as coccygeal adjustments. These adjustments aim to restore proper alignment and function to the coccyx, reducing pain and discomfort.