L5/S1 Morning Back Pain? Do These 3 Stretches Immediately!

L5/S1 mornings have a specific pain signature. Dr. Shariff at Infinite Healing in Oshawa gives you 3 stretches matched to your exact MRI level — do these before you stand up. L5/S1 lumbar spinal stenosis produces a specific morning pattern that generic morning stretches do not adequately address: outer hip aching, deep buttock tightness, posterior leg heaviness that starts before your feet even hit the floor. In this video, Dr. Alykhan Shariff, DC at Infinite Healing Chiropractic and Wellness Centre in Oshawa, Ontario explains why L5/S1 overnight accumulation is different from other lumbar levels, and demonstrates three morning stretches chosen specifically for the S1 nerve root, the piriformis, and the L5/S1 foramen. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN Why L5/S1 produces a specific morning pain pattern that other lumbar levels do not Why the piriformis tightens overnight and why it must be released before you stand How to perform the Bed Edge Figure-Four before taking your first step of the day How to modify Cat-Cow with a 3-second hold to specifically open the L5/S1 foramen How the Single Knee-to-Chest with Hip Drop crossover targets your exact level asymmetrically THE THREE STRETCHES IN THIS VIDEO Stretch 1: Bed Edge Figure-Four before you stand. Releases piriformis tightening before body weight is applied and before walking begins to compress the already-sensitized S1 nerve root. Timing is the key clinical distinction here. Stretch 2: Cat-Cow with a 3-second hold in the cat phase. The standard flowing version gives the L5/S1 foramen about one second of opening per repetition. Holding the cat phase for three seconds gives the joint a sustained decompression window that drives inflammatory clearance at the level that has accumulated the most overnight. Stretch 3: Single Knee-to-Chest with Hip Drop crossover. Drawing the knee toward the opposite shoulder rotates the pelvis and specifically opens the L5/S1 foramen on the side being stretched. This is the most level-specific stretch in the protocol and the one most often missing from generic lumbar stenosis programs. WHO THIS VIDEO IS FOR This video is for anyone whose MRI identifies L5/S1 as the affected level, particularly if you experience outer hip aching, deep buttock pain, posterior leg heaviness, calf burning, or heel numbness that is at its worst first thing in the morning . ABOUT DR. ALYKHAN SHARIFF, DC Dr. Alykhan Shariff, DC is the founder of Infinite Healing Chiropractic and Wellness Centre in Oshawa, Ontario, serving patients throughout Durham Region including Oshawa, Whitby, Courtice, and Bowmanville. His clinical focus includes spinal stenosis, disc herniation, radiculopathy, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation across all age groups. Book your comprehensive L5/S1 assessment: Infinite Healing Chiropractic and Wellness Centre 245 King Street West, Oshawa, Ontario L1J 2J7 905-433-9520 [email protected] www.infinitehealingclinic.com STENOSIS BY LEVEL SERIES This is Video #2 (L2) the Stenosis by Level Series, where Dr. Shariff takes each spinal level identified on your MRI and provides the stretch protocol most clinically relevant to that exact level. L1: The Number One Stretch for L5/S1 Stenosis:    • L5/S1 Stenosis: The Only Stretch That Actu...   Complete Spinal Stenosis Series:    • All About Spinal Stenosis   Next Video: Top 3 Evening Stretches for L5/S1 (link coming soon) CHAPTERS 0:00 L5/S1 Mornings Are a Specific Kind of Painful 0:50 Introduction: Dr. Alykhan Shariff, DC and Infinite Healing Chiropractic 2:00 Why L5/S1 Overnight Accumulation Is Different 4:30 Stretch 1: Bed Edge Figure-Four Before You Stand 5:25 Stretch 2: Cat-Cow with 3-Second Hold 6:15 Stretch 3: Single Knee-to-Chest with Hip Drop 7:20 The Clinical Layer Underneath 8:15 Your L5/S1 Morning Protocol Starts Tomorrow Serving Oshawa, Whitby, Courtice, Bowmanville and all of Durham Region, Ontario. DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise or stretch program, particularly if you have a diagnosed spinal condition.