By Linda M. Gilbertson
Hollywood has a tendency to glorify pistol carry methods. Many actors and actresses use guns in movies and don’t realize or care that the carry methods they promote may be risky. Small of the back carry may be particularly “sexy”, but if you choose to carry this in this location, please do your own research before spending the money on a holster and finding out that it may not be for you.
The holster industry has picked up on this popularity and made this style available to the public. In promoting the curve of the lower back to be ideal for the carrying of a firearm, it is considered one of the “coolest places” to concealed carry How many times do you see the firearm “whipped” out from behind the actor or actress followed by a smooth and accurate shot? In the prior scene, you didn’t see the pistol on the character’s back, but sure enough, there it was when needed. It was then returned to that location after the “bad guy” had been dealt with but is absent in the next shot of the “good guy or gal” walking away.
When I was 14, I fell off the back of a motorcycle. I hit my tailbone and permanently rotated my pelvis. I say permanently because nothing was done about it at the time, it was allowed to “cement” in place, and I will continue to receive therapy (adjustments) for the rest of my life. The pelvis rotation misaligned the vertebrae between 1L and 5L (L = Lumbar Spine). Between age 14 and age 22, there was slight irritation but when I went through a police academy, the damage became known to me. The constant running required at the academy and its continuation while with the department, along with carrying equipment on my hips, left me in a slight state of paralysis of the lower extremities. I had suffered a serious subluxation at the age of 14 and didn’t know it or even know that it needed immediate correction. Who really knew about “subluxation” in the mid-1960s?
A spinal subluxation is a misalignment of the vertebrae on the spine. The small of the back is a very fragile location where a slight bump or a hard fall could render you seriously injured or paralyzed. Initially, carrying a handgun in the small of the back may not create discomfort, but continued pressure applied by sitting against the pistol, or falling on your back may cause a subluxation, irritating the vertebrae. If left uncorrected it can change the body’s response to stimulus, or the lack of it.
I realize that besides my own experience, a subluxation can also occur with simple activities such as carrying a heavy backpack, wearing poorly fitting shoes, changing a tire, martial arts, or any competitive sport where twisting, turning of the spine occurs. According to Dr. W. Keith Horne, D.C., a Chiropractic Physician and a Palmer Graduate who has been practicing for 35 years, “Studies have been conducted on the effects of children’s heavy backpacks on their skeletal system. There is a correlation between balance changes, pressure applied at certain points and the body’s reaction to the pressure.” This could also apply to firefighters, construction workers, and Police Officers who carry all of their equipment on the waist.
If this misalignment of the spine is not corrected, compression of the nerve root will occur. The nerve root sends messages throughout the body. It controls and coordinates all organs and skeletal functions. If you’ve ever experienced tingling of the legs, backaches, or bowel or digestive disorders, you may have a spinal subluxation. As an example, the area between 1L and 5L (small of the back) controls the ileocecal valve (the valve at the opening of the ileum into the large intestine), large intestines, appendix, abdomen, upper leg, sex organs, uterus, bladder, knees, prostate gland, lower back, sciatic nerve, lower legs, ankles, and feet. If the nerves supplying these areas are pinched, you’ll experience a malfunction of these organs and issues with movement of your lower extremities.
Between 4L and 3L in the following photo, you will see a swollen disc. Pressure was applied in this area either because of a traumatic incident, or a continued application of pressure over time. The swelling is the tissue between the discs which assist in the movement of the vertebrae. The disc may heal if the subluxation that created the swelling is corrected. This would require readjusting the vertebrae to its’ correct position within the spine and exercises to strengthen the muscles to hold it in place. If not corrected through adjustments of the vertebrae, a surgical procedure may be necessary.
It is my opinion that if you choose to carry on the small of the back, the constant pressure on the lumbar spine may not readily appear to be a problem, but may contribute later to back issues. The ache may at first appear to be a “breaking in period” with a new holster and you’ll ignore the discomfort. Over time, however, the pressure exerted on the lumbar spine will push the skeletal structure, compress nerves and create discomfort. If you fail to pay attention to the warning signs your body is sending, permanent difficulties may manifest.
I am acutely aware of my body and I know when I need an adjustment. When I experience lower back discomfort or I have the sensation that my walking is awkward, I know that my right leg is shorter than my left leg and my pelvis has rotated. This has a ripple effect, as I also experience digestive issues and sometimes a headache. Imagine the ripple of a wave and this explains the ripple effect a subluxation has on multiple parts of the body. If left untreated my mobility is affected, my health is compromised, and no amount of chocolate or wine will treat my headache or my irritability. All forms of pistol carry have a certain amount of discomfort associated with them, particularly for women who have a waist, hips, and a bustline that interfere with most carry methods. Finding what works for you is an investigation into comfort first, not popularity. What may be “cool” in the movies may not be “cool” for you. Consider the risk before you consider the method. Small of the back carry whether concealed or open, may be what’s popular, but not necessarily a safe or practical solution for you.
This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V25N5 (May 2021)
