Lumbar Stabilization: Improving Hip & Thoracic Mobility
In my last two blogs, I suggested principles of Optimal Movement we could be teaching our patients: • Fascio-Skeletal Weight Bearing
• Appropriate Distribution of Movement
• Proportional Use of Synergists
• Minimization of Unnecessary Effort
I would now like get more specific by talking about the 800 pound gorilla of physical therapy; low back pain. According to that font of all medical wisdom, the internet, low back pain is the third most common reason for a doctor visit in the US. Coming out of PT school in 1983, lumbar stabilization wasn’t even on the radar screen. We stretched the back into flexion (William’s), extension (McKenzie’s), side-bending and rotation, then strengthened the back and belly muscles. The back hurt because it was stiff and weak; it would feel better if it were flexible and strong. A brief perusal of back pain books on Amazon will show that old ideas...