For those of you that were interested and unable to attend our Healthy Back Workshop, please enjoy the notes and video that were provided to our guests.
Non Specific Low Back Pain:
What Is It?
- Occurs in 70-80% of population over lifetime
- Often no relevant structural damage
- Perceived threat instead of a structural injury to IV disc, facet joint, etc.
- Vertebrae do not slide “out of place” or hips don’t “shift” “non-specific”, thus no specific diagnosis or structure
- How to Determine If YOU Have It?
- No traumatic injury (accident, fall, etc.)
- No neurological symptoms (weakness, numbness, other abnormal sensation or motor function)
- Pain is not constant, no night pain
- Other factors: activity level, type, etc.
What Causes It?
- Kinesiophobia (“fear” of movement)
- Poor activity/movement patterns and posture
- Psychological prejudices
What Can You Do About It?
- See a professional for DIRECTIONAL PREFERENCE (direction of motion to reduce symptoms)
- STAY ACTIVE AND MOBILE in directional preference
- MEDICATIONS YIELD POOR RESULTS (exceptions happen!)
Exercises:
- DP to extension
- Arching the back
- DP to flexion
- Fingertips to toes
- DP to sidebend (either side)
- Lateral overhead reach
- DP to rotation (either side)
- Rotational movements
Scoliosis
What Is It?
- Three dimensional functional or structural deformity of the spine involving lateral and forward/backward flexion AND rotation
- S or C curve
- Most often aesthetic rather than a functional problem (there are exceptions!!)
What Causes It?
Most often idiopathic (no known cause) but sometimes secondary to neurological disease
What Can You Do About It?
- Again, STAY ACTIVE
- Scoliosis is often pain-free
- Corrective Exercise as a HEP
- Core Musculature Strengthening
- Follow parameters of NSLBP to some extent (activity level/quality, posture, etc.)
