One of the major problems in rehabilitation is a method of repeatedly testing and classifying patients so as to correctly direct treatment and reassess. A recent push for outcome measures pre and post treatment has been made in most rehabilitative areas however until there is both widespread adoption and widespread data indicating that these measures [...]
Non-specific low back pain is one of the most common ailments sending people to physiotherapy or chiropractic care. Given the numerous different mechanical, physiological and neurological reasons for back pain, many times, imaging and tests are inconclusive as to the origin of the back pain. The unfortunate patient is then lumped into NSLBP and given [...]
Almost everyone will get some lumbar pain over the years. Between its poor design, improper usage and our often poor posture- lumbar pain effects 88-97% of people at some point. Is exercise, manual therapy, acupuncture or another therapeutic modality the way to go when it comes to controlling pain and restoring function? Attempting to determine [...]
Van der Ploeg et al 2012 published the latest volume of some well-known research- moving is good for you. Following 22 497 Australians for 14 years, the researchers found a correlation between hours spent sitting and all-causes mortality. Those who sat 4-8hrs/day had 1.02% increase, 8-11hrs/day 1.15% and more than 11hrs/day 1.40%. Clearly people, who [...]
A new trend is appearing in physiotherapy clinics- those vibrating platforms. Having saturated the fitness industry, the corporate leaders seem to be taking aim at the rehabilitation industry as their next major client. I patiently listened to the sales man as he explained how WBV could reduce Low Back Pain. That’s when my brain stopped. [...]
In many cases of low back pain a ‘sciatic’ or ‘radiculopathy’ is present. This is generally described as pins and needles, tingling, numbness, ants, electricity or shooting pain down the leg (or around the hip). Centralization is the idea that the pain moves up toward the lower back (sight of the initial injury) as it [...]
The McKenzie approach is a popular treatment among physiotherapists for the treatment of actue and chronic low back pain. It is based on a series of exercises designed to gradually increase back extension tolerance, muscular strength, endurance and postural mechanics. It is used frequently in the treatment of non-specific low back pain, particularly in the [...]
In our short series on the benefits of yoga, we suggested the the benefits of yoga (mainly as it pertains to low back pain) may relate more to the reduction of stress and good feelings that arise from regular practice. However, an interesting study published in Evidence Based & Complementary Alternative Medicine documents some of the acute physiological [...]