Mindfulness is basically the western term for meditation. The practice has moved from weird hippies only, to being used by CEOs and professional sport, and is now being studied fairly extensively. This blog will focus on the relevance of mindfulness to chronic low back pain. Outlining the benefits and how to start a mindfulness practice.
Psychological stress can directly influence the musculoskeletal, endocrine, immune and nervous systems through the limbic system modifying chronic pain (Macphail 2014). Psychosocial risk factors for low back pain (LBP) chronicity are well known to lead to worse...
1. Introduction
Low back pain (LBP) is usually defined as pain localised below the costal margin (ribs) and above the inferior gluteal folds (buttock crease). It is the leading cause of disability worldwide and is becoming increasingly prevalent (Harkness et al. 2005, Hoy et al. 2012, Vos et al. 2012). Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is variously defined as lasting longer than 7-12 weeks, to 3 months (Anderrson 1999, Frymoyer 1988). LBP is typically classified as “specific” or “non-specific”. Specific LBP refers to symptoms caused by specific pathophysiologic causes, such as hernia nucleus, infection,...
Left foot and right arm support. The right leg and left arm can support or move in to a stepping forward pattern.
This position is the tripod is a variation of a static lunge taught as part of the Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilisation programme according to Pavel Kolar, and correlates to the 8-9 month developmental age. The right arm and left foot are supporting and the left arm and right leg are stepping forward. The clinician can support the left knee and foot centration, trunk centration and uprighting of the spine. The most common...
There remains controversy over whether the vastus medialis can be divided in to vastus medialis longus and vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) (Smith et al 2008). Nonetheless in rehabilitation we frequently attempt to bias our strengthening exercises towards the medial portion of the quadriceps over the lateral, with mixed success.
Research in to exercises for the vastus medialis has in general been disappointing. For example, Kushion et al (2012) found that altering the foot position from neutral to external rotation had no effect on vastus lateralis to vastus medialis ratio in straight leg raise...
Modic changes are edema in the vertebral body, which can only be detected on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and are closely associated with low back pain. There is growing evidence their formation may be related to bacterial infection. According to this herniated disc treatment services, herniated discs may be susceptible to bacterial infection and these infections may cause Modic changes. In patients with Modic changes antibiotic treatment appears to reduce symptom severity, although alternative methods of bulging disc treatment could be considered.
In alternative medicine fungal infections...