Spine Rehab

Sports Med

Most athletes with back pain have some fluctuation of their symptoms in response to certain postures and activities

General rule of thumb Any movement that causes the back pain to

radiate or spread over a larger area should not be included during this early phase of treatment

Flexibility Exercises

Basically MMT’s without resistance Flexion Extension Lateral bending rotation

Strengthening Exercises Cervical

Use after athlete has full ROM Flexion

Press forehead against the palm of hand Extension

Lace fingers behind head, press head against hands

Lateral flexion Place palm on side of head and press head

into palm Rotation

Put one palm on side of forehead and the other at back of head. Push with each hand, attempting to rotate head

Lumbar Extension ExercisesMcKenzie Extension

Indications When back pain is diminished with lying down

and increased with sitting Forward bending is limited and increase the pain

Lumbar Extension ExercisesMcKenzie Extension

Why use extension exercises? Reduction in the neural

tension Reduction of the lead on the

disk which decreases disk pressure

Increases in the strength of extensor muscles

Lumbar Extension ExercisesMcKenzie Extension Examples

Prone extension on elbows Prone extension on hands Alternate arm and leg extension (dead bug) Supine hip extension-butt lift or bridge

Double leg support Single leg support

Lumbar flexion exercisesWilliams Flexion

Indications Back pain is diminished with sitting and increased

with lying down or standing Forward bending eases the pain Abdominal tone and strength are poor

Lumbar flexion exercisesWilliams Flexion

Why use flexion exercises? Reduction in the articular stresses Opening of the intervertebral foramen

Lumbar flexion exercisesWilliams Flexion

Examples Single knee to chest Double knee to chest Posterior pelvic tilt Partial sit up Rotation partial sit up Pelvic tilt down (dog) Pelvic tilt, tail tuck (cat) Kneeling – dog tail wags Kneeling Alternate arm and leg (bird dog)

Core Stabilization Exercises

Quadriped Triped Biped (alternating) Thera ball

How could you make this a phase 1 exercise?

How could you make this a phase 3 exercise?