Contralateral Knee Extension - a New Advance in Slump Test

This week we discuss new information about the normal response of painfree subjects during the slump test. Shacklock and his team (2016) have been studying the impact on contralateral knee extension and the resulting movement of the lumbar neural tissues during the slump test. Insightful and enlightening results!

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The bigger the bulge the better

Disc bulges are often associated with negative thoughts about prognosis and recovery and it can be challenging to educate our patients about their ability to recover. A systematic review was published in 2014 that shows how extrusions and sequestrations have a higher probability of spontaneous regressions. The bigger the bulge the better.

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Flexion relaxation response & low back pain

The flexion relaxation response is a phenomenon where the lumbar erector spinae muscles become silent at the end of lumbar flexion, and is an important part of being able to achieve full range. This blog explores the FRR and offers simple and easy treatment strategies for patients with low back pain. 

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Seronegative spondyloarthropathies & inflammatory low back pain - Part 2

Part 2 reviews the definition and diagnosis of seronegative spondyloarthropathies and inflammatory low back pain. It then continues to explore aspects of assessment, treatment and medical imaging more deeply. What drug therapies are involved? What is the gold standard for medical imaging? How should we adjust our treatments for this spectrum of low back pain disorders? All are valid questions to consider. 

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A targeted Pilates program for low back pain

During my recent trip to Melbourne I had the pleasure of observing Dr Lynn Bardin in the SPINE Pilates class. I thought it was a great time to reflect on what I have learnt this year about the Pilates method, discuss a few ways that my thinking and teaching has changed, and discuss how Lynn Bardin tailors a Pilates program to be specific and effective for the management of low back pain.  

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Reducible discogenic low back pain

A previous blog has explored the initial assessment of acute lower back pain presenting with radicular leg pain. This is a sequel post which explores the management pathway from day 1-3 on a patient with discogenic low back pain with radicular leg pain. It specifically focuses on when I chose to retrain lumbar flexion range of movement and the steps taken. 

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