![]() Remember, the annular fibers are all working with forward bending position and in a seated position. The chart is based on the percentage increase or decrease from a standing position (darkened column with 100).Ĭhart columns in order: lying on back, lying on side, standing, forward bending, forward bending with lifting a weight, sitting, sitting with slouched posture, sitting with lifting a weight.ĭo you see it? Lifting and forward bending and lifting in a seated position increased the disc pressure by over 100%! The chart below is from Nachemson’s research. What position do you think has the lease amount of pressure on the disc?.Subsequent research has found his original pressure study to be consistent with data today. ![]() He measured various positions from lying on your back to sitting in a chair to bending over. But, what happens when we lift and then add rotation with some sort of load? Your back goes into panic mode!Īlf Nachemson, MD, PhD published a well-known study on the pressure inside the lumbar (low back) intervertebral discs. We don’t hang out at end-range rotation or repeat these functional movements several times in a row. We use rotation to look behind us or reach around and grab something. Functionally, this is usually not a big deal. This combo puts the disc in a vulnerable state. Only 50%! Additionally, the facets are moving in a manner and cause shear and compression (a really big squish) to the disc. However, when you rotate, only 50% of the fibers in the annular ring are resisting the rotation. With forward bending, backward bending and side bending, all of the fibers in the annular ring are able to resist the motion. It puts our lumbar (low back discs) in a super vulnerable position! What is so dangerous about the lift and twist? However, increased stability equals decreased mobility. This criss-cross pattern allows for a very stable annular ring. Criss-cross your right fingers on top your left fingers. This ring is made of several layers and each layer has fibers running in opposite diagonal patterns. The annulus is a fibrous ring that encapsulates or “hugs” the nucleus. (If you have healthy discs, measure yourself in the morning and then at night. And, we are actually taller in the morning than at night. This flow is called diffusion (remember diffusion is the act of a substance moving from a place of high concentration to low concentration). lying on our side or back), our discs become “thirsty” and fluid begins to flow into the nucleus from the vertebral body. This makes us a little shorter at night (seriously). When weight is taken off our spine (i.e. Imbib, bib what? It’s pretty cool how this works.ĭuring the day, gravity and our body weight gently squeeze fluid out of the nucleus. The nucleus pulposus is a gel-like substance which allows for motion at the vertebral level. The nucleus loves water and gets its nutrition by imbibition. The intervertebral disc has two components: the annulus and the nucleus pulposus. They allow for movement at each level and attenuate or disperse force across the vertebral body and spine. They create and keep space between each body to allow a nerve to run through. These facets slide, glide, open and close on each other to allow for forward bending, backward bending, side bending and rotation. The facet joints guide movement in the spine. Our spine is comprised of facet joints, vertebral bodies and intervertebral discs. Here’s a little anatomy review to help make sense of this phrase. That’s a lot of lifting and twisting! But, no matter what the task or function, just remember: never lift and twist. ![]() Depending on the size of the driveway and depth of snow, it can take a LONG time to shovel a property. Most people shovel by scooping up the snow (lift) and turning to dump it onto the side (twist). And, it’s not because they are weak or out of shape. Shoveling? Really? Who hurts themselves shoveling snow? A lot of people. And, as a PT in Colorado, there is one winter task that commonly brings patients into the clinic. Other patients have had back pain from improper exercise form such as: chop lift, kettlebells and Cross Fit. A few years ago, two patients were helping move a large fermenter that did not “pivot” well and BOTH had acute low back pain, difficulty walking and fear of movement after that incident. When I ask them the cause of their pain, the answer usually entails some type of lift and twist. Over the years I have treated many patients experiencing significant and acute low back pain.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |