Sarah explains how to recognise – and treat – each of five distinct spinal syndromes in this linear sequence of breakdown: a stiff spinal segment where a spinal segment is less mobile and palpably sore; facet joint arthropathy where stiffening and thinning of the disc alters the forces through the facet joints at the same level; acute locked back where reduced disc pressure and muscle imbalance can allow a crisis locking of a facet joint; disc prolapse where reduced proteoglycans concentration of the nucleus coupled with annular break-up causes local biomechanical and biochemical effects; segmental instability where loss of nuclear cohesion and facet breakdown weaken the intrinsic stability of a segment.
Sarah postulates that a cascade of degenerative change may progress from a benign and easily-reversed ‘disc stiffness’ to pathological breakdown of the entire motion segment. As each progressive syndrome acquires greater complexity it becomes harder to reverse. But since most spinal conditions (up to 90%) fall into the category of ‘non-specific LBP’ Sarah proposes that ideal treatment has every opportunity to arrest the development of incurable spinal disorders while still in this early and reversible stage.
10min – Introduction + Anatomy and Biomechanics of Lumbar Spine
10min – Physiology of IVDs
10min – Pathophysiology of NSLBP
5min – Hands-on Spinal Mobilisation
10min – The Importance of Spinal Decompression
5min – Conclusion
10min – Q&A