One cause of a pathologic disc (e.g., bulge, herniation) is excessive flexion postures, which drive the nucleus posteriorly against the taut annular fibers.
What is a pathologic intervertebral disc?
This article addresses the causes of the three different types of pathologic disc conditions: degenerated disc, bulging disc, and herniated disc.
What are the self-care and medical approaches to patellofemoral syndrome?
Perhaps the one most important aspect of self-care for patellofemoral syndrome (PFS) is to strengthen the quadriceps femoris musculature.
FREE DCOMT video – Communicating with the Client When We are Stretching Them
For manual therapy care to be successful, client communication is extremely important. This video explores who to effectively communicate with the client.
How do we treat patellofemoral syndrome with manual therapy?
Given the many possible causes of patellofemoral syndrome, following is a typical guideline for manual therapy treatment.
Signs, symptoms, and assessment (diagnosis) of patellofemoral syndrome
Patellofemoral syndrome can be easily assessed/diagnosed by employing the orthopedic assessment test known as patellofemoral syndrome test.
What is patellofemoral syndrome and what are its causes?
Essentially, patellofemoral syndrome is osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint. It involves cartilage degeneration and the development of bone spurs.
What are the self-care and medical approaches to tight spasmed neck muscles?
Self-care application of heat and stretching is an extremely important part of the treatment regimen for clients with spasmed neck muscles.
FREE DCOMT video – Child’s Pose with Lumbar Flexion Joint Mobilization
Have the client go into yoga’s child’s pose (or restorative pose) after having been lying prone for a period of time. Joint mobilization can be added.
How do we treat spasmed neck muscles with manual therapy?
Manual therapy treatment: Manual therapy treatment for spasmed muscles of the neck (tightness of neck musculature) includes all the major soft tissue technique tools. Heat hydrotherapy, soft tissue manipulation, stretching, and joint mobilization (also known as arthrofascial stretching/AFS). It is …
Signs, symptoms, and assessment (diagnosis) of spasmed muscles in the neck
The most common signs and symptoms of spasmed muscles of the posterior neck are pain, a feeling of tightness, and restricted motion.
What are the causes of muscle spasming in the neck?
Muscle spasming of the neck occurs because of its role in neck movement and posture, as well as it role in upper extremity movement and posture.
Self-care and medical approaches to tight spasmed muscles in the low back
Self-care for the client/patient with low back muscle spasm should include moist heat followed by stretching. Double knee to chest stretch is beneficial.
FREE DCOMT video – Apley’s Compression Test for the Knee Joint
This video demonstrates Apley’s compression test for the knee joint, which assesses/diagnoses meniscus pathology.Â
What are the causes of low back muscle spasming?
Low back muscle spasming is common because lumbar extensor muscles must contract eccentrically, isometrically, and concentrically whenever we bend forward.
How do we treat spasmed low back muscles with manual therapy?
Manual therapy treatment for low back muscle tightness involves hot and cold hydrotherapy, soft tissue manipulation, stretching, and joint mobilization.
Signs, symptoms, and assessment of spasmed muscles in the low back
The assessment/diagnosis for low back muscle spasming begins with the verbal history and ROM and orthopedic assessment, and is confirmed with palpation.
What are the self-care and medical approaches to meralgia paresthetica?
Self-care for meralgia paresthetica: heat and stretching of the involved muscles, and removing the physical stress factors that contribute to the condition.
How do we treat meralgia paresthetica with manual therapy?
Manual therapy treatment for meralgia paresthetica involves massage and client counseling to remove physical stressors that contribute to the condition.
FREE DCOMT video – Piriformis Becomes a Medial Rotator of the Thigh
This 3D Animation demonstrates how the piriformis changes its joint action from being a lateral rotator of hip joint to being a medial rotator.Â
Signs, symptoms, and assessment (diagnosis) of meralgia paresthetica
Meralgia paresthetica is primarily assessed by its clinical presentation of the client/patient reporting pain or other paresthesia in the lateral thigh.
What is meralgia paresthetica and what are its causes?
Meralgia paresthetica is a condition in which the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve is compressed, causing pain or altered sensation into the lateral thigh.
A manual therapy case study on lower crossed syndrome.
Case Study: Kori is a 30-year-old store clerk. Her low back has been tight for as long as she can remember, but she never had any pain until recently.
What are the self-care and medical approaches to lower crossed syndrome?
For the client with lower crossed syndrome, it is also important to recommend moist heat followed by stretching of the low back and hip flexor musculature.
How do we treat lower crossed syndrome with manual therapy?
If consistent manual therapy care is given, including heat, massage, and stretching, lower crossed syndrome responds very well to treatment.
Signs, symptoms, and assessment (diagnosis) of Lower Crossed Syndrome
Assessment of lower crossed syndrome is made by the characteristic postural dysfunction of increased anterior pelvic tilt with hyperlordotic lumbar spine.
What is lower crossed syndrome and what are its causes?
Vladimir Janda’s lower crossed syndrome is characterized by increased anterior tilt of the pelvis and a hyperlordotic lumbar spine.
What are the self-care and medical approaches to low back strains and sprains?
Self care for a low back strain / sprain involves avoiding offending postures and activities such as bending and lifting, and using heat and stretching.
How do we treat low back strains and sprains with manual therapy?
For a low back strain / sprain, because the muscles of the low back are so large and powerful, the first goal of manual therapy is to reduce the spasming.
Signs, symptoms, and assessment of low back strains and sprains
A low back sprain and strain present a similar clinical picture. The client/patient will have low back spasming and pain, which will increase with motion.
