Low Back Pain     Paul Townley, Physiotherapist, Shows Some Techniques for Treating Back Pain     There are a number of muscles that may be implicated in low back pain: Deep spinal muscles (small) - multifidus Lumbar erector spinae Gluteus medius Hamstrings Rectus abdominis Quadratus lumborum Iliopsoas  Added to this hardware is the software that the brain uses to coordinate and sequence movement. The above-mentioned structures feed information to the brain in a constant stream, providing orientation (proprioception) as well as force and direction (velocity).  The brain then responds by organizing movement sequences in functional units. These functional units...

The Slump Test is Performed in a Series of Steps   Paul Townley (PT) Describes the Slump Test and Nerve Flossing     The Slump Test:   The Slump Test can be described as a test used to detect altered neurodynamic sensitization of neural tissue. It can be a helpful adjunct in testing neural dynamics because emphasis can be placed at different points along the full length of the neural continuum from the top-most part of the spinal cord down to the toes.   To carry out the test, the patient is seated with hands behind back to aid in...

Pain was once considered chronic if it lasted for more than three months and exceeded the body’s natural healing process.  There has recently been significant discussion about the histological time frame of chronicity, because cells that were thought to be involved in chronic inflammation have now been found much earlier (Watson, 2015).    Chronic pain in the low back may initially result from physical structures such as: Disc problems Joint problems Irritation of the nerve root But is then maintained (and on occasion made worse) by how the brain processes things.   This does not mean it is all in a...