Myofascial Release and Combined Movement



Myofascial Release and Combined Movement

Introduction

Manual therapy is the foundation of modern physiotherapy techniques. The physiotherapist profession may only be a hundred years old, but the techniques have been around for thousands of years (Southorn, 2010, p. 5). Researches show that many suffering patients arrive at their first physical therapy appointment without much prior knowledge. They expect to receive things like ultrasounds, hot packs and instructions on how to complete a number of ridiculous exercises. They believe they will get a hand book full of pictures and steps on how to properly complete an exercise.

These modalities warrant in many of the instances and most therapists would agree that exercise assists to help restore muscle imbalances. Exercise strengthens muscles and regular stimulation is beneficial for every muscle. Thanks to advances in technology, researchers have developed numerous other methods of therapy. They include the likes of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Hydrotherapy. Some are firm believers of traditional medicine like acupuncture and herbal pills. Forms of treatment should only be chosen after proper consultation with a professional. Though therapy has come under scrutiny my media and society, it still remains extremely effective in helping patients recover from injury, stress or natural pain in the body. It stimulates the flow of blood, eases muscles and relaxes the individual.

This paper aims to provide a detailed analysis of manual therapy techniques for the treatment of spinal conditions, the outcomes, associated risks and the legal ethical issues involved. Spinal conditions will be defined meticulously followed by critical assessments using the Mackenzie Assessment Technique.

Pathology for Spinal Conditions - Lumbar Disc Prolapse Pain

Most disc herniation take place toward the bottom of the spine. It usually occurs at lumbar segments 4 and 5. It can also be observed at lumbar segment 5 and sacral segment 1. Acute lower back pain tends to radiate to the hips and buttocks. It may be present for a prolonged period. In lumbar disc prolapse pain or herniated disc, the weak spot in the external surface of the disc is directly under the spinal nerve root, so a herniation in this area puts blunt force on the nerves. This is what causes the sciatica (Boden, Davis, Dina, Patronas, & Wiesel, 1990).

Causes

It is not exactly clear why lumbar disc prolapse pain arises in people. Researchers agree that the main reason of the pain is the weakness in the outer part of the affected disc. Overzealous sneezing, awkward bending or heavy lifting puts extra pressure on the disc. Various other factors may increase pain, such as; prolonged sitting, weight bearing sports, smoking, obesity and old age. Lumbar disc prolapse is most often noted in the elderly. The disorder is most frequently seen in people who are over the age of forty. They are naturally weaker and sometimes the slightest of heavy lifting is enough to herniate a disc (Postacchini, 1999).

Each disc is surrounded with soft area called nucleus pulposus and hard outer ring known as annulus ...