In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman explains why it's useful to have three different muscle testing approaches for the lumbar spine. Essentially, each has a different intent:

Shortened Position

For neurological conductivity, fatiguing versus consistent weakness.

Mid-range Position

Looking at the power position, and giving it a manual muscle test grade to document in chart to use an objective measure to show how they've improved and gained strength over the course of physical therapy.

Lengthened Position

To pick up minor tissue damage, if looking for grade one strain.

Topics: lumbar spine, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy videos, Manual Therapy Videos, Uncategorized

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT's Stacy Soappman demonstrates an anterior shear test of the lumbar Spine that can be helpful in assessing patients who may be experiencing pain with everyday activities such as carrying children or groceries.

Topics: anterior sheer test, lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy videos, Manual Therapy Videos, Uncategorized

What could be causing a patient's painful restriction in right extension quadrant? In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT's Stacy Soappman explores how to determine whether a patient is experiencing a mobility issue or a stability issue.

Topics: low back pain, lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy, Uncategorized

Topics: clinical skills, Courses, Faculty, lumbar spine, manual therapy, physical therapy, slump exam

Topics: gapping mobilization, lumbar spine, Manual Physical Therapy, Manual Therapy Videos

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman demonstrates one way to determine if a patient has a leg length discrepancy or neuromuscular imbalance following a hip replacement.

Topics: lumbar spine, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy videos, Manual Therapy Videos, Uncategorized

In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT Faculty Member Terry Pratt, PT, MS, COMT, FAAOMPT shows us techniques for stabilizing the lumbar spine segmentally.

Topics: lower extremity, lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy, Manual Therapy Videos, segmental stabilization technique

Today I'm heading to NYC to teach the Lumbar II module of our certification series. As always, I review content and today I was drawn to the review of the treatment based classification (TBC) system as summarized by Dr. Julie Fritz in the latest edition of Grieve’s Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. It is well established that treating patients through a classification system is superior (Riddel 1998/Cook 2006). In particular, I was drawn to the topic of clinical instability. There are many pitfalls in addressing “spinal/clinical” instability—the name itself is polarizing and draws therapists into different camps/belief systems and, at times, dogma.

Topics: lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy, Manual Therapy Videos, Uncategorized

Topics: back pain, lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy, manual therapy techniques, Manual Therapy Videos, NAIOMT

Topics: back pain, elderly, lumbar spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy, Manual Therapy Videos, physical therapy