In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT Faculty Member Terry Pratt, MS, PT, COMT, FAAOMPT discusses some common clamshell exercise errors and how to help your patient adjust them.

3 Common Clamshell Exercise Errors
Topics: Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine courses, manual therapy, terry pratt, Manual Therapy Videos, videos, treating lumbar spine
Examination of the Pelvic Girdle: The “Load Transfer” Test
Low back pain continues to be one of the most difficult maladies of the musculoskeletal system in the modern world. The scientific literature tells us LBP is a heterogeneous entity best treated by recognizing the characteristics of this group as subsets. One of these subsets are people who have pain specifically located at or close to the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS). This location is also known as “pelvic girdle pain” or “sacroiliac joint pain.”
Topics: Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine courses, manual therapy, treating lumbar spine
Muscle Testing Three Ways
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 Bill Temes demonstrates a prone torsion test, as part of the Level I Scanning Examination for the lumbar spine.
Topics: Courses, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, Manual Therapy, manual therapy and pregnancy, peripheral manipulation, Spinal manipulation, Endorsement, endorsement in washington, Faculty
PTs may learn and go through the motions of a lumbar slump test. But do we understand why? In the video below, NAIOMT Faculty member Stacy Soappman its significance and how it can help you as you decide which steps to take next with your patient.
Topics: Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy, Manual Therapy, Uncategorized, lumbar slump test
Asymmetry of the Human Body: Does it Really Matter?
In a recent New York Times article, “Short-Track Speedskaters Are Lopsided,” the author notes and interviews several Olympic athletes that can tell they are “off” and out of “balance"--and they notice this more during regular activities of daily life than in their event. The article goes on to highlight these asymmetries are most commonly seen with speedskaters. According to the article, it is common to find that their thighs and glutes are typically larger on the right, while their lower-back muscles maybe more developed on the contralateral side. This finding is common with athletes that always train in one direction or play a sport, such as tennis, that requires unilateral domination.
Topics: Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, olympics, short track skating, asymmetry
In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Michael Lucido demonstrates a positional release technique of the quadratus lumborum (QL) that is taught in our Lumbopelvic Spine I and II courses (which can be taken in any order).
Topics: Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, Physical Therapy, Manual Therapy Videos, positional release technique
In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT's Stacy Soappman demonstrates H and I testing of the lumbar spine. Apologies for the vertical view! :) And for more manual therapy guidance, join us for one of these upcoming Lumbopelvic Spine II courses (I and II can be taken in any order):
Topics: Courses, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, NAIOMT, Manual Therapy Videos, h and I testing
In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT Senior Faculty Member Bill Temes demonstrates a compression overload test for the lumbopelvic spine.
Topics: Courses, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy courses, clinical skills, compression overload test
How can you determine if a patient has a leg length discrepancy or neuromuscular imbalance following a hip replacement? In the manual therapy video below, NAIOMT faculty member Stacy Soappman demonstrates one way.
Topics: lumbar spine, Lumbopelvic Spine, lumbopelvic spine, manual therapy videos, Manual Therapy Videos, Uncategorized