Case Studies

02-February-2010

Mr H came to me some months ago with a list of problems.  He is very active playing many sports as well as running his own Watersports Company. The worst of the pain was in his lower back. I started my investigation by checking his spine. This was tight in the lumber area, getting slightly better the further up the spine. Whilst watching Mr H doing his basic bending positions it was evident that the whole of the lower back was tight. Also tight were the hamstrings.

I started work on the muscles in the lower back; these were thick and tight and were full of contracture. I worked on these and then began to go up the back following the spine. I carried out a lumber role to begin with; this was very slow as Mr H’s body did not want to role. I carried out this procedure 2 more times and then things began to relax. An L5 role was carried out next, again slow work but with patience achievable.

Mr H returned for his 2^nd visit 1 week later, his lower back had been tender for a couple of days after the treatment but that had passed. The pain had been reduced by 65 – 70%. I carried out a repeat of the first treatment. The lumber and L5 role were a lot easier this time. At this point I showed Mr H some stretches for him to do at home for himself.

Mr H returned for a 3^rd visit the next week, again slightly tender for a day after the treatment, but once gone the back pain was 95% gone. Again worked on the muscle in the lumber area followed by the rotations. The following visit the back pain was 100% gone! Now for the right Knee..........

Mr H’s hamstrings were very tight; the calf muscle also had contracture. The right knee gives pain after Mr H has been sailing for 1 – 2 hours. The sailing position is crouched down so not a good position to be in for hours. I worked on the calf and hamstring; both had contracture and were very painful. I carried out a hamstring stretch and PNF on both legs. The leg angle was only around 70 degrees.

Mr H returned the next week, the knee pain had gone for about 3-4 days, and then returned. I carried out calf and hamstring muscle stripping. This time I also worked into the IT band which felt tight. Once again stretching the hamstring and IT band, there was a slight improvement in the angle of the hamstring stretch. A L5 lumber role was also carried out to make sure the lower back was still free.

When Mr H returned one week later things had not changed, the pain had gone for 3-4 days but then returned. Time for a re think! I checked for tight quad muscles but did not find anything; I checked hip rotation and again no real problem, carried out a Piriformis check but again not a bad result. I then checked the Psoas muscle, the left leg was a lot looser, Mr H’s foot was only 1 inch from the floor were as the right leg was 2-3 inches from the floor.

I carried out a PNF Psoas muscle stretch on the right leg 3 times. Then a hamstring stretch again and as before a L5 lumber role. Mr H returned the next week he had been sailing and was still not in any pain!!  The problem had been a tight Psoas muscle all the time.

As Andy would say you need to keep looking and you will find the reason behind the pain.