Updated 01/31/2024 Introduction Back pain contributes significantly to disability and frequently leads people to seek out massage therapy. Often, back pain is diagnosed as “non-specific” due to the absence of identifiable tissue pathology. However, noted back pain researcher Stuart McGill, PhD, has often advocated that one of the main reasons there are so many diagnoses […]
Tag Archives | disc herniation
Exploring Upper Limb Neurodynamics
Nerve compression is a recognized cause of soft-tissue pain and disability for many. Nerve compression syndromes, and especially upper extremity nerve disorders, came to the forefront in the last few decades as a result of increasing injuries among those whose occupations require repetitive activities. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most well-known of the upper […]
Recognizing Cauda Equina Syndrome
More people than ever before are using massage for a wide variety of ailments, especially back pain. Low back pain is one of the most challenging medical conditions as it is still very difficult to make a direct cause between many low back pain complaints and specific tissue pathology. Massage can be of great benefit […]
Head Posture and Myofascial Pain
Sun A, Yeo HG, Kim TU, Hyun JK, Kim JY. Radiologic assessment of forward head posture and its relation to myofascial pain syndrome. Ann Rehabil Med. 2014;38(6):821-826. This study attempts to evaluate computer terminal related forward head posture. Forward head posture exaggerates an anterior curve in the lower cervical region and posterior curve in the […]
The Slump Test
Identifying the location of nerve entrapment can be very challenging. Even high tech diagnostic tests such as nerve conduction studies are not always reliable in determining the primary location of nerve pathology. Yet, physical examination can be very helpful for locating potential regions of nerve pathology. One of the more effective physical examination methods for […]
The Myth of the Blown-Out Disc
We’ve probably all had heard someone say before that they “blew out a disc.” In most cases there is some prior acute injury that led to the symptoms or the determination of disc involvement. This phrase leads to an interesting, but somewhat inaccurate, perception about disc protrusions and the role they play in pain and […]