Let's talk first about some physiology and anatomy regarding low back pain. The spinal column is composed of about 30 bones, which are called vertebra, arising from the vertebra 31 sets of spinal nerves. The spinal nerves represented in this model of the spine in yellow. The spine is divided into five major regions. These include the cervical region, the thoracic region, the lumbar region, the sacrum, and the caustics. Most low back pain originates in the lumbar region.

This is because the lumbar region has some device strongest muscles in Bay provide a fulcrum or a lever to the body's trunk. Meanwhile, the thoracic area provides a support system for the body's ribcage. In the cervical area provides a support system for the neck. We can see here that there are seven cervical vertebra 12 thoracic vertebra, five lumbar vertebra, and in the sacrum and the causes the pelvis, which includes the sacrum in the ilium provide the stability for the bottom of the spine. Here we're looking down onto the front of the pelvis as though someone were sitting across from us and we were looking at their midsection. The main components of the pelvis include the two ilium at the top sacrum in the middle, the pubis surface at the bottom.

Now the two ilium at the top can be felt above the hips on the outside and the caustics can be felt just above the anus at the bottom of the spine. Here's a close up of the same room with the form and detailed the form and provide an escape for the nerves out through the sacred. Speaking of nerves, you can see in this diagram the spinal cord and the nerve roots coming off of the spinal cord and to the vertebra. The prevailing theory of low back pain is that these intervertebral discs become damaged and they may protrude for otherwise lose their cushion effect and that causes the vertebra to clamp down upon each other and irritate the nerve roots should the disc herniation worsen to dismay rupture? That's called a ruptured disc. In this next model disc herniation is represented by the red area herniation can theoretically be caused by dehydration injury or lack of good nutrition disc herniation it was is often diagnosed with either x ray CT scan or MRI.

The position will often determine whether the disc is herniated or ruptured by the position of the vertebra. spondylitis also may occur. This is an inflammation of vertebra in the lumbar region. And closing spondylitis is a form of arthritis. spinal stenosis may also occur This is a narrowing of the spinal canal, and it often occurs as a result of arthritis. fondling a thesis is when one of the very best slips out of position.

This is also referred to as a slip disc. When number of pain radiates down to the legs and feet. This is often considered ridiculous apathy which is an irritation of fingers. When the intervertebral discs become ruptured, or herniated, a physician may refer to this as degenerative disc disease. There are several Different types of low back surgery. The most popular surgeries are either disc fusion, this laminectomy or discectomy.

Spinal fusion connects two or more of the vertebrae together permanent, while laminectomy removes part of the actual vertebra bone, while a discectomy will remove part of the herniated disk. However, the research shows that many back surgeries fail. And a 2006 study found that low back surgery didn't make a difference after two years. Furthermore, a study published in 1994 found that 64% of those with no back pain, had bulging discs, and 28% had disc herniation. These are folks with no low back pain. These two studies and many others bring into question the entire hypothesis of conventional medicine regarding low back pain.

Consider this diagram. This diagram shows the vertebra stacked on top of each other. What's missing from this illustration, let's look at this next diagram, which is a cross section of the vertebra, and the facet joints where the nerves arise from. So what's missing in this illustration? Very muscles, ligaments and tendons that are holding these bones together. Did these illustrations represent what conventional doctors look at and consider when they think about low back pain?

Now let's look at the same cross section inclusive of the musculature that is surrounding the vertebra. Here we can see the so as major the obliques, the transverses, the sacral, spine analysis and other muscles that surround and support the vertebra and basically hold them into place. This next illustration shows the complexity of the musculature that not only holds the vertebra in place It also connects the pelvis, the sacrum and the entire Trump system together. This is a complex system of muscles, tendons, and ligaments that support the entire skeletal structure. Let's consider how muscles work. muscles can contract or relax.

Every muscle in the body is balanced by an opposing muscle, which contracts when the muscle relaxes and relaxes. When the muscle contracts. When a muscle contracts it pulls on the joint and when a muscle relaxes it releases stage by this opposing counterbalancing musculature system provides a leveling system throughout the body, allowing the body to be stressed in one area and relaxed in another. That creates muscle balance and allows the body to lift heavy objects and otherwise exert itself in miraculous ways. For the muscles Support the trunk are in balance, they provide stability. Let's look at what instability can cause.

Here we see four different forms of scoliosis. By all scoliosis is not caused by muscle imbalances. We can easily see how a lack of musculature support for the spine can change the curvature of the spine and its ability to support the spinal column and the nerve roots that arise from the spinal column. Because most of the body's muscles are interconnected in some form. Therefore, imbalances from muscle groups throughout the body can have direct or indirect effects upon the supporting muscles of the spinal column. These next two illustrations show the variety of muscle groups that not only support the trunk but the spinal column and the associated supporting muscles throughout the body.

These muscles illustrate the levering system of the lumbar region and how that interacts. With the pelvis and hip region muscles, the abdominal muscles provide a fulcrum for that Leverage System because they counterbalance and counteract those muscle groups that align the spine. It is for this reason that physical therapy for low back pain will often focus upon strengthening the abdominal muscles, which are also referred to as the core. This course however, will cover a much broader range of strategies and exercises that will help provide strength, support, flexibility, tone, balance and engagement. those muscles, ligaments and tendons that surround the spine, the vertebra, the pelvis, the sacrum, the hips and all of those other regions of the skeletal area and the all important spinal nerve and those roots that come off of the spinal nerve illustrating the potential for success This non surgical strategy, a 1987 study found that 98% of ruptured or herniated disc patients were successfully treated with tencel myofascial therapy, or TMS therapy.

While the strategies of this course do not duplicate TMS therapy, the objectives and many of the strategies accomplished similar results. These include, as we've discussed, increased muscle tone, flexibility, strength, and the ability to support the pelvis in the spinal column. This course contains a number of movements and strategies that provide this balance, flexibility, tone and support. Before we start, let's review some important do's and don'ts for this course. Remember to breathe deeply. Be careful not to overstretch.

Try to stay relaxed. Try not to push past any feelings of pain. Try to do the easy versions first and build up from there. Try not to move too fast or too hard. Try to increase the repetitions gradually. Try not to push the heart rate too much.

Do only what feels comfortable. Don't expect results overnight. Do the routine regularly. And don't give up and talk to your doctor if you feel any ongoing pain. The strategies and exercises discussed here are reviewed only. Therefore time must be taken with each exercise to do them carefully and over a period of time that will allow each exercise to produce its effect.

Now, let's get started.