Lower Back?

[Robert V]

My best friend told me her chiropractor adviced her not to do any type of backbending. She has no disc problems.

I think her back is just weak. I can't think of anything else that would make a chiroprator advice not to move your spine in all degrees of motion.

Can you?

[Scott Sonnon]

Speculation would be dangerous. The chiro is accountable for his recommendation. It would be best for her to ask why.

[bob_stra]

My best friend told me her chiropractor adviced her not to do any type of backbending. She has no disc problems.

I think her back is just weak. I can't think of anything else that would make a chiroprator advice not to move your spine in all degrees of motion.

Can you?

Why yes, I can ;-)

Type II facet joint locking.
Sclerosis (ie: tissue hardening). Debatable
Recent spinal trauma
Stenosis - also debatable.
Spinal canal encroachment of some kind.
"Spinal hygiene" measure - perhaps spine is too curved in some area and the DC is trying to prevent further curve development by restricting the kind of action that would increase curve.

Still, to 100% rule out backbending sound hoakey to me. There's more than 1 way to skin a cat and certainly there's more than one way to bend backwards. Also beware that some DC's are .... well.... "insane" is a nice way of putting it ;-)

Get your friend to ask her DC why. I'm sure s/he probably has a good reason.

[rbibbs]

Robert, I've referred neck problems to chiropractors (1976-1996), and been told "never raise my elbows above shoulder-level". At the time, I was rigid and moving improperly. The chiropractor's job was to treat my symptoms, and caution against anything which, in the patient's present condition, could make them worse.

In your friend's case, even if there aren't any active pathologies, habitually-improper core motion can cause spinal tension and discomfort, and more improper core motion would be more likely to exacerbate than to improve the condition.

If the patient has doubts about the adequacy of a treatment plan, they may well consider seeking a second opinion, possibly from a PT, whose specialty is correcting kinetic dysfunction.

Rick