Flexion-Intolerant Low Back Pain

How it works

Preparation

Risks & contraindications

Where it comes from

Highlighted claims

• Flexion-intolerant back pain is a presentation in which lumbar flexion provokes symptoms. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• The first principle is to find a position the person can tolerate before progressing exercise demands. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• If exhaling causes back pain, the exhale should be slowed, softened, controlled, and not forced. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• A full exhale may be inappropriate initially if it pushes the person into a painful end-range position. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• The discussed flexion-intolerant cases include herniated nucleus pulposus or disc bulge presentations, radicular symptoms, and worsening with posterior pelvic tilt during full exhalation. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• If tucking is painful, the person may be moving the lumbar spine with the pelvis instead of separating pelvic motion from low-back motion. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• Lumbar support or prone breathing can be used when flexion-sensitive positions are not tolerated. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation
• Excessive rectus abdominis use during a drill may be addressed by tilting the head into OA extension. — Infrasternal Angle, Flexion-Intolerant Back Pain, and Calf Activation