Where? Marjon Clinic

Description- what happened? A player came to me complaining of lower back pain. I assessed the player and put the pain down to muscular tightness in the thoracic-lumber fascia and external and internal obliques on both sides. I used effleurage an petrissage massage technique. I then went onto spinal manipulations centrally, as the pain was on both sides. I chose grade 3 to help improve range of movement and pain. I chose this grade because the patients symptoms are improved but restricted in activities by pain, so this would be the appropriate grade to use (Kirkaldy-Willis & Cassidy,1985).

Spinal manipulation is a manual therapy technique designed to offer immediate pain relief and improved mobility for many areas of the body, including the neck, low back, ribs, mid-back, and shoulders -https://holycrossmedicalcenter.org/service/spinal-manipulation-mobilization/

Feelings-what were you thinking feeling? I was feeling confident during the spinal assessment and believe I carried out the assessment effectively. I wasn’t sure wether to do the manipulations central or unilateral. So I asked a clinic supervisor and they were able to explain to me that you perform mobilisations wherever the pain is recreated the most, which in this case was centrally.

Evaluation- what was good/bad about the situation? What was good about the situation was the players ROM and pain had decreased after the treatment and I felt confident performing the assessment and treatment.

Conclusion- what else could you have done? I also could have showed the player stretches for his back and hips which he could do to relieve the pain further and strengthen his back muscles and core, which could potentially be related to his back problem.

Action plan- if the situation arose again what would you do? I would give the player further stretches for his back and hips. As well as strengthening exercises. I will talk to the player the next time I see him to carry out this plan.

References:

Kirkaldy-Willis, W. H., & Cassidy, J. D. (1985). Spinal manipulation in the treatment of low-back pain. Canadian Family Physician, 31, 535.