Spinal Strengthening and Core Stability

Question 1

definition of muscle imbalance

Answer 1

• a state where a number of muscles that act across a joint are dysfunctional which leads to the abnormal load across the joint (peripheral and spinal joint)

Question 2

how is core stability maintained? (2)

Answer 2

• muscles of the trunk and neck act to limit/prevent excessive movement happening at the spine
• abdominal muscles and the surrounding muscles generates a constant pressure on the organs, which then exert pressure onto the spine to keep it stabilised

Question 3

what is a joint neutral zone?

Answer 3

the range of intervertebral motion within which the spinal motion is produced with minimal internal resistance

Question 4

what are the 3 main subsytems which provide spinal stability? What structures are involved in these subsystems

Answer 4

• control (nervous system -> feeds into both the passive and active systems)
• active (number and size of spinal muscles)
• passive (spinal column and soft tissue which provide support to it)

Question 5

What are the ways in which spinal stability is provided?

Answer 5

• ligaments and intervertebral discs (little stability)
• spinal muscles eg transversus abdominis (most stability provided)
• intra-abdominal pressure (organs provide spinal stability by exerting pressure onto spine)

Question 6

What happens in muscular dysfunction?

Answer 6

• muscle experiences a change in its length and nervous recruitment (change in characteristics) -> leads to a force couple imbalance
• this causes there to be a disturbance in the neutral zone -> loss of proximal stability
• synergist muscles (muscles that assist agonists) are inappropriately recruited -> leads to microtrauma
• repetitive microtrauma -> pathology/pain

Question 7

how is postural pain caused? (2)

Answer 7

• due to movement of joint outside of its neutral zone -> impinges on structures (eg: nerves) that it usually isn’t supposed to
• due to sustained overload of tissue because of faulty movement patterns due to muscle dysfunction

Question 8

what would be a long-term solution to postural pain?

Answer 8

• correct movement pattern/posture -> reduce stress to allow tissue to recover
• carry out exercises like stretches

Question 9

how to assess muscle imbalance?

Answer 9

• find site of pain and direction of movement(s) which cause pain
• relative flexibility of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs
• joint tests
• neurodynamics
• assessment of muscle functions

Question 10

what is core stability

Answer 10

ability of trunk and neck muscles to prevent/limit excessive movements at the spinal segment

Question 11

are there any precautions or contraindications to core strengthening exercises?

Answer 11

• the mental cognition of patients (some patients might be unable to understand instructions given)
• severe spinal pathologies (eg: slip discs)
• when increases pain/inflammation/disrupts healing process and surgical repair