Exercises for core stabilization and efficient movement

Chapter 4 Exercises for core stabilization and efficient movement





HEAD AND CERVICAL SPINE ALIGNMENT










SUPINE POSITION: NEUTRAL LUMBAR SPINE AND PELVIS







Common problems






See Table 4.1 for Teaching points.


Table 4.1 Teaching points – Supine position: neutral lumbar spine and pelvis


















Focus on Examples of verbal/visual cues
Creating a correctly aligned and relaxed, comfortable position





Achieving a neutral spine and pelvis Trace your fingers along a triangle formed between the pubic bones and the hip bones. The triangle is to lie parallel with the floor
  Imagine a small space under the lower back – just enough to allow a glimmer of light to shine through
  Imagine the pelvis as a bowl of water and the surface of the water is absolutely level and still


SUPINE POSITION: IMPRINTED LUMBAR SPINE


This position is used during exercising when abdominal muscle strength is insufficient to stabilize the lumbar spine, or when first attempting more challenging exercises.







Common problems






See Table 4.2 for Teaching points.


Table 4.2 Teaching points – Supine position: imprinted spine












Focus on Examples of verbal/visual cues
Creating a correctly aligned and relaxed, comfortable position





Using abdominal muscle activation and relaxation of the lower back muscles to create the posterior pelvic tilt





PRONE POSITION



Body position


Lying prone, preferably on a mat or a raised bed that enables the ankles to relax as the feet drop over the edge (Fig. 4.11). The arms are bent with the elbows pointing to the side, and the hands resting one on top of the other to make a support for the forehead. The spine is lengthened and the limbs are symmetrically aligned. The abdominal muscles are drawn gently towards the spine, supporting the natural lumbar curve and the groins are soft and lengthened.








SIDE LYING POSITION FOR EXERCISING THE UPPER LEG



Body position


Side lying with the lower leg flexed approximately 90 degrees at the hip and knee (Fig. 4.12). The upper leg extends in line with the body or slightly in front of the hips (with no more than 10 degrees of flexion) and rests on the floor or a support at about hip height. The lower arm reaches along the floor in line with the shoulder and the upper hand is placed on the floor in front of the body or on the upper hip to help keep the side of the body lengthened. (Alternatively, the upper arm may be supported by placing it on yoga blocks, a pillow or small soft ball, or magic circle.) The head rests on the extended lower arm or on a suitable support to establish correct head, neck and thoracic spine alignment.







Common problems








See Table 4.4 for Teaching points.


Table 4.4 Teaching points – Side lying position for exercising the upper leg


















Focus on Examples of verbal/visual cues
Comfort

Good pectoral girdle alignment and stability Imagine the shoulder blades sliding down the back into rear hip pockets on the opposite sides
Alignment and length of the spine and lower limbs


The optimum position for torso stability and effective upper limb movement



SIDE LYING POSITION FOR EXERCISING THE LOWER LEG







Common problems








See Table 4.5 for Teaching points.


Table 4.5 Teaching points – Side lying position for exercising the lower leg


















Focus on Examples of visual/verbal cues
Comfort

Good pectoral girdle alignment and stability Imagine the shoulder blades sliding down the back into rear hip pockets on the opposite sides
Alignment and length of the spine and lower limbs


The optimum position for torso stability and effective lower limb movement



QUADRIPED POSITION



Body position


Four-point kneeling with the hips and knees flexed 90 degrees and the knees approximately hip distance apart (Fig. 4.14). The hips are neutral in rotation and the limbs are parallel and aligned so that the top of the feet face to the floor. The hands are in line with or just in front of the glenohumeral joints (if the arms are comparatively long). The glenohumeral joints are in slight lateral rotation and the arms are extended with the elbows softened to prevent hyperextension of the elbow joint. The little fingers press lightly into the floor to assist engagement of the pectoral girdle stabilizing muscles. The normal spinal curves are intact, with the back of the neck lengthened and the crown of the head reaching forward. The gaze is between the thumbs.







Common problems










See Table 4.6 for Teaching points.


Table 4.6 Teaching points – Quadriped position















Focus on Examples of visual/verbal cues
Achieving a well-balanced position with the body weight distributed between the hands and the lower limbs




Good pectoral girdle alignment and stability

Alignment and length of the spine and lower limbs





CONTROLLED BREATHING







Target muscles





























Inspiration Expiration
Diaphragm Transversus thoracis
Intercostals Subcostals
Levatores costarum Serratus posterior inferior
Serratus posterior superior External obliques
  Internal obliques
  Transversus abdominis
  Latissimus dorsi



Principles derived from Joseph Pilates’ original tenets














Sequence 1 – Relaxed breathing






Progression


Directing the breath more into one side of the chest – prepare as in the Modification and focus on expanding first the right side and then the left side of the chest.



Common problems










Sequence 4 – Controlled breathing to assist spine stabilization and mobilization as required


During the breathing cycle there is normally slight spine extension on inhalation and passive flexion on exhalation. These unconscious motions can be harnessed to help elongate, stiffen and stabilize the spine during hip and shoulder joint mobilization (particularly the lumbar spine during hip flexion) or to assist segmental vertebral column mobilization during spine extension as well as flexion.


Active breathing can be used to assist control over spine stability during hip and shoulder joint mobilization (e.g. in the basic core stability exercises BCS4 and BCS5 the ‘in breath’ helps control lumbar spine stability during hip joint flexion), or it can be used to improve spine elongation and mobilization (e.g. as in the spine mobilization exercises). These exercises can be selected as required.


See Table 4.7 for Teaching points.


Table 4.7 Teaching points – Controlled breathing
























Focus on Examples of verbal/visual cues
Correct head and spine alignment without neck tension

Correct pectoral girdle and lower limb alignment

Relaxing the body throughout

An efficient breathing cycle: inspiration On ‘breathing in’:



An efficient breathing cycle: expiration On ‘breathing out’, imagine:




An efficient breathing cycle: more active expiration On ‘breathing out’, draw the lower abdominal muscles further back towards the spine


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Sep 12, 2016 | Posted by in MANUAL THERAPIST | Comments Off on Exercises for core stabilization and efficient movement

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