Home      Newsletter    Archives - October 2007 September 2007 NEWS  Spinal Rehab RESEARCH Effect of Focused Strength Training after Low Back Injury Vert Mooney, M.D., Leonard Matheson, Ph.D, D. Holmes, Scott Leggett, Masters in Exercise Physiology. J. Grant, S. Negri, B.Holmes | University of California San Diego-Orthomed OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of focused strength training in which specific muscle groups are isolated as a patient participates in a conditioning regimen. METHODS: Fifty-five participants (29 females and 26 males) participated in normal treatment sessions over an eight-week period. Treatment occurred on one 60-minute session two times each week. Each treatment session involved the use of the MedX Lumbar Extension machine and seven variable resistance exercise units. CONCLUSION: Focused training after low back injury appears to be an efficacious approach to treatment with broad effect. Not only were significant effects found with improvement in back strength, but these effects generalized to an improvement in lifting capacity, self perception, pain rating and activity level. To read the full article,please visit our website at www.Back2Strength.net.  How is What We Offer Different from Other Rehabilitation Methods? (1) Patients take responsibility for their own care. (2) Some discomfort is expected, at which point it is worked through. Our focus is to restore functional ability, in addition to obtaining pain relief. (3) We rely on objective measurements of strength, endurance and flexibility to gauge progress. (4) We incorporate specialized exercise equipment that provides resistance over a full, or selected, limited range of isolated lumbar motion. (5) We develop a strength curve to monitor and compare the patient's strength and range of motion to established norms.  Client Spotlight - Josh Nelson/Spinal Rehab Client (Winner of the State of Oregon Archery Championships)   About seven years ago, I had an accident at my summer job, helping to deliver a hot tub. I had pain in my lower back that continued for over a month, so I had an MRI taken. I was diagnosed with a herniated disk. It completely changed my life. I went from working out every day, lifting weights and playing sports to absolutely no physical activity. I have seen many different doctors over the last seven years and nothing seemed to help. I tried three different physical therapists, had three nerve block injections, massage therapy and saw various chiropractors. I had an orthopedic surgeon tell me that I would just have to live with the pain. He told me I would need to get a desk job and would never be able to play sports again. Two years ago, I had a doctor refer me to Back2Strength, so I decided to try the program. I thought I was a fairly strong person but found out my back strength was a lot weaker then a person of my average age and weight. I worked out for four months and I could notice a big difference. After six months, I had no back pain. I was back to lifting weights six days a week and able to return to outdoor activities that I had been unable to do for the past seven years. I would like to thank Back2Strengh. It is an awesome program and it truly changed my life. I would recommend it to anyone. CLINICAL NOTES: From November 2005 through February 2006, Mr. Nelson participated in 10 spinal rehab sessions. He improved his lumbar extension strength 48.38%, or 4.84% Per session.   back to top of page   ~ Our Mission is to relieve pain, restore function and reduce the need for spinal surgery. ~   back to top of page