Physiotherapists in Leeds treat many different conditions including the issues profiled below.

Sudden Loads On Lumbar Discs

In experiments on lumbar spines from cadavers the commonest way a disc will fail is if it is placed in significant bending and compressed quickly is to form a prolapse at the rear of the disc. Prolapse occurred most easily in discs which had not degenerated but were between forty and fifty years old. It was not possible to make a very degenerated disc prolapse. The angle of bend or the compressive forces do not need to be excessive as if one of them is over the normal limits it can generate a prolapse. Prolapses mirrored what people say as they occurred with an audible popping sound and occurred suddenly.

Typically a complete split appeared in the rear part of the disc wall and through this fissure the internal nuclear material prolapsed. The prolapse either occurred at one corner of the back of the disc (a common finding in people with disc problems) or more centrally where the nearby ligament prevented it from moving out further. Disc prolapse occurs mostly in discs with some weakening of the disc wall fibres yet a reasonably good nucleus which can respond to the forces by generating high pressures. Degenerated discs did not prolapse on testing.

Simple Neck Exercises . Four

It is important to perform the neck exercises smoothly and slowly over a few seconds and to do each exercise on its own rather than combining two or more movements at once. Start with rotating the neck to the left as far as it will go and hold with a slight stretch at the end for a few seconds then return steadily to the starting position. Repeating this movement five or ten times can be followed by a short rest the practising turning to the right. This is the pattern for all the movements. Flexion involves letting the chin come forward until it rests almost on the chest as if someone is falling asleep in sitting up.

Extension involves looking up as far as one can although if that brings on dizziness it should be avoided. Side flexion is performed by allowing the ear to move towards the same side shoulder without rotating the head, with an accompanying firm stretch typical on the opposite side. Retractions or the .chicken movement. are more difficult to perform well. The face needs to be kept parallel to the vertical such as a wall as the head is drawn backwards with the chin pulled down slightly during the movement.