Abstract

Mechanical low back pain is a common complaint that afflict almost everyone at some time in their adult lives. Back-pain literature suggests that aggressive, high-intensity, active care reduces overall morbidity, increases function, and expedites return to work. Through clinical trials, we have developed a full-spectrum, propressive program of rehabilitating mechanical low back pain that addresses issues of mobility, stability, flexibility, strength, and aerobic conditioning. The Progressive Dynamic Lumbar Stabilization (PDLS) program is a low-tech, progressive-intensity program designed to retrain, restore, and enhance spinal flexibility, strength, coordination, proprioception, and kinesthetic awareness associated with functional movement and posture. The program incorporates floor exercises, aerobic exercise, the "Swiss" gym ball, and isotonic exercise machines for the development of proper spinal mechanics. Presented here is a comprehensive, conservative, and progressive 12-phase program designed to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal dysfunctions that contribute to mechanical low back pain. Verf.-Referat