Pressure Analysis of the Physiodriver Mobilizing Pad on the Spine
Moe HK1, Loekeberg O2
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the pressure effect of the Physiodriver
Spinal Mobiliser on the spine. It was hypothesized that the pressure from
the pad of the Physiodriver would be applied over the joints that contribute
to rotation of the vertebral column. A Plastazote Pressure Absorbing Padding
was taped to the test subjects back. Physiodriver was then used for two
minutes, and the pressure distribution was registered by the Plastazote.
The results indicate that the pressure was applied over the joints that contribute to the rotational movement of the spine. Subjects aiming to increase the rotation of the spine could therefore benefit from using the Physiodriver Spinal Mobiliser.
1Moe, Helene
Katrine, MSc, Civil Engineer/Industrial Designer, Thelma AS, Trondheim,
Norway
2Loekeberg, Oeyvind, MSc, Senior Researcher, Engineer, Thelma AS, Trondheim,
Norway
Introduction
Rotation of the spine is an important movement in different sports and
in activities of daily living. In golf for instance, the golfswing subjects
the player to rotate their spine to its maximum capacity. If rotation
is decreased, the strength and length of the drive will not be sufficient.
In addition, as the golfswing subjects the rotator muscles to an extreme
and sudden movement, the muscles may be overstreched (torn or partly torn).
This is especially if these muscles are not properly stretched to prepare
for this type of extreme rotational movement, and/or if the rotational
movement is limited. Therefore, it is crucial to have maximum spinal rotation,
and to prepare the muscles for the extreme movement that will occur (Sahrmann
S., 2002).
Physical Therapists frequently treat patients with limited spinal rotation,
to increase rotation and/or to decrease pain. The technique Physical Therapists
use to increase spinal rotation, is to mobilise the spine by applying
pressure to the muscles (mm rotatores) and joints (facet joints) that
contributes to the rotational movement (figure 1-3) (Beeton KS, 2003;
Grant R, 1994; Maitland G, 2002, Murtagi & Kenna, 1997; Sahrmann S,
2002).
Figure 1-3. Mobilisation to increase spinal rotation.
A new device aimed to increase spinal rotation is the Physiodriver Spinal Mobiliser (figure 4). The Physiodriver Spinal Mobiliser has been designed so that the pressure from the pad is applied over the facet joints, thus mirroring the techniques used by Physical Therapists.
Figure 4. The Physiodriver Spinal Mobiliser.
The mobilising pad is concave and the material is elastic, to make it
optimal fit the curve of the back of each individual.
No study has investigated where the pressure is applied when using the Physiodriver. The aim of the study was therefore to analyze if the pressure is being applied as hypothesized, namely over the facet joints of the spine.
Method
An asymptomatic 30 year old subject agreed to take part in the study.
The subject was given an information sheet and was required to fill in
an informed consent. The subject was blinded to the study.
Inclusion
criteria:
A volunteer golf player.
Exclusion
criteria
1) History of back pain that required medical advice.
2) History of back pain for the last three months.
3) Any use of anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants,
ataraxica, sedatives, hypnotics and/or analgesics.
Equipment
• Plastazote Pressure Absorbing Padding (3 millimeter) (APEX Foot
Health Industries,
Inc. 414 Alfred Avenue, Teaneck, NJ USA )
• Physiodriver Spinal Mobiliser (Physiodriver©, Utleirv 17,
Trondheim, Norway)
• Tape to attach the Plastazote (Leukotape P, Beiersdorf AG, No
76168)
Procedure
The experiment was carried out in a sound proof room to avoid any possible
disturbance. The room temperature was 21°C. Prior to applying the
Plastazote, the test subject was instructed in how to use the Physiodriver
Spinal Mobiliser (user manual). The subject practiced the rotational movement
with Physiodriver for two minutes. The Plastazote was then applied from
Th7-Th10 (figure 5).
Figure 5.
The application of the Plastazote.
The test subject repeated the rotational movement for two minutes. Left rotation was performed, after a random choice (figure 6). The investigator did not give any directions throughout the test procedure. The Plastazote Pressure Absorbing Padding quickly registered the active impression while using the Physiodriver. The impression was to indicate if the pressure from the mobilizing pad was being applied to the facet joints.
Figure 6.
The test subject performing the rotationl movement, while the pressure
from the pad is registered by the Plastazote padding.
Result
The impression created by the mobilizing pad was scanned to an image file
and analyzed for contrasts. Figure 7 shows the Plastazote padding after
the use of Physiodriver. To effectively illustrate the contrast of the
impression, the visual presentation was inverted using Photoshop image
editing 6.0 (Image, Adjust, Invert - Adobe Photoshop 6.0). The darker
color on the left side of the spine shows where the pressure was being
applied. The result show that the pressure was concentrated over the facet
joints, and that the pressure was equally distributed over the joints,
thereby supporting the experimental hypothesis.
Figure 7.
The impression on the Plastazote from the pad is shown on the left side
of the spine.
Discussion
& Conclusion
This study was undertaken to analyze if the Physiodriver mobilizing pad
applied pressure on the joints that contribute to rotation of the spine,
and the results indicate that it does so.
References
Beeton KS 2003, Manual Therapy Masterclasses, The Vertebral Column, First
Edition, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
Grant R 1994, Physical Therapy of the Low Back, Second Edition, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh
Maitland G 2002 Vertebral Manipulation, Sixth Edition, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford
Murtagi JE & Kenna CJ 1997, Back Pain and Spinal Manipulation, Second Edition, Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford
Sahrmann
S 2002, Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes, First
Edition, Mosby, USA