Case Study: Jack
Jack (age 49) presented for chronic lower back pain that had been reoccurring over the past several years. He had a relatively minor injury, many years previous and the pain has exacerbated in the last few months as he has recently taken a job that requires more sedentary behavior than he has experienced in the past. Jack received several prescriptions from his primary care physician for a narcotic pain medication but complains of side effects and his concern of long-term dependence and increased tolerance. Jack has limited range of motion in bending and rotation, reduced by as much as 30% in bending and 50% in rotation to both the left and right, in a bending position as well as upright. Jack states that he requires either pain medication of frequent hot baths to relax muscles to increase range of motion if he has any desire to utilize these motions more than just minimally. He has not yet been given a referral for physical therapy, as there has been no known serious injury and there is no physical cause for surgical intervention, in his PCP's opinion. His health insurance restricts physical therapy treatment to post serious injury or post-surgical treatment. A naturopathic physician he visited to discuss natural pain relief options referred him to a BASI Pilates studio to begin a regimen that includes core muscle training of the abdominal and back muscles as well as proper posture training.
The BASI Pilates program of instruction includes all the above mentioned exercises. Those exercises were completed by Jack twice a week over a period of six months. The results have been significant. After the first four weeks Jack was able to stop taking all prescription and over the counter analgesic medications. After the first six weeks Jack was able to provide proof in sessions that he had increased range of motion in bending and rotation, as compared to the preliminary intake information, done by the BASI Pilates instructor. Jack remained in the program to this date (post 6 months from beginning) and expresses that he will likely do so as long as he has time in his life, as he expresses that his recovery from chronic lower back pain is directly associated with the BASI Pilates regimen that he has been using.
Conclusion:
Works Cited
BASI Pilates Exercise Book
Diagram of lower back Lumbar Spine and Sacrum" ND Retrieved November 18, 2007 at http://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/sjh/programs/di/lower_spine.htm
Field, Tiffany M. "Massage Therapy Effects." American Psychologist 53.12 (1998): 1270-1281.
Myslinski, Norbert R. "Using the Brain to Conquer Pain." World and I Feb. 2003: 132.
Pilates exercise system to promote back health" ND Retrieved November 18, 2007 at http://www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/pilates/pilates01.html
Stehlin, Dori. "The Challenge of Relieving Pain." FDA Consumer Sept. 1991: 28.
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