“…Posteroanterior mobilization was found to bring about immediate desirable effects in reducing spinal stiffness and the magnitude of back pain. The restoration of the mechanical properties of the spine may be a possible mechanism that explains the improvement in pain after manual therapy
Jerry Hesch responds:
Just anopther perspective. I am fascinated by reflexogenic influences on spinal stiffness. I observe two frequently occurring sources of significant T3-4 and upper body of sternum and upper cervical stiffness. One is a posterior glide fixation of the sacrum which takes a gentle 10 minutes to reduce. The aforementioned segments soften significantly. The other source is a bilateral or unilateral treatable subtalar varus and adduction fixation and the other is significant restriction of hip internal rotation tested in supine with hips and knees in neutral or in prone springing the posterior trochanters. A recent client I will never forget seemed to have a bone-on-bone end feel but I treated the hip anyway because I discerned that the significant upper cervical restriciton would not respond to direct work, and he gained 45 degrees of hip internal rotationa nd significant gain in upper cervidal mobility and reduction in symptoms. This does not detract from the utility of direct PA mobilization for spinal stiffness when the etiology is local. Thank you. Jerry Hesch -