1. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, NMM/OMM
Muscle Imbalance Evaluation and Treatment for the Low Back and Hip Areas
Jose S. Figueroa, D. O.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, NMM/OMM
AOCPM&R, Fall 2013

2. Case Study
In 1998 a 33 y/o gentleman presents with a 5 year history of right shoulder pain, which did not stop him functionally, but significantly affected his sleep.
Diagnosed originally with biceps tendonitis, and given some OMM treatments with good but temporary relief.
Dr. Greenman saw him and stated that he had a muscle imbalance…

3. Objectives
Learn concepts of neuromuscular imbalances and their contribution to chronic musculoskeletal dysfunction in the lumbar, pelvic and hip areas.
Learn the muscles that commonly affect the low back, pelvic and hip areas.
Be introduced to the evaluation and treatment of muscle imbalances of the lower quarter:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Diagnose weak or pseudo-paretic muscles
Teach a home exercise prescription to address the tight/short and weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Follow-up for re-evaluations and exercise adjustments
Teach patients how to self-treat certain common somatic dysfunctions

4. Most of the information in this lecture is derived from the works of
Phillip Greenman, D.O.(he is the one in the pictures)
Dr. Vladimir Janda, a specialist in rehabilitation medicine at the University of Charles, Prague, Czechoslovakia, deceased in 2006

5. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

6. Muscle Balance
The relationship between the strength and the length of the muscles around a joint or multiple joints.
Ex. of muscles affecting one joint:
Vastus medialis obliquus (knee joint), soleus (ankle)
Ex. of muscles Affecting multiple joints:
Psoas (lumbar/SI/hip), hamstrings (knee/hip)

7. Muscle Imbalance Theory
According to Dr. Janda, it is a malregulation by the central nervous system (CNS) leading to:
Some muscles becoming tight
Some muscles becoming weak
Loss of control of integrated muscle function
Loss of Symmetry and Control
Caused by some form of musculoskeletal disturbance

8. Musculoskeletal Disturbance
Can be caused by acute or chronic events. Examples include changes in lifestyle, or poor ergonomics, or trauma, or disease, etc.
Examples: stress, participating in a poorly designed exercise program, sedentary lifestyle, joint and/or soft tissue disease or trauma, spending too much time working in front of a computer, loss of a limb, etc.

9. MUSCLE IMBALANCE CYCLE
Reflexes at the level of the:
Premotor Cortex
Motor Cortex
Brainstem
Spinal Cord
Articular
Receptors
create
affect
1. Musculoskeletal Disturbance
cause
MUSCLE IMBALANCE CYCLE
Adds to
Alpha Motor Neuron stimulates muscle fiber to contract.
Gamma System: stimulates muscle spindle to adapt
Creation of Muscle Imbalances which maintain the wrong positions of the joints
Alteration in muscle tone, affecting joint position and function
create
remains
Return to normal muscle tone
resolves

10. Understanding Motor Control
Movement: is performed by combined muscle pull, which is very controlled in a very complicated manner
Controlled movements require many CNS signals (afferent and efferent) with precise timing and number
CNS controls movement through proprioception
It produces useful movements that adapt to our constantly changing environment
Needs precise input from many receptors
This appraisal is done through a variety of receptors sensitive to changes in temperature, light, pressure, pain, position, etc. The CNS receives these signals along with signals from within muscles, joints, tendons, and other body structures, and is led to generate and distribute myriad signals in an orderly array to various muscles

11. Sit Up Straight, Please Pelvic Clock
Helps to give you an awareness of the location of the trunk when in postural balance
Used in the supine, seated and standing postures
Let’s try the pelvic clock SEATED
Work on the Sit Stand Transfer, using the pelvic clock
Give examples of how to use this for getting up from the floor and from a chair

12. Functional Disturbance
Injuries or diseases can cause muscles to react differently than normal because of:
Guarding joints or organs
Inability to move properly due to tissue or nerve damage
Chronic vs. Temporary:
When the injury is chronic, the changes are longer lasting.
Chronic poor posture re-trains the muscles in patterns of movements that eventually become incompatible with normal function

13. Muscle Function Disturbance
Chronic articular or muscle dysfunction feeds the afferent loop with more nociception and abnormal mechanoreceptor information, perpetuating ongoing aberrant muscle tone.

14. Muscle Imbalances Some muscles become tight (tonic)
Some muscles become weak (phasic)
Altered motor control (impaired proprioception)
Either muscles do not contract when they are supposed to, so they act as if they were weak
Or muscles contract too early when moving certain joints or too much when maintaining certain postures

15. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

16. Functional Disturbance
There are two main ways that the muscles react to functional disturbance:
Some muscles become tight/short
Usually the slow twitch fiber type muscles
Some muscles become weak (or pseudoparetic)
Usually the fast twitch fiber type muscles

17. Slow-twitch Fiber Type
Oxidative metabolism, high capillary density, greater endurance, characteristic red color
Twitch speed is slow, making their function more tonic or postural
Slow-twitch muscles react to functional disturbance by shortening and tightening.

18. Fast-twitch Fiber Type
Glycolytic metabolic pathway, fatigue rapidly, have low capillary density, whitish color.
Twitch speed is fast and shorter lasting, making their function phasic.
Fast-twitch muscles react to functional disturbance by weakening or becoming pseudoparetic

19. Table 1. Common upper and lower extremity muscles and their reaction to injury

20. Body Region
Function: Primarily Postural/Tonic (Short and Tight)
Function: Primarily Phasic (Weak)
Pelvic and Hip Region
Hamstrings
Iliopsoas
Rectus Femoris
Tensor Fascia Lata
Thigh Adductors
Piriformis
Vastus Medialis Obliq.
Vastus Lateralis
Gluteus Maximus Gluteus Medius
Gluteus Minimus

21. Leg Gastrocnemius Soleus Tibialis Anterior Peroneus Body Region
Function: Primarily Postural/Tonic (Short and Tight)
Function: Primarily Phasic (Weak)
Leg
Gastrocnemius
Soleus
Tibialis Anterior
Peroneus

22. Body Region
Function: Primarily Postural/Tonic (Short and Tight)
Function: Primarily Phasic (Weak)
Neck and Trunk
Erector Spinae Group
-Lumbar Region
-Cervical Region
Quadratus Lumborum
Scalenes
Sternocleidomastoid
Deep Cervical Spine Flexors
Erector Spinae muscles
-Mid-thoracic
Rectus Abdominis
External Obliques
Internal Obliques
Transversus Abdominis

23. Shoulder Girdle Body Region
Function: Primarily Postural/Tonic (Short and Tight)
Function: Primarily Phasic (Weak)
Shoulder Girdle
Pectoralis Major
Levator Scapulae
Upper Trapezius
Biceps Brachii
Latissimus Dorsi
Middle Trapezius
Lower Trapezius
Rhomboids
Supraspinatus
Infraspinatus
Triceps Brachii
Serratus Anterior
Deltoid

24. Stand Up, Please
Static Active Stretch: muscle is put on a passive stretch with little to no movement, while its antagonist is being used to maintain the position of the muscle stretched and to reciprocally inhibit the muscle stretched. Examples:
Rectus Femoris
Chest stretch

25. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

26. Causes of Muscle Imbalance
Noxious stimulus (due to acute or repetitive trauma, chronic injury, arthritis, space occupying lesion, neurologic injury, metabolic disease, loss of a limb, etc.)
Prolonged postural disturbance (resulting in a prolonged alteration of the center of gravity, with mechanical responses requiring long term muscle adaptations)

27. Causes of Muscle Imbalance
Excessive physical demands (usually chronic overuse or under-use or chronic lack of rest-especially stage IV sleep)
Emotional problems or other psychological factors (tightness and fatigue that result when we are "uptight" or stressed, anxious, depressed, etc.)
We show emotion with our muscles
Muscular action tends to create and/or accentuate emotion

28. Reflex Pathways are involved in maintaining muscle imbalances
Co-Contraction:
Lumbar erector spinae and psoas contracting to stabilize an injured lumbar spine: What would someone look like who has this?
Reciprocal Inhibition:
Psoas tightening causing weakness of gluteus maximus
Pectorals tightening causing weakness of interscapular muscles
Reciprocal Inhibition leading to Substitution
Hamstrings doing most of the hip extension instead of the gluteus maximus
Still need to address the offending tight muscle: Iliopsoas
Tensor fascia lata doing most of the hip abduction due to a weak gluteus medius / minimus
Still need to address the offending tight muscle: Adductor

29. Muscle Function Disturbance
This vicious cycle can be interrupted and reprogrammed through
OMM
Specific Exercises prescribed in the Proper Sequence
Thus, the overall muscle tone and balance can be returned to (and maintained in) a more normal state.

30. Re-Programming MUSCLE IMBALANCE CYCLE
1. OMM
2. Exercise Prescription
Articular
Receptors
create
Reflexes at the level of the:
Premotor Cortex, Motor Cortex, Brainstem
Spinal Cord
affect
1. Musculoskeletal Disturbance
MUSCLE IMBALANCE
CYCLE
cause
Re-Programming
Adds to
Alpha Motor Neuron stimulates muscle fiber to contract.
Gamma System: stimulates muscle spindle to adapt
Creation of Muscle Imbalances which maintain the wrong positions of the joints
Alteration in muscle tone, affecting joint position and function
create
remains
Return to normal muscle tone
resolves
1. OMM
2. Exercise Prescription

31. Functional Capacity!
Despite the osseous pathology of his own lumbar spine, Dr. Greenman used to demonstrate all of the exercises in his text and to his patients.
This demonstrates the functional capacity in the presence of significant osseous pathology.
This demonstration was a powerful motivational tool.

33. Kneel “Up” Straight, Please
Pelvic Clock Kneeling
Floor: sit to kneeling transfer
From knees fully bent to knees at 900 flexion
Kneeling to ½ kneeling maneuver
One foot on the ground
The other foot with the ball of the foot on the ground
½ Kneeling to Stand transfer with or without assistance

34. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

35. Diagnosis of Muscle Imbalances Three Specific Types of Clinical Testing
Evaluate Proprioception
Through balance testing
Evaluate the sequence of muscle contraction (muscle “firing” patterns) during specific movements to evaluate which muscles contract out of sequence, acting as if they were weak
Evaluate asymmetry in muscle lengths
Muscles are isolated as much as possible and then tested for symmetry in their lengths and compared with estimations of normal

36. Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
General Principles:
Goal: restoration of proper muscle length, strength and control of muscle function
Start with OMM
May need a home exercise prescription (HEP)
HEP should address muscle control (i.e., proprioception re-training)
When treating muscle imbalances: Quality of movement is more important than quantity

37. General Treatment Sequence
Establishing a process of re-evaluations to monitor progress
Establish a level of patient commitment to follow through
Re-training proprioception
home exercises (single leg stance)
PT (more advanced intervention)

38. General Treatment Sequence
Stretching the tight muscles
manual stretches in the office (Dr. or PT)
home stretches (self-stretches)
Re-training or strengthening late contracting (pseudoparetic) or weak muscles
home “strengthening” exercises
Teaching the patient how to self-treat specific recurring somatic dysfunctions on their own

39. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

40. Hands-On session
Diagnosis and Treatments of Common Muscle Imbalances of the Pelvis and Low Back

41. Treating Impaired Proprioception
Retrain balance with bare feet on a carpeted surface in order to stimulate the propioceptors of the sole of the foot
Practice “shortening the foot”-also stimulates the proprioceptors of the soles
Goal: the capacity to symmetrically stand on one leg with arms crossed and eyes closed for 30 seconds
Do the best possible if unable to reach goal

43. Look to your feet, Please
Remove your shoes
See if you can shorten one of your feet now
Let’s test each other’s SINGLE LEG standing balance

44. Treating Impaired Proprioception
Bilateral exercises that help increase proprioception and increased body awareness:
Walking, Swimming (may need mask/snorkel)
Properly taught Pilates
Bilateral Martial Arts movements like some of the ones found in Tai Chi, Choi Kwang Do, etc.

45. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

46. Evaluating Muscle Firing Patterns of Lower Quarter Muscles

47. PELVIC CLOCKS
Three dimensional evaluation of function of the lumbar spine and pelvis.
Used diagnostically and therapeutically.

48. Testing: PELVIC CLOCKS
Clock Orientation
Start Position

49. Testing: PELVIC CLOCKS
12 O'clock
6 O’clock
Problems: pubic dysfunction, iliosacral dysfunction, sacral dysfunction (base posterior), lumbar extended dysfunction, tight psoas, tight paraspinals, weak abdominals
Problems: pubic dysfunction, iliosacral dysfunction, sacral dysfunction (base anterior), lumbar flexed dysfunction

50. Testing: PELVIC CLOCKS
3 O’clock
9 O’clock
Problems: Lumbar rotation to the left, sacral torsion to the right , weak abdominal obliques, transversus abdominis
Problems: Lumbar rotation to the right, sacral torsion to the left, weak abdominal obliques, transversus abdominis

51. Testing: HIP EXTENSION FIRING PATTERN

52. Testing: HIP EXTENSION FIRING PATTERN
Hamstrings.
Gluteus maximus.
Contralateral lumbar erector spinae (low).
Ipsilateral lumbar erector spinae (low).
Contralateral lumbar erector spinae (high).
Ipsilateral lumbar erector spinae (high).
Significant finding is late firing of the gluteus maximus.

53. Other Firing Patterns Hip Abduction Firing Pattern on Sidelying
Normal: Gluteus medius, Tensor fascia lata (TFL), Quadratus lumborum (QL) and Erector Spinae
Abnormal: substitution with weakness of gluteus medius and early firing of TFL (causing IR and flexion of the hip) and QL. Worst scenario is that the motion is initiated by the firing of the QL.
Pelvic Tilt Heel Slide
Pelvic Tilt with Hip Abduction and External Rotation
Active Trunk Rotation

54. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

55. Evaluating and Treating Muscle Length Asymmetry
of Lower Quarter Muscles

56. Stretching: PSOAS & RECTUS FEMORIS

57. Manual Stretching of Muscles
Manual Stretching done at the clinic is very important because it can significantly increase the muscle lengths further than self-stretching alone can.
“Supercharges” the patient’s home stretching routine
Sustained Stretch: secs, 2 or 3 reps.
Muscle Energy: Post-isometric Relaxation and Stretch

58. Stretching: RECTUS FEMORIS PRONE

59. Stretching: PSOAS PRONE
Anterior Hip Capsule Stretch

60. SELF STRETCH: PSOAS

61. SELF STRETCH: RECTUS FEMORIS

62. Stretching: ADDUCTORS

63. Stretching: ADDUCTORS (Long)

64. Stretching: ADDUCTORS (Short)

65. SELF STRETCH: ADDUCTORS

66. Stretching: PIRIFORMIS

67. Stretching: PIRIFORMIS
Above 90 degrees

68. Self Stretch: PIRIFORMIS
Above 90 degrees
Below 90 degrees

69. Self Stretch: PIRIFORMIS (Prone)

70. Stretching: LATISSIMUS DORSI

71. Stretching: LATISSIMUS DORSI
Manual Stretch

72. Self Stretch: LATISSIMUS DORSI

73. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

74. Strengthening / Retraining of Lower Quarter Muscles

75. Strengthening/Retraining: GLUTEUS MAXIMUS
Prone hip extension.
Bridging.

76. Strengthening/Retraining: GLUTEUS MAXIMUS
2. Contract Gluteus & hold knee.
1. Contract Gluteus.

77. Strengthening/Retraining: GLUTEUS MAXIMUS
3. Isometric hold.
4.Concentric contraction.

78. Strengthening/Retraining: GLUTEUS MAXIMUS BRIDGING
Contract transversus abdominus or maintain a slight 12 o’clock pelvic tilt.
Use two legs to bridge and contract buttocks.
Single leg bridge.

79. Strengthening/Retraining: GLUTEUS MAXIMUS BRIDGING

80. Strengthening/Retraining: ABDOMINALS
Sit backs.
Curl ups.
Supine leg slides with stable transversus or posterior pelvic tilt.
Norwegian exercise.

81. Strengthening/Retraining: ABDOMINALS
Rectus abdominus
Transversus abdominus

82. Strengthening/Retraining: ABDOMINALS
Oblique abdominals

83. Strengthening/Retraining: ABDOMINALS Sit Backs
Performed in three stages, arms in front, arms crossed, and hands behind neck.
Maintain a lumbar lordosis throughout.
Strengthens transversus abdominus in subconscious mode.
Strengthens abdominals in a lengthened position.

84. Strengthening/Retraining: ABDOMINALS Sit Backs
Start position.
Level one.

85. Strengthening/Retraining: ABDOMINALS Sit Backs
Level Three
Level Two

86. Road Map Muscle Imbalances Muscles commonly affected by imbalances
Causes of Muscle Imbalances
Overview of Diagnosis and Treatment of Muscle Imbalances
Hands On Workshop:
Evaluate Proprioception
Evaluate for the presence of faulty muscle “firing” patterns
Diagnose and manually treat tight/short muscles
Home exercise prescription (HEP) for the tight/short muscles
HEP for the weak or pseudoparetic muscles
Part Two

87. Pause shortly. Then move on to the second part of the program.
Questions ??????????????