McKenzie back extension exercises are a type of physical therapy commonly used to treat disc protrusion. The goal of these exercises is to reduce pain and improve the function of the spine. In this blog, we will discuss what peripheralization and centralization of pain mean and why they are important when doing back extensions.
What is Disc Protrusion?
Disc protrusion occurs when one or more spinal discs become displaced from their normal position in the vertebrae. This displacement causes pressure on the surrounding nerve roots, resulting in pain and other symptoms such as numbness or tingling in the affected area. Or shooting, radiating pain down the limbs. Disc protrusion can occur anywhere along the spine, but it is most common in the lower back (lumbar region).
What Are McKenzie Back Extensions For Disc Protrusion Treatment?
McKenzie back extensions are a type of exercise that helps reduce pain caused by disc protrusion. These exercises involve repetitively extending (arching) back while lying on your stomach or sitting upright. During each repetition, you should focus on relaxing your muscles to allow for full range of motion in your spine. As you do this exercise regularly, it should help to reduce pain caused by disc protrusion over time. There are different stages to the back extensions, depending on how the pain shoots down leg (peripheralization) or pain climbs up to the back source called (centralization).
Peripheralization & Centralization of Pain: What Does It Mean? Peripheralization and centralization of pain refer to changes in where you feel pain during movement. Peripheralization occurs when your pain moves away from its original location when you move a certain way, while centralization occurs when your pain moves closer to its original location with certain movements. Paying attention to how peripheralized or centralized your pain becomes after performing the McKenzie back extensions can be an important indicator of whether these exercises are helping reduce your disc protrusion-related symptoms. Centralization is the goal, and we want a decrease in peripheralization.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, McKenzie back extensions for disc protrusion treatment can be an effective option for disc prolapse-related symptoms such as lower back pain and numbness/tingling sensations in the affected area. When performing these exercises, pay attention to how peripheralized or centralized your pain becomes after each repetition; this can be an important indicator of whether these exercises are helping reduce your symptoms over time. Consult your local physiothrapiset or orthopedic practitioner if this is an option for you and get the right level of back extension.