Pelvic Tilt Measurement
A common email question I receive is about measuring pelvic tilt. The best way to measure pelvic tilt is with a specialized set of calipers that were developed by neuromuscular therapist Paul Chek. These can be quite pricey, and are only usually found in the offices of skilled therapists.
The other way to measure pelvic tilt, which is quick, cost-free, and easily done is home is by looking at your belt line in the mirror. Usually, the front of your belt line rests either slightly above, or slightly below the Anterior Superior Iliac Spine, which is the small bony protuberance just above your thigh. The backside of your belt line usually rests again just above or below the Posterior Superior Iliac Spine, which are found about 2 inches to the side of the spine.
When you look in the mirror at your side view, you will look at the angle of the belt line. For men, the line should be parallel to the ground, with neither the front or the backside higher than the other, with normal measuring 0-5 degrees. For women, the angle should be slighter lower on the front side than the backside within approximately 7-10 degrees being normal.
It is important to note, that these are the “textbook” normal values for pelvic tilt. It should not be the ONLY evaluation for normal function and balance of the core muscles. You should also evaluate the range of motion and strength of all the associated muscles in order to really test total function of this area. You do NOT have to be perfect, but close enough to be out of pain!
Sam Visnic–
Exactly HOW Fast Should Back Pain Relief Happen?
This is a bit of a tricky question. It can refer to the amount of relief you have after a therapy directed at relieving back pain, OR long term relief.
You may have been told that back pain relief takes time, perhaps weeks or even months. While this may be true for decreasing back pain as the “big picture”, it certainly does not refer to how fast immediate relief can be achieved.
For example, one of my outcomes in working with back pain sufferers who have not received relief from previous therapies is either:
- Reduce the INTENSITY of the pain: Say, for example, on a 1 to 10 scale, with 10 being the worst, your pain is an 8 when you walk in my office. Our outcome would be to bring it down to anything lower, such as a 7,6 or better. That would represent a reduction in pain intensity.
- Reduce the FREQUENCY of the pain: This refers to how often you experience back pain. If you have back pain everyday, then a decrease in frequency might mean that you had 2 “good days” of minimal back pain during the following week after the therapy session.
Each session of therapy, which may include any number of approaches, from corrective exercise, corrective stretching, neuromuscular therapy, and even relaxation training, should progress in its effectiveness as each session passes.
I see it as sort of a “mathematical formula”. Meaning, when a certain sequence of movements and interventions are used, it equates to a certain level of pain relief, thus decreasing the intensity or frequency of your back pain.
Each session should focus on improving upon that formula, and results should ideally improve as the formula gets more and more directed toward your unique situation.
If, after 3-5 sessions of any therapy, you are not seeing improvement in either intensity or frequency of your lower back pain, something is wrong. You may not be performing the therapy correctly, OR that therapy is not effective enough to continue using.
-Sam Visnic
The MOST Common Back Pain Symptoms Are…
Back problems need to be separated into two groups:
Back Pain….and….Spinal Conditions!
These are actually 2 different issues, and must be addressed as such. The trick is being able to figure out the difference between them. Symptoms can vary widely with lower back pain, for example, here are just a few:
- Numbness in the legs
- Tingling in the legs
- Pain in the legs without associated pain in the actual lower back
- Pain which occurs with specific postures or positions
- Different sensations of pain such as stabbing, throbbing, heat, shooting, dull ache
- Pain that tends to move in location
Neuromuscular Therapist
Testimonials
"If you've endured back pain issues, the helplessness, the frustration, the trips to the chiropractor, the osteopath, the recommendations for MRIs, the counter non-recommendations for the MRIs, the $1K+ bills, etc., etc. etc., If you're like me and you reached a point in your life where you declared, "there's got to be a better way!" then get Sam's educational DVDs and go the DIY route to taking control of your back issues. Thanks Sam." --Chris Wilson
“Sam, I just wanted to tell you how impressed I am with your knowledge and ability as a healer. You are the only person I have seen who been able to get my back out of pain and keep it out of pain. After 28 years of practicing dentistry I thought that I would have to suffer the rest of my life with moderate to severe back pain. I came to you years ago in terrible back pain you relieved that and with regular preventive visits have kept me out of pain. I am also thankful for your nutritional knowledge. After suffering from terrible intestinal pain and all the tests you fixed it by a simple dietary supplement. “Doctor” refers to a healer and even though you don’t have the title you are one in my book. Many, Many Thanks!” --John Shafer, DDS
"Having someone like Sam to refer my patients to who is as comprehensive, brilliant and caring as he is makes my job so much easier!! I feel assured that my patients are in good hands and are going to get the results they so desperately want. I highly recommend Sam to anyone who is looking to resolve their back pain easily and effectively!” -Dr. Holly Lucille N.D., R.N.