Massage & Fitness Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 7

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ore evidence indicate that

sitting on a stability ball

instead of a typical office

chair does not decrease low back pain or disability, even though most subjects in the study published in Spine had developed better core endurance.

The researchers concluded, “Although ball-sitting may be useful as an adjunct treatment for [low back pain] when core muscles are involved, clinicians should rely on other, evidence-based treatments for [low back pain].”

Perhaps a better way to reduce the risk back pain is to take more breaks, if possible, during the work hours.

Patients With Knee Pain Have Less Hip Flexibility Than Controls Regardless of Treatment Outcome

hysical “impairment” may have

little to do with knee pain or

treatment outcome. A study

published in Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that there was very little change in hip range of motion between those with knee pain and had completed a 6-week muscle strengthening program versus those who are pain-free and did the same program.

Researchers concluded that after the strengthening program, “regardless of treatment success, [patellofemoral pain] and control subjects experienced a small but clinically insignificant improvement in hip flexibility.”

While this may not apply for all training clients who had recovered from rehab, trainers

do not need to nitpick every little detail about their clients' range of motion. Adding strength and load to their training program — based on graded exposure and adaptation — may likely decrease pain and improve range of motion. Use caution when deciding how much load, repetitions, and speed during the training, and the study may not reflect upon elderly or teenage clients.

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Sitting on Stability Ball May Improve Core Endurance But Not Low Back Pain

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