Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 1 , Pages 118-126 , January 2009

Exercises for Spine Stabilization: Motion/Motor Patterns, Stability Progressions, and Clinical Technique

  • Stuart M. McGill, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Stuart M. McGill, PhD, Spine Biomechanics Laboratory, Dept of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave West, Waterloo, ON, Canada N2L 3G1
    • ,
  • Amy Karpowicz, BSc, MPT

References 

  1. Cholewicki J, McGill SM. Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: implications for injury and chronic low back pain. Clin Biomech. 1996;11:1–15
  2. Brown SH, McGill SM. Muscle force-stiffness characteristics influence joint stability. Clin Biomech. 2005;20:917–922
  3. Kavcic N, Grenier S, McGill SM. Quantifying tissue loads and spine stability while performing commonly prescribed low back stabilization exercises. Spine. 2004;29:2319–2329
  4. Kavcic N, Grenier S, McGill SM. Determining the stabilizing role of individual torso muscles during rehabilitation exercises. Spine. 2004;29:1254–1265
  5. Axler C, McGill SM. Low back loads over a variety of abdominal exercises: searching for the safest abdominal challenge. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997;29:804–811
  6. McGill SM. Low back exercises: evidence for improving exercise regimens. Phys Ther. 1998;78:754–765
  7. Juker D, McGill SM, Kropf P, Steffen T. Quantitative intramuscular myoelectric activity of lumbar portions of psoas and the abdominal wall during a wide variety of tasks. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1998;30:301–310
  8. Callaghan JP, Gunning JL, McGill SM. Relationship between lumbar spine load and muscle activity during extensor exercises. Phys Ther. 1998;78:8–18
  9. Liebenson C. Rehabilitation of the spine. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2006;
  10. McGill SM, Hughson R, Parks K. Lumbar erector spinae oxygenation during prolonged contractions: implications for prolonged work. Ergonomics. 2000;43:486–493
  11. McGill SM, Childs A, Liebenson C. Endurance times for stabilization exercises: clinical targets for testing and training from a normal database. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999;80:941–944
  12. Vera-Garcia FJ, Grenier S, McGill SM. Abdominal response during curl-ups on both stable and labile surfaces. Phys Ther. 2000;80:564–569
  13. Koumantakis GA, Watson PJ, Oldham JA. Trunk muscle stabilization training plus general exercise versus general exercise only: randomized controlled trial of patients with recurrent low back pain. Phys Ther. 2005;85:209–225
  14. Suni J, Rinne M, Natri A, Statistisian MP, Parkkari J, Alaranta H. Control of the lumbar neutral zone decreases low back pain and improves self-evaluated work ability: a 12-month randomized controlled study. Spine. 2006;31:E611–E620
  15. Fritz JM, Whitman JM, Childs JD. Lumbar spine segmental mobility assessment: an examination of validity for determining intervention strategies in patients with low back pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:1745–1752
  16. Hicks GE, Fritz JM, Delitto A, McGill SM. Preliminary development of a clinical prediction rule for determining which patients with low back pain will respond to a stabilization exercise program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005;86:1753–1762
  17. Magee D. Orthopaedic physical assessment. 3rd ed.. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 1997;
  18. McGill SM. Ultimate back fitness and performance. 2nd ed.. Waterloo: Backfitpro Inc; 2006;
  19. McGill SM. Low back disorders: evidence based prevention and rehabilitation. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2002;
  20. Brereton LC, McGill SM. Frequency response of spine extensors during rapid isometric contractions: effects of muscle length and tension. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 1998;8:227–232
  21. Cholewicki J, McGill SM. Relationship between muscle force and stiffness in the whole mammalian muscle: a simulation study. J Biomech Eng. 1995;117:339–342

 Supported by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)01505-0

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.06.026

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 90, Issue 1 , Pages 118-126 , January 2009

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