Learning to engage the core

The abdominals work as a unit to support the pelvis and lumbar spine, especially during upper and lower limb movement. I use this exercise  to teach my clients to  learn to "engage" their core. It is a fundamental exercise for clients with issues involving the lower back, middle back, sacroiliac, and/or hip. For optimal results  your "core" will need to be engaged for all future rehabilitation exercises. Practice this exercise 6-8 times, at least twice a day.  Variations to this exercise (which may have been shown to you during your physiotherapy session) include engaging the pelvic floor (imagine you are stopping a flow of urine) and axial elongation of the spine (imagine a string is attached to the top/center of your head and is getting pulled to the wall behind you). 

This exercise is to be used by my clients who I have diagnosed with an apparent right leg length discrepancy (right leg shorter). For optimal results perform this muscle energy technique three times through, every day - once in the morning and once in the evening. 

 This exercise is to be used by my clients who I have diagnosed with an apparent right leg length discrepancy (right leg shorter). For optimal results perform this muscle energy technique three times through, every day - once in the morning and once in the evening.  

 This leaflet is for is for clients who have:

• Neck pain and stiffness that may extend into the upper back and shoulder blade. 
• Recently been assessed by a physiotherapist.
• Been advised they have altered mechanics of at least one of the following areas: (1) neck, (2) shoulder, (3) middle and upper back.

The purpose of this leaflet is to:

• provide clients with a written version of information and self-management recommendations provided verbally during physiotherapy sessions.