extension, hypomobility, kaltenborn, lumbar segmental mobility, lumbar spine, maitland, ortho, PPIVM, segmental mobility, special test, spine, treatment

Purpose

Used to determine the amount of segmental extension in the lumbar spine. Can also be used as a treatment if hypomobility found.

Technique

Patient positioned sidelying.

Clinician makes sure patient is in neutral spine.
With female patients, a towel roll is needed for proper neutral spine alignment. Clinician places towel roll under the iliac crest to achieve neutral spine.

Clinician can either stand in front or behind the patient.

Clinician lifts patient’s top leg and cradles under the knee with caudal hand.

Clinician’s cranial hand palpates L5 spinous process.

Clinician brings patient’s leg back into hip extension with caudal hand and feels for the approximation of S1 on L5.

Clinician moves cranial hand up to L4 and repeats the process.

Clinician continues cranially up the lumbar spine to L1.

Positive

Reproduction of symptoms or comparable signs.

References

1. Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
2. Kaltenborn, F.M. (2009). Manual mobilization of the joints: The spine volume I I (5th ed.). Minneapolis, MN: OPTP.

Related videos:

1. Lumbar Segmental Mobility (rotation)
2. Lumbar Segmental Mobility (side bending)
3. Lumbar Segmental Mobility (flexion)
4. Maitland Lumbar PAIVM (skeletal model)
5. Maitland Lumbar PAIVM (human model)