correction, counternutated, L on R, muscle energy, ortho, posterior sacral, R on L, sacral torsion, sacrum, sidelying, treatment

Purpose

A muscle energy technique used to correct a counternutated sacrum (R on L sacral torsion)

Technique

Patient is positioned in L sidelying.

Clinician rotates the patient down into R rotation. The Clinician palpates the sacral base with his caudal hand and uses his cranial hand to grab the patient’s L arm (the lower arm) and rotates down locking L5 on the sacrum.

Clinician extends the unaffected leg (the bottom leg).

Clinician flexes the hip and knee to about 90° and rests the patient’s knee against the Clinician’s body.

Clinician then palpates the sacral sulcus with his cranial hand and uses his caudal hand to push the lower leg further into extension until he reaches the motion barrier (the sacral sulcus coming up into his fingers).

Clinician tells the patient to abduct the top leg and he uses his caudal hand to provide resistance to abduction.

Clinician has patient hold the contraction for 6 seconds and has the patient repeat the technique 2-3 times.

This technique can also be used to correct a L on R sacral torsion by having the patient positioned in R sidelying and rotating them to the L.

References

1. Dutton, M. (2008). Orthopaedic: Examination, evaluation, and intervention (2nd ed.). New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Related videos:

1. [Muscle Energy] Correct Nutated Sacrum on the Right (L on L)
2. SI Joint – Sacrum Caudal & Cranial Glides (skeletal model)
3. SI Joint – Sacrum Caudal & Cranial Glides (human model)
4. SI Joint – Ilium Dorsal Glide
5. Pelvic Inspection in Prone