Following a spinal injury, particularly an injury to the disc, certain spinal stabilizing muscles begin to weaken or deactivate. When these muscles lose their ability to protect the spine from further injury, then a downward spiral of injury-weakness-fear-activity avoidance-weakness-re-injury occurs. To prevent this downward spiral from occurring, it is advisable to begin core stabilizing exercises as early as they can be tolerated after an injury. This line of exercise is based on the ability to contract the corset of muscles composing the “core.”
The multifidus muscle in particular seems to be a sentinel of weakening of the protective muscles of the core. Research has indicated that the multifidus muscle does not always recover after injury. The multifidus has been singled out from all of the other important muscles of the spine because it is the only muscle whose primary function is to protect the spine from injury and because it is the easiest muscle to see atrophy after spinal injury.
Before beginning this exercise program it is important to understand that there is a fine-line between beneficial therapy and injurious overexertion.
This program is a phased-approach to spinal stabilization. Be patient. It may take weeks or months to realize the benefits of these stabilization exercises.
Of course, if these exercises increase your pain, discontinue them immediately.
What are the multifidus muscles?
The multifidus muscles are small muscles that are not major movers of the spine, but act to stiffen and protect the spine from injury. MRI, EMG, Ultrasound and biopsy have shown that these muscles are prone to atrophy after injury or surgery.
How is multfidus pronounced?
mull-TIFF-i-dus
