whether hyperextension exercises in a roman chair are appropriate as part of
your spinal rehabilitation program, first let me give you some background on
the topic. I will then describe muscle control problems that arise
with back pain Next, we need to set goals for rehabilitation and
determine the specific training requirements to achieve those objectives. And finally, I’ll describe the inherent problems with traditional Roman chairs, followed by a solution. Website design By BotEap.commuscle control during
optimal health Website design By BotEap.comResearch has shown that there are two types of muscles: Superficial
muscular strengthY deep stabilizing muscles. Everyone has their own thing
Unique features. Website design By BotEap.comThink about superficial
muscular strength they have “sprinter-type” muscles. These muscles contain the same
type of muscle fibers that are highly developed in the legacy of the Olympic Games
sprinters. They are great at producing speed during a 100 meter race, but poor at
for endurance during a marathon. On the contrary, the deep stabilizing muscles
they are more like “marathon type” muscles (superior for endurance but poor for
speed). Website design By BotEap.comIn healthy individuals, the
main role of the superficial strength muscles lower back and
abdomen is to move the torso. (Torso is defined as: The human body excluding
the head, neck and extremities. This part of the body is also known as the trunk.
Therefore, these muscles move the ribcage, lumbar spine, and pelvis.) They are also
responsible for controlling trunk posture during high-level activities. Thesis
activities may include: lifting, pushing, pulling, jumping, running, and others
ballistic (rapid) movements of the extremities. Website design By BotEap.comOn the contrary, the deep
stabilizing muscles of the back and abdomen are used to provide continuous
postural adjustments of the torso throughout the day during low level
activities. Some examples of low level activities are: sitting, standing,
moving from a sitting to a standing position, walking and slow (non-ballistic)
limb movements. Website design By BotEap.comMuscle control problems that arise with back pain Website design By BotEap.comAfter experiencing back pain, the brain’s strategy to maintain trunk posture
changes to a simplified bottom strategy. First the deep stabilization
muscles stop working properly. Second, the superficial strength muscles
of the trunk become hyperactive and their muscle fibers shorten to restrict
trunk range of motion. Website design By BotEap.comThis overactive/shortened
response is recognized by experts as the brain’s attempt to “block” and
protect painful segments of the torso during the acute phase of injury.
This compensation pattern usually continues after it is no longer needed.
during the chronic phase of back pain (when injured soft tissue structures
have healed). Website design By BotEap.comThe strategy to use
“sprinter-like” muscles to try to maintain trunk posture throughout the day is
Like forcing an Olympic sprinter to compete in a marathon, instead of the 100
subway board. Obviously, the sprinter’s muscles are built for speed, not
endurance. To say the least, this strategy would not be very efficient.
But, other problems arise secondary to muscle fatigue and the consequent
spasm resulting in disc and joint compression. Website design By BotEap.com Website design By BotEap.comrehabilitation goals and
Specific training requirements Website design By BotEap.comJust as the specific training goals and requirements for sprinters are different
than for marathon runners, there are also vast differences in goals and
specific training requirements for a core rehabilitation program
Exercise routine Website design By BotEap.comIn rehab, one of our
The objectives would be to release the superficial strength muscles. (Remember
that have “blocked” the injured region of the spine.) This is
achieved through slow, low-load, and pain-free movement patterns focused on
lengthening the superficial strength muscles while you are relaxed. That is
something that I describe to my patients as a relaxed muscle release exercise
(not to be confused with muscle stretch exercise). Website design By BotEap.comWhile it is true that we must stretch the non-contractile fascia and related
tissues, it is important to recognize that muscles must be released while
relaxed. This is necessary to restore the muscle spindles that
control the resting tone set point and muscle length. Website design By BotEap.comthe idea of a relaxed
muscle release exercise is definitely a mindset change. What does it mean
is that typical hyperextension exercises performed on a roman chair bench are
it is not appropriate for the initial stages of rehabilitation of chronic back pain. Website design By BotEap.comIf he superficial strength muscles of the back and abdominal wall
are too active (contract too much) and the muscle fibers shorten to
restrict the range of motion of the trunk, then “strengthening” exercises would not be the
appropriate type of exercise for rehabilitation. Website design By BotEap.comOur next goal would be to retrain the deep stabilizing muscles in its
role as the main stabilizers of the trunk during low-level activities. That is
difficult to achieve in a person with chronic back pain as the superficial
muscular strength are trying to fill that role by overcontracting and
shortening to restrict movement in the previously injured region of the torso.
Therefore, an aggressive exercise using a novelty chair that emphasizes the
superficial strength muscles of the torso and hips may stop activating
tea deep stabilizing muscles properly. A more specific training
approach is required. Website design By BotEap.comimportant one deep
stabilizer muscle from the back is called lumbar multifidus.
This muscle inserts on each segment of the lumbar spine down to the sacrum and
pelvis. The specific workout I recommend on a back exercise machine
It is a slow, low-load extension movement that occurs at each vertebra, rather than
keeping the curve of the lower back in a locked position as you move through
the hips. This exercise should be easy enough to perform 30 repetitions.
without fatigue Website design By BotEap.comThe Problem and the
Solution Website design By BotEap.comSpecific training requirements for lumbar multifidi rehabilitation are not
likely to be achieved as part of a home exercise program in a traditional novel
hyper extension bench chair The design of the traditional 90 degree drill.
angle is too difficult and is not adequately designed to promote the specific
training requirements of spinal rehabilitation. This type of Roman chair
emphasize the hamstrings, glutes and superficial strength muscles of
the lower back It is also likely that the training in the 45 degree exercise
angle will be too difficult and not specific enough. Website design By BotEap.comFortunately, a solution has
developed that can be designated as a hybrid of the hyper Roman chair
bank extension. it’s called the Kettler Medic Back Trainer
(made in Germany). The Back Trainer Medic was designed to ensure the
correct movement pattern, so individual segments of lumbar multifidus are
properly trained. The torso pad is curved and the height of the pad
is adjustable so it guides the user through the correct movement of the torso for
spinal rehabilitation. Website design By BotEap.comThe specific exercises that I
show my patients how to work with the Back Trainer Medic to meet the two objectives that
previously covered in this article: First, release the surface force
muscles of the back (through relaxed muscle release exercises), and second,
retraining of deep stabilizer muscle of the back, called the lumbar
multifidus (through a slow, low-load extension movement that occurs at each
vertebra). The specific exercises are also shown on a DVD video, so my
patients can view it at home for additional guidance. Website design By BotEap.comThe Back Trainer Medic has six levels of difficulty. The easiest level is
easier to perform than the 45-degree exercise angle of a Roman chair, making it
most appropriate for the initial stages of spinal rehabilitation. East
allows the user to progress to higher levels of difficulty while the lumbar
The multifidi muscles adapt by improving motor control and increasing in size.
Another plus is that this machine virtually eliminates hamstrings from
exercise so that your efforts are focused more specifically on training the
Lumbar multifidus muscles.