Pilates: Ranging beyond neutral

摘要

When Peter O'Sullivan, Professor of Musculo-Skeletal Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Western Australia, was interviewed in London in 2012 (Websource 1), he stated that he did not understand the term 'core-stability' and that he thought that, 'the term is not helpful, it leads to the idea that to stiffen your back is better, and that bracing or pre-bracing is healthy. But we know that bracing is compression and this can potentially lead to pain.This apparent volte-face, from one of many researchers who has been investigating lumbar instability and has published numerous papers on the subject (Dankaerts et al., 2004; O'Sullivan et al., 2003; O'Sullivan, 2000), as well as book chapters, such as one entitled, "Lumbar segmental 'instability': clinical presentation and specific stabilising exercises," In a book called 'Manual Therapy Masterclasses: The Vertebral Column' (O'Sullivan, 2003). Though O'Sullivan may be taking a reactionary line in this argument he is becoming increasingly convinced, as he stated in the London interview, that the non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) sufferer is being led to believe that the spine is a vulnerable structure, easily damaged and that it requires abnormal focus on tensing certain muscles to protect it.