Back pain is complex, and the back muscles can be one part of the picture

• The multifidus muscles contribute to movement, proprioception and segmental control of the spine.
• Studies often find smaller multifidus muscles and more intramuscular fat in groups with low back pain. This is an association: the muscle changes may contribute to pain, result from pain and reduced activity, or both.
• Exercise can help many people with persistent low back pain, but no single muscle or exercise method is a universal solution.

Pelvic stabilization can help isolate the lumbar extensor muscles

• MedX lumbar extension devices are designed to stabilize the pelvis and reduce assistance from the hip extensors during lumbar-extension exercise (see video or video).
• Unfortunately, these devices are very expensive, large and present in only few facilities.
• My goal is to explore a compact home device for controlled lumbar-extension training with pelvic stabilization.
• The current project status can be found under prototype.
• More background knowledge can be found under science.
• This prototype is experimental and has not been clinically validated. It is not a substitute for medical assessment or supervised rehabilitation.