Sam's story

Sam a 17 year old avid cricket player was complaining of a pain below his ribs that had been going on for over 3 months. The pain was preventing him from running or bowling, but was also affecting all of his everyday activities like sitting and sleeping. His pain was very severe, he'd rated it at 8/10. He had seen 2 previous physiotherapists who were unable to isolate the cause of his pain and he was also referred to a consultant for further investigation of an MRI scan.

Examination revealed an obvious area of swelling and facet joint inflammation over L1&2 on the right side only. His forward bending was slightly restricted but his pain was reproduced when side bending to the right and it pulled when he bent away from the pain.

He was treated with my foot to mobilise the stiff spinal segment of T12, and the stiffness and inflammation of a facet joint arthropathy affecting L1&2. He was also taught the sequence of Sarah Key exercises regime with the back block to decompress the spine. When he returned he had religiously done his exercises and described his pain as 2/10. He had also started to practice his bowling with no ill effects. Sam is continuing to do his exercises and has not experienced the pain he had previously.