Sports-related injuries are always a serious matter, but this month’s topic is even more so.  Many people don’t realize the severity of the injuries to the lower back that can be traced to twisting movements.  At the Soft Tissue Center we have recently seen several serious low-back injuries caused by twisting-type exercises that were performed either on machines or with a stick, or dowel, that you see every day in the gym.
 
The irony here is that I saw a prototype of a rotational resistance apparatus back in the mid-1980’s, and I warned the developer that this type of equipment could lead to debilitating injuries.  Needless to say, my words went unheeded, and there are now many versions of this machine on the market.  As a result we are seeing plenty of injuries.  Even the “good old twist,” performed with a broomstick, and certain equipment that’s still around from the spas of yesteryear, can induce a serious injury that you would feel instantly or that would weaken some structures of your lower back and set you up for trouble later.  Such problems are usually frustrating and difficult to identify.

The lumbar spine, as the lower back is technically called, is composed of five bony segments known as vertebrae.  In between the vertebrae are the disks, which are layers of dense fibrous material that is formed in a ring-like pattern.  The center of each disk is composed of a thick, semi-solid substance.  The disks have several functions, including assisting in weight distribution that involves the spine.
 
The biomechanics of the lower back are different from those of other regions of the spine.  The main actions that the bony anatomy of the lumbar spine accomplishes are flexion and extension.  It enables you to bend forward and backward; for example, when you’re doing crunches, hyperextensions or deadlifts.  It does not allow for much rotation, or twisting, of the lower back.  In fact, there are approximately 5 degrees of rotation between each junction of lumbar vertebrae, making a grand total of 30 degrees that you can rotate your lower back.  According to some sources, there is even less rotation available than 30 degrees.  Obviously, this won’t let you twist very far.
 
If you think about how the human body moves, you will realize that we accomplish most of any twisting movement through other parts of the spine.  The key area that rotates is the neck, or cervical region, which can turn from 60 to 80 degrees, depending on which source you consult.  When you twist around to look at something, you turn your head; that is, you rotate your neck.  The rest of the spine adds a few more degrees to finish the motion.

We’ve all seen people who are suffering from a simple “stiff neck” or some other type of neck injury.  Remember how awkward they looked when they tried to turn?  They had to use the rest of the spine to rotate, and it appeared to be a difficult and limited movement.  The lumbar spine is not designed to rotate significantly.  It is that simple.