Re-activation of deep local stabilizing muscles of the spine has been demonstrated to be an essential part of rehabilitation for the musculoskeletal system and, in particular, mechanical spine pain. How many people would think of using some form of exercise as primary pain management? If you’re the typical practitioner who perhaps doesn’t get the opportunity to read the latest research in the sport sciences, you might answer, “Not many.” In this clinical report, I would like to draw attention to the increasing body of research appearing in both the strength/conditioning and pain therapy realms that is providing evidence for lumbo-pelvic core stabilization training as a method to restore normal function while, at the same time, reducing spinal pain. There is still continuing debate as to which specific
methods are the best, but a general consensus is forming regarding the presence of a muscle impairment component to many of the mechanical/ idiopathic low back pain syndromes being seen by practitioners today.1 The phrase ‘core stabilization training’ has become popular and somewhat in vogue with trainers and therapists alike. Stabilization is not the same as strengthening yet many practitioners continue to use the terms synonymously. The Redcord method of core stabilization was developed in Norway in the 1990s and represents one of the most popular techniques for specific core stabilization treatment through neuromuscular re-activation (neurac). We will begin our discussion with semantic clarifications while examining the main premise behind Redcord therapy.