If you have lower back pain
Regardless of what you are doing or where you are, at the first sign of recurrence of lower back pain you must take action. That is, you must immediately start the exercises that previously led to recovery, and you must follow the instructions given to relieve acute pain. You must at once begin Exercise 4, Extension in Standing. If this does not eliminate your pain within minutes, you must quickly introduce Exercise 3, Extension in Lying. The immediate use of Exercise 3 very often can prevent the onset of a disabling attack of lower back pain. If your pain is already too acute to tolerate these exercises, begin with Exercises 1 and 2, Lying Facedown and Lying Facedown in Extension.
Finally, if you have symptoms on one side that do not centralize as a result of the exercises just recommended, shift your hips away from the painful side before beginning the exercises. Further, hold your
hips in the off-center position while you exercise. In addition to the exercises, you must pay extra attention to your posture and must maintain the lordosis as much as possible.
If your new episode of lower back pain seems to be different from those you have experienced on other occasions, and if your pain persists despite the fact that you have closely followed the instructions in this book, seek advice from a health professional, ideally a member or associate of the McKenzie Institute.
To obtain the names of credentialed members and associates of the McKenzie Institute, see Appendix A at the back of this book.
