[Purpose] To demonstrate immediate alteration in lumbar lordosis and the lumbar angle in
each segment after the application of the mechanical pressure technique to the psoas major
muscle (PM). [Participants and Methods] In all, 34 participants were assigned to either
the PM pressure technique group (n=17) or control group (n=17). Three dimensional (3D)
coordinates of the 12th thoracic spinous process and lumbar spinous processes were
measured with a 3D digitizer in the prone position with 15° bilateral hip extension to
compare the changes in lumbar lordosis and the lumbar extension angle in each segment in
both the PM pressure technique group and control group. [Results] Mann-Whitney’s U test
revealed no significant differences in lumbar lordosis in either group. However, the
lumbar extension angle at L4 decreased significantly after the PM pressure technique
compared with that before the pressure technique. Additionally, the lumbar extension angle
at L4 also decreased significantly after the PM pressure technique compared with the
control group. Conversely, lumbar extension angle at L1 increased significantly after the
PM pressure technique compared with that before. There was no significant difference in
the lumbar extension angle at L2, L3 and L5 after the PM pressure technique. [Conclusion]
This study suggests that the PM pressure technique possibly attenuates PM stiffness while
reducing lumbar extension in each segment.
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