medicine who has trained to become a registered Trigenist Physician/Practitio- ner uses either a Trigenics Strengthening procedure, referred to as “TS” or a Tri- genics Lengthening procedure referred to as “TL.” This is carried out in order to correct the aberrant neuromotor control, which causes an imbalance in the pulling forces on the joint with consequent dys- functional athrokinetics. A study was performed by Richardson et al. aimed to examine EMG activity of abdominal and back muscles as well as triaxial torque output during isometric axial rotation at different exertion levels in back pain patients and matched con- trols(3) . The findings of the study demon- strated that decreased activation of one muscle may be compensated by over-ac- tivity in other muscles(3) . The examiners deduced from this finding that spinal sta- bility could be compromised due to the reduced levels of activity of the multifidi muscles during axial rotation exertion in back pain patients(3) . vertebrae to patterns also known as cou- pled motions, which are compatible with the limitations on tissue(2) . Upon passive axial rotation of the lumbar spine, the ipsilateral multifidi and the contralateral erector spinae are lengthened. When you passively rotate the patient to the right, their right multif- idi and left erector spinae muscles would be lengthened and their left multifidi and right erector spinae would be shortened. For example, when performing the Aus- tin test on a patient, you notice that they are not rotating to the left as far as they are to the right. A patient that presents with less axial rotational range of mo- tion to the left would indicate that either the left multifi di and/or the right erector spinae are in a hypertonic or neurologi- cally facilitated state. Another presenta- tion may be if the patient has normal axial rotational range of motion to the right and excessive axial rotational range of motion to the left. This would indicate that the patient would need a strengthening pro- cedure to increase tonicity of the left mul- tifi di and right erector spinae. The Oolo- Austin test is a quick and efficient method that allows the practitioner to accurately assess the deep back muscles resetting of neuromotor gamma gain in order to be lengthened and those which need to be facilitated and thereby strengthened. A physician or therapist practising manual www.canadianchiropractor.ca DISCUSSION OF TREATMENT A patient who presents with a positive Oolo-Austin Test would likely benefit greatly from a combination of joint ma- nipulation, to correct any aberrant oste- ology and arthrokinetics, and soft tissue techniques to treat aberrant histology. However, the imbalanced biomechan- ics with resultant pain and dysfunction will continue to reoccur unless the root cause of the problem is addressed, that being aberrant neurology, also known as dysafferentation. It is for this reason that Trigenics may be being the “missing element” to total sustainable care(1). It is important to note that Trigenics is not a technique, and its primary objective is not adhesion removal nor the mechani- cal treatment of soft tissues(1) . Trigenics is actually a “global neurological treatment system” with the primary objective to cor- rect sensorimotor malfunction(1) . It incor- porates applying three treatment “tech- niques” simultaneously for an amplitude summation effect neurologically; “Trigen- ics combines functional reflex neurology with mechanoreceptor manipulation and cerberopulmonary biofeedback”(1) . The objective of this treatment system is to change the “tone” or “gamma gain” with- in the tissues by altering the afferent and efferent neural signals(1) . Dr. Oolo-Austin and many of his students have successfully reported treating hundreds of patients us- ing Trigenics. Numerous physicians and therapists have found it remarkably effec- tive in providing correction, functional restoration and/or relief for a wide range of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and chronic pain syndromes.(1) . The Oolo-Austin Test is an efficient method of assessing a patient’s thoraco- lumbar axial rotation and range of mo- tion with the purpose of detecting aber- rant intrinsic neuromotor control and function. The Trigenics treatment system, when applied to dysfunctional multifidi and erector spinae has been found clini- cally to be very effective in alleviating low back pain as well as increasing axial rota- tion as well as trunk fl exion. Often pa- tients complaining of severe debilitating back pain with inability to fully forward fl ex will respond dramatically well with signifi cant decrease in pain and increase in ROM post treatment using the Tri- genics® Applied-Functional-Neurology® procedures.• References: 1. Oolo-Austin A. DC. Trigenics Myoneural Medicine - Theory Manual. Toronto, The International Institute of Trigenics, Inc. 2005. 2. Hansen L, PhD, de Zee M, PhD, Rasmus- sen J, PhD, Andersen TB, PhD, Wong C, PhD, Simonsen EB, PhD, “Anatomy and Biomechanics of the Back Muscles in the Lumbar Spine With Reference to Biomechanical Modeling.” Spine. 2006; 31(17):1888-1899. 3. Ng JK, Richardson CA, Parnianpour M, Kippers V, EMG activity of trunk muscles and torque output during isometric axial rotation exertion: a comparison between back pain patients and matched controls. J Orthop Res. 2002; 20(1):112-21. 4. Kuriyama N, Ito H, Electromyographic Functional Analysis of the Lumbar Spinal Muscles with Low Back Pain. J Nippon Med Sch. 2005; 72: 165-173. 5. “The Anatomy Lesson.” <http://myweb- pages.comcast.net/wnor/homepage.htm>. 1999 by Wesley Norman, PhD, DSc. Muscles of the Upper Limb and Back. June 20. 2007. <http://mywebpages.comcast. net/wnor/lesson6musclesofback.htm> 6. Craig Morris, DC, DACRB, FAFICC, CSCS. “The Enduring Message of Vladimir Janda, MD, DSc”, Dynamic Chiropractic, April 21, 2003, Volume 21, Issue 09, <http://www.chiroweb.com/ar- chives/21/09/19.html> 7. Frank M. Painter, DC. Updated 8-24-2006 “Vladimir Janda Citation List.” June 20, 2007. <http://www.chiro.org/LINKS/ ABSTRACTS/Janda.shtml> CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | SEPTEMBER 2008 • 49
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