Anna*, a supermarket worker, had been dealing with back pain since 2012 came to see Scott after being fed up with resigning to living with her back pain, which was having significant impact on her daily life. ‘There was no particular trauma or injury that precipitated the pain,’ says Scott, ‘so it was more likely a condition that had built up over time, an adaptive dysfunction.’

Anna underwent several treatment courses with other allied health professionals over the years, with little success in addressing her pain. 

‘It’s essential to assess everyone as individuals, and not try and apply a cookie-cutter technique to their treatment,’ says Scott. ‘When I first met with Anna, she rated her pain as an 8 out of 10. In a critical assessment, I identified that she had a pelvic misalignment, a right pelvic upslip, to be precise. Poor posture and poor muscle activation contributed to the pain.’

Scott devised a treatment plan based on a muscle energy technique that included a series of corrective exercises for Anna to complete in her own time. After their session together, Anna contacted Scott to say she’d had a pain-free period of time that lasted between 24 and 48 hours. This was the first time she’d been without pain since 2012. ‘Anna’s 8 out of 10 pain rating became a 0 out of 10,’ Scott says. ‘She was over the moon!’ While it’s important not to become complacent, Scott says they were encouraging results for all parties involved. He credits his own professional development by helping him make an assessment, saying that listening to podcasts and reading lots of new research helps him stay up-to-date and informed in his professional practice.  ‘It’s not done and dusted yet, but I’m happy I was able to help give Anna that time without pain, and I’m looking forward to working with her and her employers more to address the underlying issues and formulate a plan for ongoing treatment.’

*Anna’s name has been changed for confidentiality purposes