Kinesiology THURSDAY – Single Leg Balance and the QL (Why Did That Work?!)

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“I can’t stand on one leg, but maybe I’ll never be able to do that,” she said. She demonstrated single leg stance for less than 2 seconds on each leg, with balance being worse on the right. She was visibly frustrated.

After a quick assessment I discovered a significant trigger point in her right quadratus lumborum (QL). I placed her in a position to shorten the muscle (counterstrain) for 90 seconds. It looked like this:

After 90 seconds, I passively returned her leg to neutral and the QL trigger point had been alleviated. She re-tested her single leg balance and PRESTO she was able to stand on one leg for 10 seconds.

Why did that work?!

Single leg balance requires the ability to pronate and supinate the foot. Give it a try. If you stand on one leg successfully, you will notice your foot rocks a little bit in and out in order for you to achieve this.

If a leg feels too short, it will stay supinated. If a leg feels too long, it will stay pronated. There are two muscles, if tight, that will make a leg feel too short: psoas major and quadratus lumborum.

The QL attaches from the 12th rib to the iliac crest. If shortened, it has a tendency to elevate the iliac crest, creating a functionally shorter leg and compensatory over supination.

I prescribed two exercises for this patient to maintain QL length: wall washing and butt rockers:

The next time you have a client who has difficulty with single leg balance, think of the quadratus lumborum.

Because nobody has time to be in pain.

Until next time…

Kind Regards,
MoveWell Academy
[email protected]

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