SUCCESS STORIES - Karine Roux

SUCCESS STORIES - Karine Roux

To whom it may concern:

I am currently completing my articles to qualifying as a chartered accountant at the end of the year. I have always experienced mild discomfort in my lower back but I thought this was normal due to having to carry a heavy laptop bag around for work. I also have little control over the kind of chair and desk I sit at, as that depends on what is available at our clients. I enjoyed being active and was practicing ITF Taekwon-do before the pain became too unbearable.

My lower back pain however became progressively worse about 2 years ago. In early 2008, I fell off a ladder but I didn't feel the effects immediately. I started to notice significant pain after a weekend away where we were jumping into a dam from a "Foofy" slide from about 15 to 20 metres. I had landed in the water at an awkward angle and couldn't walk properly for about a week. After about 2 months, the pain was so unbearable that I had to stop Taekwon-do and gyming completely. I went to see a physio and a sports doctor but nothing helped ease the pain and they weren't able to diagnose what was wrong with me. At one stage the lower back pain was so bad (level of pain about 9.5 out of 10) that I couldn't stand up straight at all and I could only stand for short periods of time. I was severely restricted in my mobility and could not even reach my knees when trying to touch my toes. I experienced mild relief from the pain after visiting another physio who used dry-needling on my back.

In December 2008, I was involved in a car accident. I went for fresh x-rays and a CT scan and was finally diagnosed with Scheuermann's kyphosis (curving of the spine) which was localised between my L4 and L5 vertebrae. This at least explained why I found it so difficult to correct my posture. I now just needed to find a way to get the pain under control and slow down the effects of the kyphosis.

In about March 2009 I went to see Gavin Groves, a Biokineticist at the World of Golf. After assessing me, he designed a programme involving stretches and exercises to help me regain mobility and to strengthen my core. I tried to do the stretches everyday and would do the exercises about twice a week. I did not notice any significant improvement immediately but about three months ago I started to notice that I was experiencing less pain (level of pain about 5 out of 10) and I was able to walk and stand for longer periods of time.

The stretches and excercise, as well as resting my back (and the fact that I now pull my laptop bag around on a bag trolley) have allowed me to slowly start to re-introduce more active exercise into my routine. I am now able to touch my toes completely and I have a lot more mobility with my posture having significantly improved. I can stand up straight again and on average, only experience a level of pain of about 2 or 3 out of 10. I hope to go back to Taekwon-do early in the new year.

Regards, Karine Roux