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Regional Manual Therapy
LumbarPAIVM & PPIVM Spinal Assessment / MobilizationGeneral regional overview

PNA Regional Principles · Overview

Lumbar — PAIVM / PPIVM

What changes when PAIVM & PPIVM Spinal Assessment / Mobilization meets the lumbar? Start with the patient's movement, assess safely, and see what the re-test reveals.

3 specific variationsClinical re-test built in

Important: this is a clinical framework, not a complete technique protocol.

This page was generated from broader regional principles. It can help you frame assessment, patient comfort, safety and reassessment, but its generic positioning, contact and dosage text must not be treated as technique-specific hands-on instruction. Study a detailed, individually authored procedure and use supervised practical training.

Read the parent technique and its specific clinical methods

Specific variations

How this technique is applied in the lumbar

Each variation below is written so you can follow patient setup, contact, direction, dose and the re-test that decides whether the technique earned a place in the plan.

01
LumbarLumbar segment

Central PAIVM

One question matters more than the name of this variation: will the patient notice a useful change in Original comparable sign and active movement? The careful re-test gets the final word.

The change we are looking for

Assess/treat accessory posterior-anterior movement as one part of the clinical examination

Primary target

Lumbar segment

The movement that tells us

Original comparable sign and active movement

Patient focus

Assess/treat accessory posterior-anterior movement as one part of the clinical examination

Therapist verifies

Original comparable sign and active movement

Success signal

Keep the technique only if the re-test shows a meaningful improvement in original comparable sign and active movement without symptom worsening.

Full clinical application
1

Position the patient

Prone, side-lying or supine with pelvis/trunk supported.

2

Set the contact

Region-specific contact over Lumbar segment using the parent technique principles.

3

Apply the technique

Graded central PA pressure

4

Dose & re-test

Use a conservative response-guided trial and reassess before repeating. Re-test: Original comparable sign and active movement

02
LumbarLumbar facet/posterior element

Unilateral PAIVM

One question matters more than the name of this variation: will the patient notice a useful change in Rotation/side-bending and symptoms? The careful re-test gets the final word.

The change we are looking for

Assess side-specific accessory response

Primary target

Lumbar facet/posterior element

The movement that tells us

Rotation/side-bending and symptoms

Patient focus

Assess side-specific accessory response

Therapist verifies

Rotation/side-bending and symptoms

Success signal

Keep the technique only if the re-test shows a meaningful improvement in rotation/side-bending and symptoms without symptom worsening.

Full clinical application
1

Position the patient

Prone, side-lying or supine with pelvis/trunk supported.

2

Set the contact

Region-specific contact over Lumbar facet/posterior element using the parent technique principles.

3

Apply the technique

Graded unilateral PA pressure

4

Dose & re-test

Use a conservative response-guided trial and reassess before repeating. Re-test: Rotation/side-bending and symptoms

03
LumbarLumbar physiological movement

PPIVM

One question matters more than the name of this variation: will the patient notice a useful change in Active movement and function? The careful re-test gets the final word.

The change we are looking for

Assess relative segmental contribution during passive physiological motion

Primary target

Lumbar physiological movement

The movement that tells us

Active movement and function

Patient focus

Assess relative segmental contribution during passive physiological motion

Therapist verifies

Active movement and function

Success signal

Keep the technique only if the re-test shows a meaningful improvement in active movement and function without symptom worsening.

Full clinical application
1

Position the patient

Prone, side-lying or supine with pelvis/trunk supported.

2

Set the contact

Region-specific contact over Lumbar physiological movement using the parent technique principles.

3

Apply the technique

Guide flexion/extension/rotation or side-bending while palpating relative movement

4

Dose & re-test

Use a conservative response-guided trial and reassess before repeating. Re-test: Active movement and function

Safety / do not apply when…

Screen cauda equina features, fracture, infection, malignancy and progressive neurological loss before routine manual treatment.

Stop or modify if symptoms peripheralize, neurological status worsens, the response is disproportionate or the patient asks to stop.

Clinical rule

A technically correct technique is not automatically a useful technique. Keep it only when the patient's pain, range or function improves in a clinically meaningful way, then transfer that gain into active movement, loading or self-management.