The back and entire spine, as well as all possible ailments such as cervical osteoarthritis, is one of the most sensitive parts of our entire body. In all the actions of our day, the entire back part intervenes. Therefore, exercising it and maintaining it at a good level of health is presented as essential. One of the best methods available is performing Klapp exercises.
The complexity of the spine
It is impossible to understand the importance of these routines without understanding the complexity of the human backbone. The spine is made up of no less than 33 vertebrae separated by the in vertebral discs. Without the spine it is impossible for any mammal to maintain balance and move in an upright position. In addition, it also acts as a protector of the spinal cord, so its importance in the human body is capital.
The 33 vertebrae are divided into five different groups consisting of seven cervical, 12 dorsal, five lumbar, five sacral and four coccyges. Between each of these vertebrae we can find soft cartilage discs that act as a shock absorber and allow the vertebrae to give movement. The core also strengthens the spine. All abdominal muscles support the back with the help of other muscles and ligatures.
Many will wonder what a healthy back is. Basically, it is one that is completely aligned and with a strong musculature that is capable of preventing muscle contractures. Physical exercise is essential to strengthen the back. When you do not do sports, the abdominal muscles and, consequently, those of the back weaken facilitating the spine to adopt a bad posture that can end up being a problem. One of the most common medical conditions is scoliosis, one of the main deviations that the spine can suffer.
What are Klapp exercises?
This type of exercise emerged in the early twentieth century, developed by Dr. Klapp. Basing his studies on the observation of quadruped animals (those that use all four limbs to move), which were characterized by having a flexed body position, this German surgeon detected that this type of animals never suffered from spinal problems. Scoliosis, that is, spinal deviation, was practically nonexistent in this type of living beings.
From this discovery, Rudolf Klapp concluded that the normal position of humans is the main cause of the so-called problems of the vertebral spine. The pressure exerted by the force of gravity on the entire spine facilitates the imbalance of the entire static vertebral part. His patients suffered from scoliosis, kyphosis, roto scoliosis, hyperlordosis, radiculopathies and thoracic deformities, among others. Thus, his method had multiple benefits. In the lordotic areas, the rachis has greater range of motion and amplitude, the rib cage has greater freedom of expansion and contraction on all fours and there is a greater constant relationship between the inclination of the entire trunk and the curvature of the spine.
From here, the German doctor developed his own method, which includes numerous exercises to correct this type of problem. All its correction movements are based on placing the patient in a crawling position, as if it were a quadruped animal. Thus, what is now known as functional physiotherapy was born. Klapp exercises are intended to regain the mobility of the spine, while maintaining and improving its flexibility. By practicing these exercises, for two hours a day, the muscles, bones and ligaments of the area were strengthened.
Benefits of this type of exercises for the back
The implementation of Klapp exercises has numerous benefits for the spine. The most prominent are the following:
- It improves the health of the back which contributes to a better quality of the patient in his day to day.
- It reduces the possibility of injuries to the spine and the possibility of suffering any type of lumbago.
- The gravity of the spine is eliminated and greater stability is achieved
- Corrects postural problems and facilitates carrying weights as simple as shopping bags in a shopping center
- Allows the performance of fitness exercises in which the dorsal muscles of the back work
- It allows you to adopt a more active lifestyle from the practice of sport and, at the same time, less sedentary.
- It gains in flexibility, strength and elongation of the entire part of the spine that is worked.
This type of exercise stretches the concave side of the spine and strengthens the entire convex part. The entire concave part corrects all its contractures, while the other part of the back is strengthened by gaining strength and flexibility. Previously, to perform this type of practice, it is necessary to make sure that there is a good histogenic state in the muscles that work. These are the spinal, interscapular and abdominal. Obviously, the results depend on the intensity, healing and regularity with which all the exercises are performed.
How to perform Klapp exercises
These types of exercises are divided into different types, depending on the objective that the patient has when starting therapy with his physiotherapist. From the initial position in quadrupedal form, ordinations and kyphotizations are performed. In high ordinations, the entire dorsal and lumbar part is worked from resting the palms of the hands on the knees and lifting the thorax. In contrast, in low lordizations, the patient rests the elbows on the knees and not the hands. It is more intended for the cervical and dorsal. On the other hand, high kyphotizations see how the patient curves his spine forward after resting his hands on his knees having incidence in the upper part of the dorsal. In the low kyphotizations the same exercise is performed supporting the elbows and affecting the lower part of the spine and the dorsal.
Klapp’s method consists of nine exercises. Of these nine, six are stretches and the remaining three are ambulation. To achieve these benefits, it is necessary to be regular and constant in the practice of the different positions of Klapp exercises that you will know below. The low position consists of sinking the scapulas between the two forearms, to adopt a posture in the form of kyphosis. The dorsals, between D1 and D4, can be mobilized while the hip is stabilized. The opposite movement to the curvature is achieved, while with the head it is inhibited. In parallel, the so-called semi-low position can also be adopted. In this, the shoulder girdle is located horizontally at the height of the arms. Maintaining the kyphosis position, dorsal D5 and D7 are affected more selectively.
Within the inventory of exercises offered by Dr. Klapp there are also semi-upright and upright positions. In the first, the body has the support of the knees and fists placing the spine with a mobilization in lordiosis that descends towards the dorsals D10, D12 and L1, achieving a totally straight position in kyphosis. The movement made by the spine is totally contrary to scoliosis improving the curvature of the back. On the other hand, in the upright position, the exercise affects the L1 and L3 dorsals, achieving the same type of position in kyphosis. In the inverted position, finally, the patient does not use the hands that are kept crossed behind. Pulling the back, a little forward achieves a movement in lordosis located in the dorsals L4-S1.
In addition, there is also what is known as the Klapp march. The usual gait is performed for those patients suffering from scoliosis C and starts with a position with opposite arms and legs. Extending the left upper and lower right limb corrects the dorsal and lumbar curvature from the extension of two limbs that balance with the others. The march in ambladura, on the other hand, is done with the arms and legs on the same side. It is indicated for those suffering from combined or S scoliosis. The right upper limb is advanced until the left hemibody reaches its height. Those patients suffering from hyper kyphosis or hyperlordosis can perform the march alternately or homologous limbs. The two upper limbs are advanced and, after them, the two lower limbs. This way it is possible to correct all the deformations that may be in the lateral areas.
However, debate about the effectiveness of Klap’s exercises has been constant in recent years. The main argument against its realization is its antiquity, since it has more than a century of history behind it, in addition to the great difficulty of execution that some of the majority positions have. In spite of everything, new techniques have emerged and it continues to be one of the main references in the large physiotherapy clinics worldwide and most recommended for all patients.