Lateral Shift

Restoring movement variability in all three planes is a more effective and less provocative approach than shift correction for both acute and subacute presentations. A lateral shift is a functional scoliosis that develops in response to a lumbar disc bulge or nerve root impingement. Although a lateral shift appears as a frontal-plane deviation, it involves a rotational component and affects all three planes of motion simultaneously. The vertebrae deviate laterally to create space and offload the compressed or irritated nerve root tissue. In the acute phase, the lateral shift is most likely a protective adaptation, and disrupting it prematurely risks worsening the patient's condition. Anti-inflammatory injections are preferred over tolerating ongoing inflammation because nerve damage that progresses can take an extremely long time to recover from, with no guarantee of recovery. Exercise selection for radicular patients should begin with positions that are comfortable, eliminating exercises performed in positions that provoke pain.