I had a new patient with central lower back pain today. I took the case history, presented to our tutor in the team point and we agreed that I need to assess the patients' lumber spine as well as the SIJ joints. I examined the patient actively and then passively in the side-lying position on the plinth. I assessed a decreased range of movement in the T2-3, L4-5 and LS segments. When the tutor came, she assessed as well the mobility of my patient's spine. In comparison to my examination, the tutor assessed the lumber and lower thoracic spine of my patient from both sides therefore asking my patient to turn to the other side-lying position. At first the tutor disagreed with my findings but then palpated the same findings on the side I had assessed. By that time I never came across that there could be a difference when assessing both sides. Therefore for my future clinical examination I will assess my patients' spine from both sides in the side-lying position.
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