One of the tell-tale signs of a slipped disc is a patient who has to use their arms walking up their thighs in order to stand up.

A ‘slipped’ (prolapsed) disc does not actually slip. What happens is that part of the inner softer part of the disc (the nucleus pulposus) bulges out (herniates) through a tear in the inner or (more severely) the outer part of the disc. A prolapsed disc is sometimes called a herniated disc.

The tearing of the ligaments making up the outer part of the disc often happens over many years as a result of the inhibition of the muscle which control the movement of the vertebrae.

Tearing of the ligaments could be caused when the load that would normally be taken by the large muscles (like the gluteals) is transeferred onto the small muscles (like the rotatores). Thus, a slipped disc is often caused by a weakness of the gluteal muscles.

You can clearly see this patient using his arms to help him stand up, a movement that would normally be accomplished with the gluteal muscles (gluteus maximus).

You can also see the dramatic return to strength and normal mobility as he changes the afferent input he gets by biting on a gold crown.