Structure-Specific Movement Patterns in Patients With Chronic Low Back Dysfunction Using Lumbar Combined Movement Examination

Movement examination of the lumbar spine using a developed wearable motion sensor

A system for monitoring spinal movements based on wearable motion sensors is proposed here. For this purpose, a hardware system is first developed that measures data of linear acceleration, angular velocity, and the magnetic field of the spine. Then, the obtained data from these sensors are combined in a proposed complementary filter, and their angular variations are estimated. The obtained results of angular variation of this system in comparison with an accurate reference illustrate that the root mean squared error is less than 1.61 degrees for three angles of ϕ r , θ r and ψ r for this system that proves this system can accurately estimate the angular variation of the spine. Then, the system is mounted on the lumbar spine of several volunteers, and the obtained angles from the patients' spine are compared with some healthy volunteers' spine, and the performance of their spine improves over time. The results show that this system can be very effective for patients who suffer from back problems and help in their recovery process a lot.

Wearable Nanocomposite Sensor System for Motion Phenotyping Chronic Low Back Pain: A BACPAC Technology Research Site

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is a prevalent and multifactorial ailment. No single treatment has been shown to dramatically improve outcomes for all cLBP patients, and current techniques of linking a patient with their most effective treatment lack validation. It has long been recognized that spinal pathology alters motion. Therefore, one potential method to identify optimal treatments is to evaluate patient movement patterns (ie, motion-based phenotypes). Biomechanists, physical therapists, and surgeons each utilize a variety of tools and techniques to qualitatively assess movement as a critical element in their treatment paradigms. However, objectively characterizing and communicating this information is challenging due to the lack of economical, objective, and accurate clinical tools. In response to that need, we have developed a wearable array of nanocomposite stretch sensors that accurately capture the lumbar spinal kinematics, the SPINE Sense System. Data collected from this device are used to identify movement-based phenotypes and analyze correlations between spinal kinematics and patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to describe the design and validity of the SPINE Sense System; and second, to describe the protocol and data analysis toward the application of this equipment to enhance understanding of the relationship between spinal movement patterns and patient metrics, which will facilitate the identification of optimal treatment paradigms for cLBP.

Otago Home Exercise Program along with other physiotherapy interventions for the management of prolapsed intervertebral disc and its associated symptoms in an elderly: a case report

Prolapsed intervertebral disc or herniated disc (PIVD) is a common cause of back pain between the ages of 30 and 50 years. But, in the elderly PIVD is associated with associated symptoms whose management is often ignored. We reported a case of an 85 years old male patient with existing symptoms of PIVD for the last 5 years. However, the patient has never gone for physiotherapy treatment for the past 5 years due to unawareness and ignorance of the same. Since it was a geriatric case, the patient presented with associated symptoms along with PIVD. We tried to focus on the associated symptoms of the patient as well along with PIVD like fall risk and balance. The intervention program constituted 3 weeks of physiotherapy intervention focusing on pain management, strength conditioning, and balance training followed by an Otago Home Exercise Program.

Change in Low Back Movement Patterns After Neurosurgical Intervention for Lumbar Spondylosis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess the use of computer-aided combined movement examination (CME) to measure change in low back movement after neurosurgical intervention for lumbar spondylosis and to use a CME normal reference range (NRR) to compare and contrast movement patterns identified from lumbar disk disease, disk protrusion, and nerve root compression cases.

METHODS

A test-retest, cohort observational study was conducted. Computer-aided CME was used to record lumbar range of motion in 18 patients, along with pain, stiffness, disability, and health self-report questionnaires. A minimal clinically important difference of 30% was used to interpret meaningful change in self-reports. z Scores were used to compare CME. Post hoc observation included subgrouping cases into 3 discrete pathologic conditions-disk disease, disk protrusion, and nerve root compression-to report intergroup differences in CME.

RESULTS

Self-report data indicated that 11, 7, and 10 patients improved by ≥30% in pain, stiffness, and function, respectively. Three patients experienced clinically significant improvement in health survey. A CME pattern reduced in all directions suggested disk disease. Unilaterally restricted movement in side-flexed or extended directions suggested posterolateral disk protrusion with or without ipsilateral nerve root compression. Bilateral restrictions in extension suggested posterior disk protrusion with or without nerve root compression. In 11 of the 18 cases, CME converged toward the NRR after surgery.

CONCLUSION

We described the use of CME to identify atypical lumbar movement relative to an NRR. Data from this short-term postoperative study provide preliminary evidence for CME movement patterns suggestive of disk disease, disk protrusion, and nerve root compression.