3D LUMBAR SPINAL MOTION AND LOW BACK PAIN (LBP) – A PHD PROJECT

Advisors

PhD J Hartvigsen, PhD P Aagaard, University of Southern Denmark. PhD G Br⊘nfort, Northwestern Health Sciences University, Minneapolis, MN, USA and NIKKB. PhD G Kawchuk, Canada Research Chair in Spinal Function, University of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. PhD A Breen, Institute for muscoloskeletal research & clinical implementation, Bournemouth, England. PhD J Rasmussen, Institut for Maskinteknik og Anybody Group, Aalborg Universitet

Introduction

The overall issue of this project is to investigate the relationship between the lumbar spinal biomechanics, patient's pain and physiological effects of traditional conservative treatments.

Background

Biomechanical factors such as ranges, patterns and quality of motion in the lumbar spine are thought to be important contributors to many varieties of LBP. Furthermore, commonly used treatments for spine pain such as exercises, training, and various manual treatments such as manipulation are thought to alter biomechanical factors and thereby facilitating return to “normal” function and thus a pain free state.

Method

A systematic critical literature review in order to determine the current reproducibility level for measuring 3D regional lumbar spinal motion with various methods and based on the review propose an agenda for future research.

• Develop of a model to analyze the dynamic non-invasive computerized regional motion data. In this model the complex motion data will be reduced to a manageable size with each movement parameter consisting of individual figures. The data reduction will be done in a developed MATLAB program and the analysis of the reduced data will be handled in STATA.

• Use collected data from randomized clinical trials (research center at Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota, USA) on the developed model in a reproducibility study and an intervention study.