Can different seating aids influence a sitting posture in healthy individuals and does gender matter?

This study determined differences in spinal-pelvic kinematics sitting on (i) mat (ii) block and (iii) novel 10º forward inclined wedge (ButtaflyTM) in a same-subject repeated measures cross-over design in 60 healthy individuals (34 females). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically significant differences between sitting conditions and lumbar and pelvic sagittal angles. Both, the inclined wedge and the block seating aids reduced overall flexion, but the inclined wedge had a greater influence in the lumbar region whilst the block induced the greatest change in the pelvis. This may be relevant for seating aid design personalised to posture type. Statistically significant gender differences were identified in all 3 seating conditions with males adopting more flexed lumbar spine and posteriorly tilted pelvis. Females flexed less in thoracic spine when sitting on an inclined wedge and a block. These statistically significant differences between males and females may provide first explorative direction for bespoke seating aids design

Non-specific chronic low back pain: differences in spinal kinematics in subgroups during functional tasks

Purpose: A multidimensional classification approach suggests that motor control impairment subgroups exist in non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). Differences in sitting lumbar posture have been identified between two such subgroups [flexion pattern (FP) and active extension pattern (AEP)] and healthy individuals; however, functional spinal movement has not been explored. This study will evaluate whether NSCLBP subgroups exhibit regional spinal kinematic differences, compared to healthy individuals, during functional tasks. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study design. Spinal kinematics of 50 NSCLBP subjects (27 FP, 23 AEP) and 28 healthy individuals were investigated using 3D motion analysis (Vicon™) during functional tasks [reaching upwards, step down, step up, lifting, and replacing a box, stand-to-sit, sit-to-stand, bending to retrieve (and returning from retrieving) a pen from the floor]. Mean sagittal angle for the total thoracic, total lumbar, upper thoracic, lower thoracic, upper lumbar, and lower lumbar regions between groups was compared. Results: Significant differences were observed in lower thoracic and upper lumbar regions between NSCLBP subgroups during most tasks. Significant differences were observed between the FP and healthy group in the lower thoracic region during stand-to-sit-to-stand tasks and bending (and returning from) to retrieve a pen from the floor. All significant results demonstrated the FP group to operate in comparatively greater flexion. Conclusions: The thoraco-lumbar spine discriminated between FP and AEP, and FP and healthy groups during functional tasks. FP individuals demonstrated more kyphotic thoraco-lumbar postures, which may be pain provocative. No significant differences were observed between AEP and healthy groups, suggesting that alternative mechanisms may occur in AEP

What is the effect of low back pain self-management interventions with exercise components added? A systematic review with meta-analysis

Background Best practice guidelines endorse self-management and exercise in chronic low back pain (CLBP) management. The majority of existing self-management interventions (SMIs) do not include exercise components, and the effect of SMIs with exercises on CLBP and disability remains unclear. Objectives To systematically review the evidence for the effect of SMIs with an exercise component added, on pain and disability in people with CLBP. Design Systematic review with meta-analysis. Method An electronic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with SMIs with exercises was performed in 5 databases. Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random-effects model for meta-analysis at short-term, intermediate, and long-term follow-up points. The level of evidence was synthesized using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results 09 RCTs were included in the review and the GRADE quality assessment revealed low-quality evidence for all meta-analyses across 3 follow-up points. Effect sizes (ESs) for pain were -0.28, -0.36 and -0.21 for short-term, intermediate, and long-term respectively, and -0.30, -0.25 and -0.20 for short-term, intermediate, and long-term for disability, respectively. 6 out of 10 studies included tailored exercise programmes and exercise components differed widely in their content and delivery. Conclusions There is low-quality evidence that SMIs with exercises added have moderately positive effects on pain and disability in patients with CLBP compared to control interventions involving usual care typically consisting of access to medication, exercise, advice, education, and manual therapy

Clinical challenges of classification based targeted therapies for non-specific low back pain: What do physiotherapy practitioners and managers think?

Background Classification of non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) was recommended to better target care and so maximise treatment potential. This study investigated physiotherapy practitioners' (PPs) and managers' (PMs) views, experiences and perceptions of barriers and enablers for using classification systems (CSs) to better target treatment for NSLBP in the NHS primary care setting. Design Qualitative focus group and interviews. Methods Data from semi-structured interviews of three PMs and a focus group with five PPs, considered local opinion leaders in physiotherapy, was thematically analysed. Results Five themes emerged (i) CS knowledge: PPs and PMs were aware of CSs and agreed with its usefulness. PPs were mostly aware of CSs informing specific treatments whilst PMs were aware of prognosis based CSs. (ii) Using CSs: PPs classify by experience and clinical reasoning skills, shifting between multiple CSs. PMs were confident that evidence-based practice takes place but believed CSs may not be always used. (iii) Advantages/disadvantages of CSs: Effective targeting of treatments to patients was perceived as advantageous; but the amount of training required was perceived as disadvantageous. (iv) Barriers: Patients' expectations, clinicians' perceptions, insufficiently complex CSs, lack of training resources. (v) Enablers: Development of sufficiently complex CSs, placed within the clinical reasoning process, mentoring, positive engagement with stakeholders and patients. Conclusions PPs and PMs were aware of CSs and agreed with its usefulness. The current classification process was perceived to be largely influenced by individual practitioner knowledge and clinical reasoning skills rather than being based on one CS alone. Barriers and enablers were identified for future research

Inertial measurement units for clinical movement analysis: reliability and concurrent validity

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability and concurrent validity of a commercially available inertial-sensor-based motion capture system, Xsens MVN BIOMECH, during clinically relevant functional activities. A clinician with no prior experience of motion capture technologies and an experienced clinical movement scientist each assessed 26 healthy participants within each of two sessions using a camera-based motion capture system and the MVN BIOMECH system. Participants performed overground walking, squatting, and jumping. Sessions were separated by 4 ± 3 days. Reliability was evaluated using intraclass correlation coefficient and standard error of measurement, and validity was evaluated using the coefficient of multiple correlation and the linear fit method. Day-to-day reliability was generally fair-to-excellent in all three planes for hip, knee, and ankle joint angles in all three tasks. Within-day (between-rater) reliability was fair-to-excellent in all three planes during walking and squatting, and poor-to-high during jumping. Validity was excellent in the sagittal plane for hip, knee, and ankle joint angles in all three tasks and acceptable in frontal and transverse planes in squat and jump activity across joints. Our results suggest that the MVN BIOMECH system can be used by a clinician to quantify lower-limb joint angles in clinically relevant movements