Patients with improper back position have movement control impairment. They often have difficulties in controlling the position of their back when sitting down, standing or doing back bending. Impaired movement control is often caused by an earlier episode of back pain and may result in chronic lower back pain. The situation is problematic because patients don’t realize that their incorrect back position is provoking pain.

A new study shows that the combination of manual therapy and exercise is an excellent way to combat movement control impairment in the lower back. This combination reduced the disability experienced by patients and significantly improved their functional ability. A personally tailored exercise program was more beneficial for patients than a generic one, and the treatment results also persisted at a 12-month follow-up.

Only 15% of patients suffering from lower back pain get a specific diagnosis, meaning that up to 85% of patients have to settle for a non-specific one. Many international care guidelines call for further research addressing the different subgroups of patients with lower back pain.

So far, it has been unclear which specific exercises should be recommended to which patient groups. The study analyzed which form of treatment better alleviates non-specific lower back disability: a personally tailored exercise program targeting movement control impairment, or a generic exercise program, and the results showed that a specifically designed program gave better results overall..

Chiropractors are experts in correcting improper back position and alleviating back pain.

Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com.