Movement Analysis and Motor Control Training for the Lumbar Spine [news]

Back pain can be caused by trauma but frequently it is insidious, recurrent and related to uncontrolled movement patterns. Uncontrolled movement patterns are motor control deficits. It is important to understand the difference between strength deficits and control deficits. A person may have good strength in individual muscle groups but may be unable to control rotation across the lumbo-pelvic region, for example, when walking or carrying an object in one hand. Or they may lose control of their lumbar spine when they incur a flexion or extension load on the spine, despite displaying reasonalble individual muscle strength. Assessing control of these movements then correcting deficits is essential to address these problems.