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Impairment magnification during dynamic trunk motions.
W S Marras1, K E Lewis, S A Ferguson
1Biodynamics Laboratory, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA.
Spine
|April 5, 2000
Summary
Trunk motion analysis can identify exaggerated pain responses in low back disorder patients. Objective measures help assess impairment magnification during functional testing, complementing subjective evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Clinical Assessment
- Pain Management
Background:
- Trunk motion measures are valuable for assessing low back status.
- Clinical utility depends on sincere effort, free from impairment magnification.
- This study investigated impairment magnification during free dynamic trunk motion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if trunk motion components can identify impairment magnification.
- To assess unresisted repeated bending tasks in patients with low back disorders and healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Documented trunk motion characteristics of 100 healthy and 100 chronic low back disorder patients.
- Participants performed trunk motions under sincere and insincere (feigned pain) conditions.
- Analyzed motion components to differentiate sincere from insincere efforts.
Main Results:
- A combination of trunk motion measures effectively distinguished between sincere and insincere efforts.
- Sensitivity and specificity were 92% for the asymptomatic group and 75% for the low back pain group.
- Overall sensitivity and specificity reached 81.5% across all participants.
Conclusions:
- Motion measures can aid in assessing impairment magnification during functional trunk motion testing.
- Objective motion measures provide a means to scrutinize quantitative data for low back disorders.
- These objective measures can supplement subjective observational methods in impairment assessment.