Description): The goal of this Mentored Research Scientist Development Award is to allow the applicant to develop the research skills necessary to be independent in the investigation of movement impairments in people with spinal pain conditions using clinical and instrumented measures. The long term goals of the proposed research are to understand the nature and specificity of the movement impairments found in spinal pain conditions and to use this information to design and test rehabilitation and prevention strategies for these conditions. Studies have been designed to test the general hypothesis that mechanical low back pain (MLBP) results, in part, from a tendency of the lumbar spine to favor movement in a specific direction when moving the trunk or limbs. The tendency to move in a specific direction is proposed to develop as a consequence of repetition of movements performed during daily work and leisure activities. The experiments will address whether or not (1) distinguishable groups of MLBP can be identified based on direction-specific impairments measured during a clinical examination, (2) there is a relationship between the specific directions in which trunk movements are performed repeatedly and specific types of movement impairments identified in people with MLBP, and (3) there are altered patterns of trunk muscle recruitment in people with MLBP that perform trunk movements repeatedly in a specific direction. To address these hypotheses, data from tests from a clinical examination that assesses direction-specific, mechanically-based impairments, as well as kinematic and electromyographic (EMG) data will be examined. In the first experiment, a data set of direction-specific clinical examination variables from people with MLBP will be tested for the presence of distinguishable groups of MLBP using advanced, multivariate techniques. A second experiment will compare the number and extent of direction-specific impairments in a cohort of people with MLBP performing repeated trunk movements in a specific direction, and a control group. A third experiment will examine the relationship between hip and trunk rotation impairments in people with and without MLBP performing repeated trunk rotation movements. Finally, trunk muscle recruitment patterns during extremity movements will be compared in a cohort of people with MLBP performing repeated trunk movements in a specific direction, and a control group. The proposed experiments are designed to determine the nature of the movement impairments in MLBP and to relate these impairments to specific, everyday activities the persons perform repeatedly.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01HD001226-04
Application #
6636714
Study Section
Pediatrics Subcommittee (CHHD)
Program Officer
Nitkin, Ralph M
Project Start
2000-03-01
Project End
2005-02-28
Budget Start
2003-03-01
Budget End
2004-02-29
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$93,253
Indirect Cost
Name
Washington University
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
068552207
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63130
Weyrauch, Stephanie A; Bohall, Sara C; Sorensen, Christopher J et al. (2015) Association between rotation-related impairments and activity type in people with and without low back pain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 96:1506-17
Chimenti, Ruth L; Scholtes, Sara A; Van Dillen, Linda R (2013) Activity characteristics and movement patterns in people with and people without low back pain who participate in rotation-related sports. J Sport Rehabil 22:161-9
Gombatto, Sara P; Norton, Barbara J; Sahrmann, Shirley A et al. (2013) Factors contributing to lumbar region passive tissue characteristics in people with and people without low back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 28:255-61
Van Dillen, Linda R; Maluf, Katrina S; Sahrmann, Shirley A (2009) Further examination of modifying patient-preferred movement and alignment strategies in patients with low back pain during symptomatic tests. Man Ther 14:52-60
Scholtes, Sara A; Gombatto, Sara P; Van Dillen, Linda R (2009) Differences in lumbopelvic motion between people with and people without low back pain during two lower limb movement tests. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 24:7-12
Van Dillen, Linda R; Bloom, Nancy J; Gombatto, Sara P et al. (2008) Hip rotation range of motion in people with and without low back pain who participate in rotation-related sports. Phys Ther Sport 9:72-81
Gombatto, Sara P; Klaesner, Joseph W; Norton, Barbara J et al. (2008) Validity and reliability of a system to measure passive tissue characteristics of the lumbar region during trunk lateral bending in people with and people without low back pain. J Rehabil Res Dev 45:1415-29
Gombatto, Sara P; Norton, Barbara J; Scholtes, Sara A et al. (2008) Differences in symmetry of lumbar region passive tissue characteristics between people with and people without low back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 23:986-95
Van Dillen, Linda R; McDonnell, Mary Kate; Susco, Thomas M et al. (2007) The immediate effect of passive scapular elevation on symptoms with active neck rotation in patients with neck pain. Clin J Pain 23:641-7
Gombatto, Sara P; Collins, David R; Sahrmann, Shirley A et al. (2007) Patterns of lumbar region movement during trunk lateral bending in 2 subgroups of people with low back pain. Phys Ther 87:441-54

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