Are improvements in symptoms associated with changes in lumbopelvic posture in patients with posterior derangement using Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy?

Abstract

Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) manages low back pain (LBP) with subgroup classifications. For a subgroup of the posterior derangement syndrome, postural education limiting lumbar flexion is included. However, it is not known if habitual posture in this subgroup actually changes through MDT management because of technical difficulties in monitoring habitual lumbopelvic posture. However, a wearable device, "LUMOback", which can evaluate the proportion of time with a neutral lumbopelvic posture (posture score), has now become available. To preliminarily investigate whether the posture score changes through the course of MDT management. Primary inclusion criterion was LBP with the posterior derangement syndrome. Primary outcome measure was the posture score during one week. The posture score was assessed one week before and six weeks after the initial MDT management, which included extension exercises and postural education. All participants (n= 8) reported a successful treatment effect after the 6-week MDT intervention; however, there was no specific trend in the posture score (Friedman test: p= 0.277). This study found evidence that the proportion of time with a neutral lumbopelvic posture during daily living, the posture score, which was measured with the LUMOback, did not systematically change with MDT management.