Measuring Reliability of Spine Mobilization in Low Back Pain

Measuring Reliability of Spine Mobilization in Low Back Pain

This observational study aims to learn how to measure joint motion and tissue response when pressure is applied to the back and examine how the nervous system responds to the applied pressure. This pressure or mobilization technique is a standard care but we currently do not have a method to measure this technique. Through this study, we hope to validate a tool that allows physical therapists to measure the pressure applied during spinal mobilization.

Participants will be asked to:

• Receive spinal mobilization
• Participate in pain threshold testing
• Answer questionnaires

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy individuals without current or recent history (within 6 months) of low back pain
• 18-70 years of age
• BMI between 18.5-29.9
• Ability to read and understand English
• For those with chronic low back pain: 1) low back pain more than 3 months and 2) a minimal pain level of 3 on the 0-10 pain numerical rating scale (NRS) in the last 7 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any signs or symptoms of lumbar pathology (as reported by the participant during interview such as low back pain, or lower limb neurological signs)
• History of any spinal surgery
• Lumbar/sacral conditions reported by the subject such as spondylolithesis, spina bifida or spinal fracture
• Bony pathology such as osteoporosis or rheumatoid arthritis as reported by the participant
• Pregnancy
• Spine cancer
• BMI >30
• Unable to lay on stomach
• Resting blood pressure more than 160/90 mmHg
• Currently taking blood thinning medications
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• A medical exclusion from having blood pressure taken such as a peripheral neuropathy
• Low signal to noise ratio fNIRS signal during calibration/setup