Background: Low back pain (LBP) is the leading complaint of pain in the United States, with nearly 40% of American adults reporting a single episode of LBP. LBP can be debilitating to daily tasks, work, hobbies and leisure activities, as well as sleep. The purpose of this case study is to discuss intervention strategies utilized to manage LBP by addressing the lumbar spine as well as gluteal muscle weakness contributing to LBP through kinetic chain serial distortion. Clinical Presentation: The patient was a 64-year-old female referred to an outpatient physical therapy clinic with reports of persistent, chronic LBP. Imaging indicated severe spinal stenosis of the intervertebral foramen (IVF) of L3-L5, but the patient expressed a strong preference for conservative management and avoidance of surgery or invasive interventions. Objective Measures and Clinical Impressions: Upon examination, the clinician found severe hip abduction weakness for gender and age-expected norms, decreased lumbar spine mobility with no objective tests identifying evidence of neural involvement. Intervention: Interventions included joint mobilizations to address lumbar spine hypomobility, paraspinal and core strengthening for lumbar stability, loading into hip abduction to address strength impairments, dry needling to address hip musculature tightness, and sciatic nerve glides to address new neural signs. Evidence Based: Former and current Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) are discussed and compared to clinician interventions selected for this patient. Outcome Measures: Physical therapy utilized assessment of lumbar ROM, and hip and knee isometric strength measures as main objective measures. Discussion: This case reports demonstrates the importance of addressing the kinetic chain above and below the area of interest to facilitate positive outcomes for patients with LBP.
Dissertation
Physical Therapy Intervention in Patients with Low Back Pain and Gluteal Involvement: A Case Report
University of Iowa
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
Autumn 2023
Free to read and download, Open Access
Abstract
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Physical Therapy Intervention in Patients with Low Back Pain and Gluteal Involvement: A Case Report
- Creators
- Evan Smith - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Shauna Dudley-Javoroski (Advisor) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Case Report
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) , University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2023
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 8 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2023 Evan Smith
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctor of Physical Therapy Case Reports
- Record Identifier
- 9984560346902771
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