Regional Interdependence in Low Back Pain: Interventions

 

Regional Interdependence

• Regional interdependence is the concept that a musculoskeletal treatment targeting a specific area of the body could have effects in another, seemingly unrelated, part of the body. 
• Examples of Regional Interdependence:

          -  Elbow

          -  Shoulder

Examination

Screen patient for red flags

Condition	Red Flags
Back-related tumor	Constant pain not affected by position or activity; worse with weight bearing, worse at night Age over 50 History of cancer Failure of conservative intervention (failure to improve within 30 days) Unexplained weight loss
Cauda equina syndrome	Urine retention Fecal incontinence Saddle anesthesia Sensory or motor deficits in the feet (L4, L5, S1 areas)
Back-related infection	Recent infection (eg, urinary tract or skin), intravenous drug user/abuser Concurrent immunosuppressive disorder Deep constant pain, increases with weight bearing Fever, malaise, and swelling Spine rigidity; accessory mobility may be limited Fever: tuberculosis osteomyelitis Fever: pyogenic osteomyelitis Fever: spinal epidural abscess
Spinal compression fracture	History of major trauma, such as vehicular accident, fall from a height, or direct blow to the spine Age over 50 Age over 75 Prolonged use of corticosteroids Point tenderness over site of fracture Increased pain with weight bearing
Abdominal aneurysm	Back, abdominal, or groin pain Presence of peripheral vascular disease or coronary artery disease and associated risk factors (age over 50, smoker, hypertension, diabetes mellitus) Smoking history Family history Age over 70 Non-Caucasian Female Symptoms not related to movement stresses associated with somatic low back pain Abdominal girth <100 cm Presence of a bruit in the central epigastric area upon auscultation Palpation of abnormal aortic pulse Aortic pulse 4 cm or greater Aortic pulse 5 cm or greater

Physical Impairment Measures

• Evaluate Thoraco-Lumbar Active and Passive ROM

          -  Quadrant Test

• Segmental Mobility
• Pain Provocation with Segmental Mobility Testing
• Judgments of Centralization during Movement Testing]

          - Patient flex forward multiple times asking about any changes in pain.

          - Repeat this with extension and lateral flexion.

          - Look for a centralization of pain with repeated motion in a specific direction.

• Prone Instability Test
• Judgments of the presence of aberrant movement

            - Measured by painful arc with flexion or return from flexion. If patient complains of pain when returning to standing from flexion or                     feels a catch, this is a positive test.

• Straight Leg Raise
• Slump Test
• Trunk Muscle Power and Endurance

          - Check Trunk Flexors, Extensors, Lateral Abdominals, Transversus Abdominis, Hip Abductors, and Hip Extensors for strength looking             for any muscle imbalances.

• Passive Hip Internal Rotation, External Rotation, Flexion, and Extension
• Mental Impairment Measures

          -  Depression

          -  Yellow Flags

          -  Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire