Publication type: Doctoral thesis
Title: Movement control impairment as a sub-group of non-specific low back pain : evaluation of movement control test battery as a practical tool in the diagnosis of movement control impairment and treatment of this dysfunction
Authors: Luomajoki, Hannu
Advisors / Reviewers: Airaksinen, Olavi
Kool, Jan
de Bruin, Eling D.
Extent: 100
Issue Date: 2010
Series: Publications of the University of Eastern Finland: Dissertations in Health Sciences
Series volume: 24
Publisher / Ed. Institution: University of Eastern Finland
Publisher / Ed. Institution: Kuopio
ISBN: 978‐952‐61‐0191‐0
ISSN: 1798‐5706
Language: English
Subjects: Medical subject headings; Low back pain; Reliability; Motor skills; Physiotherapy
Subject (DDC): 615.82: Physical therapy
617.5: Orthopaedic surgery
Abstract: Low Back Pain (LBP) is one of the major current concerns in health care. In the majority of patients LBP is non‐specific (NSLBP). The identification of different sub‐groups of patients with NSLBP has high priority in improving assessment and developing tailored, more efficient treatments. One promising sub‐group of LBP is Movement Control Impairment (MCI), which is defined as impaired active movement control of the lumbar spine during functional activities. A movement control test battery was developed to evaluate movement control ability. This doctoral thesis evaluates the movement control test battery in the diagnosis of MCI and in the treatment of this dysfunction. The thesis consists of five different studies. In the first study, the reliability of the developed test battery of ten tests was evaluated and six of them were confirmed. The second study demonstrated the consistency of two movement control tests performed on two different days. In the third study, the test battery of six most reliable tests was shown to be able to differentiate between patients with LBP and healthy controls. The fourth study revealed decreased two‐point discrimination, as a measure of change in body schema in the brain of patients with decreased movement control. In the final study, patients with motor control impairment were treated specifically using motor control strategies in an uncontrolled design. The results indicate that specific exercises may decrease pain and disability among patients with MCI. The developed test set of six tests for movement control of the low back provides physiotherapists and medical doctors with an easy and reliable tool for examining whether a patient has normal or disturbed movement control. Movement control deficits can be treated with specific, targeted individual exercises. Further studies on the validation of the test set in different patient populations and especially randomised controlled studies are necessary.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/4978
License (according to publishing contract): Licence according to publishing contract
Departement: School of Health Sciences
Appears in collections:Publikationen Gesundheit

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Luomajoki, H. (2010). Movement control impairment as a sub-group of non-specific low back pain : evaluation of movement control test battery as a practical tool in the diagnosis of movement control impairment and treatment of this dysfunction [Doctoral dissertation]. University of Eastern Finland.
Luomajoki, H. (2010) Movement control impairment as a sub-group of non-specific low back pain : evaluation of movement control test battery as a practical tool in the diagnosis of movement control impairment and treatment of this dysfunction. Doctoral dissertation. University of Eastern Finland.
H. Luomajoki, “Movement control impairment as a sub-group of non-specific low back pain : evaluation of movement control test battery as a practical tool in the diagnosis of movement control impairment and treatment of this dysfunction,” Doctoral dissertation, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, 2010.
LUOMAJOKI, Hannu, 2010. Movement control impairment as a sub-group of non-specific low back pain : evaluation of movement control test battery as a practical tool in the diagnosis of movement control impairment and treatment of this dysfunction. Doctoral dissertation. Kuopio: University of Eastern Finland
Luomajoki, Hannu. 2010. “Movement Control Impairment as a Sub-Group of Non-Specific Low Back Pain : Evaluation of Movement Control Test Battery as a Practical Tool in the Diagnosis of Movement Control Impairment and Treatment of This Dysfunction.” Doctoral dissertation, Kuopio: University of Eastern Finland.
Luomajoki, Hannu. Movement Control Impairment as a Sub-Group of Non-Specific Low Back Pain : Evaluation of Movement Control Test Battery as a Practical Tool in the Diagnosis of Movement Control Impairment and Treatment of This Dysfunction. University of Eastern Finland, 2010.


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