Low back pain: an assessment using positional MRI and MDT.
Current guidelines advise against the use of routine imaging for low back pain. Positional MRI can provide enhanced assessment of the lumbar spine in functionally loaded positions which are often relevant to the presenting clinical symptoms. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the use of positional MRI in the assessment and classification of a subject with low back pain. A low back pain subject underwent a Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) assessment and positional MRI scan of the lumbar spine. The MDT assessment classified the subject as "other" since the subjective history indicated a possible posterior derangement whilst the objective assessment indicated a possible anterior derangement. Positional MRI scanning in flexed, upright and extended sitting postures confirmed the MDT assessment findings to reveal a dynamic spinal stenosis which reduced in flexion and increased in extension.
School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Robert Gordon University, Garthdee Road, Aberdeen AB10 7QG, UK.
Karen
K
Hedberg
Lyndsay A
LA
Alexander
Kay
K
Cooper
Elizabeth
E
Hancock
Jenny
J
Ross
Francis W
FW
Smith
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D013130:Spinal Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires