Description of movement quality in patients with low back pain: A qualitative study as a first step to a practical definition.
OBJECTIVE
As a first step to formulate a practical definition for movement quality (MQ), this study aims to explore how Dutch allied health care professionals (AHCPs) describe MQ of daily life activities in patients with low back pain (LBP).


METHODS
In this qualitative cross-sectional digital survey study, Dutch AHCPs (n = 91) described MQ in open text (n = 91) and with three keywords (n = 90). After exploratory qualitative content analysis, the ICF linking rules (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) were applied to classify MQ descriptions and keywords.


RESULTS
The identified meaningful concepts (MCs) of the descriptions (274) and keywords (239) were linked to ICF codes (87.5% and 80.3%, respectively), Personal factors (5.8% and 5.9%, respectively), and supplementary codes (6.6% and 13.8%, respectively). The MCs were linked to a total of 31 ICF codes, especially to b760 'control of voluntary movement functions', b7602 'coordination of voluntary movements', d4 'Mobility', and d230 'carry out daily routine'. Negative and positive formulated descriptions elucidated different MQ interpretations.


CONCLUSIONS
Descriptions of MQ given by Dutch AHCPs in patients with LBP cover all ICF components. Coordination and functional movements are seen as the most elementary concepts of MQ. Variation in MQ descriptions and interpretations hinders defining MQ and indicates the necessity of additional steps.
a Institute for Human Movement Studies, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Margriet J H
MJ
van Dijk
a Institute for Human Movement Studies, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
Nienke T A
NT
Smorenburg
b ACHIEVE-Amsterdam Centre for Innovative Health Practice, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences , Amsterdam , The Netherlands.
Bart
B
Visser
c Scientific Institute for Quality in Healthcare, Radboud University Medical Center , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.
Maria W G
MW
Nijhuis-van der Sanden
d Research Group Occupation & Health, HAN University of Applied Sciences , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.|e Dutch Institute of Allied Health Care , Amersfoort , The Netherlands.
Yvonne F
YF
Heerkens
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009426:Netherlands; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D036301:Qualitative Research; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014836:Volition
Clinical reasoning; human activities; low back pain; movement quality