Acute Low Back Pain: Evidence-Based Management for the Physical Therapist

In this course, we will present evidence to dispel the myth that an acute low back pain (ALBP) episode will spontaneously resolve if left untreated. We will cover the importance of classifying patients with ALBP into appropriate categories for both research and clinical practice. The concept of Clinical Prediction Rules (CPR) will be introduced and the CPR for spinal manipulation will be taught in detail. The motor control model of spinal stabilization will be introduced, and examination techniques to identify and intervention strategies to correct both insufficient and excessive muscular responses will be covered in this lecture/lab format. 

Objectives

Following completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Recognize the limitations of current practice guidelines for ALBP.

2. Evaluate the evidence that identifiable sub-classes of ALBP exist and respond differently to treatment.

3. Identify the need for early intervention for select sub-classes of ALBP patients.

4. Identify indications and perform spinal manipulation for patients with ALBP.

5. Recognize that emerging evidence suggests motor control strategies are dysfunctional in patients with LBP and appropriate intervention is required to restore normal motor control.