Thoracic pain and motor control impairments

This is the diagnose classification for patients who have more range of motion than muscular stability. Often these patients present with the following signs and symptoms:

• Reporting feelings of the back “giving out”
• Frequent need to crack or pop the back
• Frequent episodes
• History of catching or locking
• Pain during activities that involve a change in position (i.e., getting out of bed)
• Increase in pain returning to standing following bending forward
• Pain with mild movements
• Difficulty sitting unsupported
• Condition progressively worsening
• Long-term history of pain
• Frequent episodes of muscle spasms
• Temporary relief with a back brace

Treatments include:

• Graded strengthening and motor control approach to increase muscular stability
• Dry needling to reduce muscular tension
• Manual therapy to reduce pain and improve range of motion (when indicated)

Further, treatments will address range of motion and strength requirements for all your desired goals.

References:

• Cook, C., Brismée, J. and Sizer, P., 2006. Subjective and objective descriptors of clinical lumbar spine instability: A Delphi study. Manual Therapy, 11(1), pp.11-21.
• Delitto, A., George, S., Van Dillen, L., Whitman, J., Sowa, G., Shekelle, P., Denninger, T. and Godges, J., 2012. Low Back Pain. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 42(4), pp. A1-A57.

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