A gait analysis pilot study of back pain patients before and after a multimodal pain therapy

Abstract

Question The current pilot study focuses for the first time on the analysis and comparison of the human gait of patients suffering from chronic low back pain (LBP) before and after multimodal therapy based on an integrative medical concept combining mainstream medicine, complementary medicine and mind–body–medicine. The aim of the study was to investigate whether multimodal intervention could influence static and gait in patients with LBP. Methods This pilot study comprised a group of five low back pain patients. The patients were treated with an integrative medical concept, combining guideline-based conventional medicine (e.g. analgetics, physiotherapy) with complementary therapies (chiropractice, acupuncture, neuraltherapy, cupping) and mind–body–medicine. For the biomechanical measurements the three-dimensional 8-camera Vicon system (Oxford Metrics Ltd.) and complete set of the standard Plug-In-Gait marker placement was used. The measurements were carried out within two sessions; the first immediately before treatment and the second one after 10–12 days inpatient treatment. The results of the gait analysis are shown as diagrams of knee flexion/extension, hip flexion/extension, hip ab/adduction, trajectory of marker C 7 and marker T 10 with respect to pelvis fixed direction. Additionally, further gait parameters like, e.g. cadence, walking speed, step length were analysed. Results The analysis of data collected in the gait laboratory show differences between the gait patterns recorded before and after therapy. Especially changes in the trajectories of pelvis, C7 and T10 markers as well as in knee and hip angles illustrate the beneficial influence of the therapy applied. Conclusion The analysis of gait parameters confirms changes in gait patterns and indicates an increase in symmetrical gait and lower stride-to-stride variability as a result of the multimodal integrative pain therapy.