dorsaVi Back Pain and Movement Registry

The first phase of the study will use a non-randomized two-group prospective longitudinal study design (Group A subjects with LBP, Group B subjects without LBP). The second phase of the study will use a single-group prospective longitudinal study design (Group A, subjects with low back pain). A timeline and step-by-step detail of the study procedures for these phases are also described in Appendix B.

Group A which will include subjects with LBP, members of the research team will screen and attempt to consecutively enroll all patients who undergo assessment for low back pain at two clinical locations (International Spine Pain & Performance Center, and Synergy Manual Physical Therapy). The enrollment and baseline visit can occur at the same time. During enrollment each subject will privately be briefed on the purpose and involvement in the study and be allowed to ask questions and opt out if not interested. Informed consent will be reviewed and signed and each subject will be given a copy of the consent form (15 minutes). Since collection of "baseline data" (outcome measures and ViMove Assessment) is already considered standard clinical practice for subjects with low back pain at these clinical settings, providing informed consent would allow the researchers to access this information for purposes of the registry. A summary of the information collected at baseline will include: patient demographics/medical history (age, gender, pain episode duration, BMI, employment, marital status, comorbidities, co-interventions, ICD-10 LBP diagnosis), outcome measures (LBP movement pattern classification, LBP Classifier Questionnaire, QVAS for back and leg, Oswestry Disability index, START-Keele, Fear Avoidance Behavior Questionnaire, EuroQol-5D, DASS-21, patient perception of movement contribution to pain) (20 minutes), and an assessment (ViMove standard assessment, 30 sec chair test, 40m walk test) (25 minutes). See Appendix C.

Group B which will include subjects without LBP, members of the research team will recruit volunteers within the DC metro area using flyers posted on campus at the George Washington University, local DC metro gymnasiums and recreational centers, word of mouth and email list serves associated with educational programs within The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Subjects will be screened by phone for the presence or history of low back pain as well as other exclusion criteria. If the subject agrees to move forward with participation they will be asked to come to The George Washington University Program in Physical Therapy located at 2000 Pennsylvania Ave Suite 2000, NW Washington DC 20006, or International Spine Pain & Performance Center or Synergy Manual Physical Therapy. Enrollment and baseline visits can occur at the same time. During enrollment each subject will privately be briefed on the purpose and involvement in the study and be allowed to ask questions and opt out if not interested. Informed consent will be reviewed and signed and each subject will be given a copy of the consent form (15 minutes). Baseline data will then be collected which will include: subject demographics/medical history (age, gender, BMI, employment, marital status, comorbidities, co-interventions) and QVAS for back and leg, EQ-5D, DASS-21 (10 minutes) and ViMove standard assessment, 30 sec chair test, and 40m walk test (25 minutes). See Appendix C.

ViMove Testing (Groups A & B): The ViMove system (dorsaVi, Australia) which will be used to assess movement patterns and lumbar muscle activity in both groups during the ViMove standard assessment, 30 sec chair test, 40m walk test, is an inertial measurement system comprised of two wireless motion sensors containing a triaxial accelerometer, a triaxial gyroscope and a magnetometer, two wireless surface electromyography (EMG) sensors, and a small wireless recording device (RFD) that can be worn by the subject. The manufacturer reports average differences of < 1 degree for single plane, through range movements when comparing matched measurements from the ViMove and a Fastrak opto-electronic device (Charry, Umer et al. 2011). The ViMove motion sensors collect data at approximately 20 Hz.

When ViMove testing is performed for both groups, 4 sensors will be adhered to the subject's skin using customised biocompatible adhesives. The placement of the sensors is determined through the use of templates which have been validated as part of the FDA 510K application. During testing, the sensors communicate data wirelessly to the RFD which is connected to a computer running dorsaVi (ViMove software). Customised algorithms convert data generated by the software to meaningful biomechanical information, including measures such as range of movement, peak angles, speed of movement and muscle activation.