Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate Core Stability Exercise (CSE) induced changes in trunk sagittal acceleration as a measure of performance in participants following an acute onset of non-specific low back pain (LBP). Methodology: A Lumbar Motion Monitor (LMM) was used to measure trunk sagittal acceleration. The LMM was demonstrated to be reliable [Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) for average sagittal acceleration (0.96, 95% CI 0.90-0.98) and peak sagittal acceleration (0.89, 95% CI 0.75-0.96) with a 95% limit of agreement for the repeated measure of between -100.64 and +59.84 Deg/s2 ]. Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and disability was measured with the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). Results: Differences in mean trunk sagittal acceleration between control and experimental groups at time points were assessed using a regression analysis (ratio of geometric means [95%CI]) and demonstrated to be not statistically significant (3 weeks (20%) 1.2 [0.9 to 1.6], p=0.2; 6 weeks (10%) 1.1 [0.8 to 1.5], p=0.7; 3 months (20%) 1.2 [0.8 to 1.9], p=0.9). Similarly, differences in mean pain score (3 weeks (30%) 1.3 [0.8-2.2], p= 0.3); 6 weeks (20%) 1.2 [0.7-2.0], p=0.6; 3 months (0%) 1.0 [0.5-1.9], p=1.0) and difference in mean disability score (6 weeks (0%) 1.0 [0.7-1.5], p= 1.0, 3 months (30%) 1.3 [0.8-1.9], p= 0.3) between groups were also not statistically significant. Conclusions: This work does not infer that CSE are definitively effective in reducing pain, improving subjective disability and improving trunk performance after an onset acute of non-specific LBP. However, there is a suggestion of clinical importance and a possible mechanism by which they may work. Further investigation into this mechanism may provide future effective management strategies for intervention of acute non-specific low back pain with optimistic cost implications for healthcare delivery in general and Physiotherapy in particular.

Lower Back Disorders account for 16-19% of work related claims and 33-41% of dollars paid in workers? compensation (as cited in Marras, 1999), with impacts to society approaching $100 billion dollars annually (as cited in Marras et al., 1999). Dr. William Marras engineered a device to track trunk kinematics in order to develop a Job Risk Classification Model for predicting high-risk group probability of lower back injury. The device has been validated, but other technologies such as 3-D motion capture can potentially gather the same data. This study examined the use of motion capture to apply two- and three-plane lifting tasks to the Marras model and compare results with commonly used assessment techniques. Regardless of the fact that the Marras model results were drastically different from NIOSH and RULA, motion capture was able to gather all necessary data for running the models and has a promising future in ergonomic assessments.

Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) differs from Open Surgery as surgeons view the surgical site indirectly on a monitor. The view shown is typically from an angled endoscope off to one side of the surgery (i.e., uncollocated with the view of the hands). This makes camera navigation a challenging ability to learn. MIS thus requires longer training periods, more practice and mental effort to achieve proficiency. Current training setups and Operating Room (OR) environments lack appropriate real-time visual cues for navigation and other perception related information that could help with learning and performance in the OR. The purpose of this research was to design and develop graphical aids for improving understanding of camera navigation and depth perception in a trainer box necessary for enhancing surgeon’s skills to perform endoscopic surgery. For the former, two alternate training methods: 1) using no graphics (control group) and 2) using three different types of graphics conveying different information, were considered for this study. The effectiveness of the training was evaluated by a comparative analysis of different performance measures across all the groups. It was observed that training using graphics did improve the performance of participants in performing a minimally invasive surgery training task. For the latter, the use of a proximity sensor was explored.