Movement Control Tests For Lumbar Spine
Top Contributors - Carin Hunter, Rishika Babburu and Jess Bell
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Tests are considered positive if with cueing and demonstration the person can not perform correctly.
Six Movement Control Tests[edit | edit source]
1. Waiter’s Bow:[edit | edit source]
Correct: Forward bending of the hips 50-70° without flexion of the low back.
Incorrect: Flexion occurring in the low back prior to 50° of hip flexion.
2. Sitting Knee Extension:[edit | edit source]
Correct: Upright sitting with lumbar lordosis; extension of the knee to within 50° of straight without movement of LB.
Incorrect: Low back moving in flexion prior to within 50° of straight.
3. Rocking backwards:[edit | edit source]
Correct: 120° of hip flexion without movement of the low back by transferring pelvis backwards.
Incorrect: Hip flexion causes flexion in the lumbar spine (typically the patient not aware of this).
4. Prone Lying Knee Flexion:[edit | edit source]
Correct: Active knee flexion at least 90° without extension movement of the low back and pelvis.
Incorrect: Low back does not stay neutral, but moves into extension
5. Posterior Pelvic Tilt:[edit | edit source]
Correct: Posterior pelvic tilt the pelvis while in standing by contracting the glute max while keeping the thoracic spine in neutral
Incorrect: Pelvis doesn't tilt or low back moves towards Ext./No gluteal activity/compensatory flexion in thoracic spine
6. Single-leg Stance:[edit | edit source]
Setup: Patient’s feet 12cm apart. Use a 20cm ruler and hold it on a stable object with the middle of the ruler lined up with the patient's umbilicus.
Correct: The patient’s umbilicus has <2cm difference side to side and <10 cm transfer on either foot.
Incorrect: Lateral transfer of belly button >2cm difference side to side or > 10 cm in either direction .