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The fall of the postural–structural–biomechanical model

PainSci » bibliography » Lederman 2011
updated
Tags: back pain, biomechanics, controversy, pain problems, spine, etiology, pro, debunkery

Seven articles on PainSci cite Lederman 2011: 1. Does Posture Matter?2. The Complete Guide to Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome3. Complete Guide to Plantar Fasciitis4. Review of The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook5. Your Back Is Not Out of Alignment6. Guide to Repetitive Strain Injuries7. Sensitization in Chronic Pain

PainSci commentary on Lederman 2011: ?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focused on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided wherever possible.

This article is a bloody brilliant deconstruction of the underlying assumptions of the vast majority of pseudo-quackery in the manual therapies. It’s technical and academic, not for the lay reader, but absolutely required reading for professionals. Be sure to read another excellent and closely related essay, “The Myth of Core Stability”.

~ Paul Ingraham

original abstract Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.

Manual and physical therapists often use a postural–structural–biomechanical (PSB) model to ascertain the causes of various musculoskeletal conditions. It is believed that postural deviations, body asymmetries and pathomechanics are the predisposing/maintaining factors for many musculoskeletal conditions. The PSB model also plays an important role in clinical assessment and management, including the choice of manual techniques and the exercise prescribed. However, this model has been eroded by research in the last two decades introducing profound challenges to the practice of manual and physical therapy. This article will examine how the sciences are challenging the PSB model, using lower back pain (LBP) as an example.

This page is part of the PainScience BIBLIOGRAPHY, which contains plain language summaries of thousands of scientific papers & others sources. It’s like a highly specialized blog. A few highlights: