Mastering Lower Back Pain

A directional preference assessment looks for movements or positions that clearly improve or worsen symptoms, helping identify whether back pain has a mechanical pattern that can guide treatment.

This physical therapy technique is useful when there's a biomechanical contribution to lower back pain. When found in someone, it can be a helpful tool for them to manage symptoms and reduce pain in the moment. 

In the case somebody has a directional preference and high pain (7-10/10), it's important for them to consider when they perform those movements during their everyday life in order to minimise it in the short term. Someone who increases their pain during flexion might want to avoid over sitting, since it adds spinal flexion (to solve that, they can add a small rolled up towel behind their lower back when sitting), driving a lot, doing sit ups, tying shoe laces...