My colleagues and I have compiled articles important to read for the lumbar spine if you are taking the OCS exam.  Some articles overlap with the peripheral joints, as we believe it is very important to differentiate between central and peripheral pathologies.  Study hard!

Reiman MP, Harris JY, Cleland JA. Manual therapy interventions for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: a systematic review. NZ J Physiother. 2009 Mar;37:17-36.

Reiman MP, Hash TW 2nd, Mather RC 3rd. Acetabular Paralabral Cyst: An Unusual Cause of Lower Extremity Pain and Paresthesia. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Jan;46(1):35. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.0402. PubMed PMID: 26721454.

Merlino J, Perisa J. Low back pain in a competitive cricket athlete. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Feb;7(1):101-8. PubMed PMID: 22319683; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3273885.

 

Alqarni AM, Schneiders AG, Cook CE, Hendrick PA. Clinical tests to diagnose lumbar spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis: A systematic review. Phys Ther Sport. 2015 Aug;16(3):268-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2014.12.005. Epub 2015 Jan 8. Review. PubMed PMID: 25797410.

Hart RA, Domes CM, Goodwin B, D’Amato CR, Yoo JU, Turker RJ, Halsey MF. High-grade spondylolisthesis treated using a modified Bohlman technique: results among multiple surgeons. J Neurosurg Spine. 2014 May;20(5):523-30. doi: 10.3171/2014.1.SPINE12904. Epub 2014 Feb 21. PubMed PMID: 24559460.

Alrwaily M, Timko M, Schneider M, Stevans J, Bise C, Hariharan K, Delitto A. Treatment-Based Classification System for Low Back Pain: Revision and Update. Phys Ther. 2015 Dec 4. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26637653.

O’Laughlin SJ, Kokosinski E. Cauda equina syndrome in a pregnant woman referred to physical therapy for low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008 Nov;38(11):721. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2008.0411. PubMed PMID: 18978454.

Garrison M, Westrick RB, Johnson MR. Morel-Lavallée lesion of the lumbar region. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Mar;44(3):223. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2014.0404. PubMed PMID: 24579797.

Stensby JD, Baker JC, Fox MG. Athletic injuries of the lateral abdominal wall: review of anatomy and MR imaging appearance. Skeletal Radiol. 2016 Feb;45(2):155-62. doi: 10.1007/s00256-015-2261-y. Epub 2015 Oct 9. PubMed PMID: 26450606.

Tarulli AW, Raynor EM. Lumbosacral radiculopathy. Neurol Clin. 2007 May;25(2):387-405. Review. PubMed PMID: 17445735.

Katz JN, Dalgas M, Stucki G, Katz NP, Bayley J, Fossel AH, Chang LC, Lipson SJ. Degenerative lumbar spinal stenosis. Diagnostic value of the history and physical examination. Arthritis Rheum. 1995 Sep;38(9):1236-41. PubMed PMID: 7575718.

Fritz JM, Delitto A, Welch WC, Erhard RE. Lumbar spinal stenosis: a review of current concepts in evaluation, management, and outcome measurements. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Jun;79(6):700-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 9630153.

Mattei TA, Rehman AA. Schmorl’s nodes: current pathophysiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic paradigms. Neurosurg Rev. 2014 Jan;37(1):39-46. doi: 10.1007/s10143-013-0488-4. Epub 2013 Aug 18. Review. PubMed PMID: 23955279.

Mellado JM, Larrosa R, Martín J, Yanguas N, Solanas S, Cozcolluela MR. MDCT of variations and anomalies of the neural arch and its processes: part 1–pedicles, pars interarticularis, laminae, and spinous process. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011 Jul;197(1):W104-13. doi: 10.2214/AJR.10.5803. Review. PubMed PMID: 21700970.

Fritz JM, Cleland JA, Childs JD. Subgrouping patients with low back pain: evolution of a classification approach to physical therapy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007 Jun;37(6):290-302. Review. Erratum in: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007 Dec;37(12):769. PubMed PMID: 17612355.

Jalloh I, Minhas P. Delays in the treatment of cauda equina syndrome due to its variable clinical features in patients presenting to the emergency department. Emerg Med J. 2007 Jan;24(1):33-4. PubMed PMID: 17183040; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2658150. 

Försth P, Ólafsson G, Carlsson T, Frost A, Borgström F, Fritzell P, Öhagen P, Michaëlsson K, Sandén B. A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Fusion Surgery for Lumbar Spinal Stenosis. N Engl J Med. 2016 Apr 14;374(15):1413-23. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1513721. PubMed PMID: 27074066.

Sizer PS Jr, Brismée JM, Cook C. Medical screening for red flags in the diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal spine pain. Pain Pract. 2007 Mar;7(1):53-71. Review. PubMed PMID: 17305681.

Mechelli F, Preboski Z, Boissonnault WG. Differential diagnosis of a patient referred to physical therapy with low back pain: abdominal aortic aneurysm. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008 Sep;38(9):551-7. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2008.2719. Epub 2008 Sep 1. Erratum in: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008 Oct;38(10):648. Probaski, Zachory [corrected to Preboski, Zachary]. PubMed PMID: 18758044.

Plass LM, McGee TG, Elliott JM. Identification of Metastatic Lesions in a Patient With Low Back Pain Following a Motor Vehicle Collision. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Feb;46(2):124. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.0403. PubMed PMID: 26828237.

Deyo RA, Diehl AK. Cancer as a cause of back pain: frequency, clinical presentation, and diagnostic strategies. J Gen Intern Med. 1988 May-Jun;3(3):230-8. PubMed PMID: 2967893.

 Crowell MS, Gill NW. Medical screening and evacuation: cauda equina syndrome in a combat zone. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2009 Jul;39(7):541-9. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2009.2999. PubMed PMID: 19574660.

Dohrmann GJ, Mansour N. Long-Term Results of Various Operations for Lumbar Disc Herniation: Analysis of over 39,000 Patients. Med Princ Pract. 2015;24(3):285-90. doi: 10.1159/000375499. Epub 2015 Mar 27. PubMed PMID: 25832729.

McCrory P, Bell S. Nerve entrapment syndromes as a cause of pain in the hip, groin and buttock. Sports Med. 1999 Apr;27(4):261-74. Review. PubMed PMID: 10367335.

Prather H, Cheng A. Diagnosis and Treatment of Hip Girdle Pain in the Athlete. PM R. 2016 Mar;8(3 Suppl):S45-60. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.12.009. Review. PubMed PMID: 26972267.

Luhmann SJ, Jones A, Schootman M, Gordon JE, Schoenecker PL, Luhmann JD. Differentiation between septic arthritis and transient synovitis of the hip in children with clinical prediction algorithms. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2004 May;86-A(5):956-62. PubMed PMID: 15118038.

Reiman MP, Thorborg K. Clinical examination and physical assessment of hip joint-related pain in athletes. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2014 Nov;9(6):737-55. PubMed PMID: 25383243; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4223284.

O’Laughlin SJ, Kokosinski E. Cauda equina syndrome in a pregnant woman referred to physical therapy for low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008 Nov;38(11):721. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2008.0411. PubMed PMID: 18978454. 

Beazell JR. Entrapment neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: cause of lateral knee pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1988;10(3):85-6. PubMed PMID: 18796970.

Thein-Nissenbaum J, Boissonnault WG. Differential diagnosis of spondylolysis in a patient with chronic low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2005 May;35(5):319-26. PubMed PMID: 15966543.

Apaydin N, Bozkurt M, Loukas M, Tubbs RS, Esmer AF. The course of the inferior gluteal nerve and surgical landmarks for its localization during posterior approaches to hip. Surg Radiol Anat. 2009 Jul;31(6):415-8. doi: 10.1007/s00276-008-0459-6. Epub 2009 Feb 4. PubMed PMID: 19190851.

McCrory P, Bell S. Nerve entrapment syndromes as a cause of pain in the hip, groin and buttock. Sports Med. 1999 Apr;27(4):261-74. Review. PubMed PMID: 10367335.

Pellecchia GL, Lugo-Larcheveque N, Deluca PA. Differential diagnosis in physical therapy evaluation of thigh pain in an adolescent boy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1996 Jan;23(1):51-5. PubMed PMID: 8749750.

Cohen SP, Raja SN. Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of lumbar zygapophysial (facet) joint pain. Anesthesiology. 2007 Mar;106(3):591-614. Review. PubMed PMID: 17325518.

Childs JD, Fritz JM, Flynn TW, Irrgang JJ, Johnson KK, Majkowski GR, Delitto A. A clinical prediction rule to identify patients with low back pain most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation: a validation study. Ann Intern Med. 2004 Dec 21;141(12):920-8. PubMed PMID: 15611489.

Donelson R, Aprill C, Medcalf R, Grant W. A prospective study of centralization of lumbar and referred pain. A predictor of symptomatic discs and anular competence. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997 May 15;22(10):1115-22. PubMed PMID: 9160470.

Fritz JM, Delitto A, Welch WC, Erhard RE. Lumbar spinal stenosis: a review of current concepts in evaluation, management, and outcome measurements. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1998 Jun;79(6):700-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 9630153.

Flynn T, Fritz J, Whitman J, Wainner R, Magel J, Rendeiro D, Butler B, Garber M, Allison S. A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with spinal manipulation. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Dec 15;27(24):2835-43. PubMed PMID: 12486357.

Fritz JM, Cleland JA, Childs JD. Subgrouping patients with low back pain: evolution of a classification approach to physical therapy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007 Jun;37(6):290-302. Review. Erratum in: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2007 Dec;37(12):769. PubMed PMID: 17612355.

Kilpikoski S, Airaksinen O, Kankaanpää M, Leminen P, Videman T, Alen M. Interexaminer reliability of low back pain assessment using the McKenzie method. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2002 Apr 15;27(8):E207-14. PubMed PMID: 11935120.

Laslett M, Young SB, Aprill CN, McDonald B. Diagnosing painful sacroiliac joints: A validity study of a McKenzie evaluation and sacroiliac provocation tests. Aust J Physiother. 2003;49(2):89-97. PubMed PMID: 12775204.

Frymoyer JW, Cats-Baril W. Predictors of low back pain disability. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1987 Aug;(221):89-98. PubMed PMID: 2955993.

Cook C, Brown C, Michael K, Isaacs R, Howes C, Richardson W, Roman M, Hegedus E. The clinical value of a cluster of patient history and observational findings as a diagnostic support tool for lumbar spine stenosis. Physiother Res Int. 2011 Sep;16(3):170-8. doi: 10.1002/pri.500. Epub 2010 Nov 11. PubMed PMID: 21077266.

Greenwood MJ, Erhard RE, Jones DL. Differential diagnosis of the hip vs. lumbar spine: five case reports. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1998 Apr;27(4):308-15. PubMed PMID: 9549715.

Laslett M, McDonald B, Aprill CN, Tropp H, Oberg B. Clinical predictors of screening lumbar zygapophyseal joint blocks: development of clinical prediction rules. Spine J. 2006 Jul-Aug;6(4):370-9. PubMed PMID: 16825041. 

Kasai Y, Morishita K, Kawakita E, Kondo T, Uchida A. A new evaluation method for lumbar spinal instability: passive lumbar extension test. Phys Ther. 2006 Dec;86(12):1661-7. Epub 2006 Oct 10. PubMed PMID: 17033040.

McGill SM, Childs A, Liebenson C. Endurance times for low back stabilization exercises: clinical targets for testing and training from a normal database. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1999 Aug;80(8):941-4. PubMed PMID: 10453772.

Razmjou H, Kramer JF, Yamada R. Intertester reliability of the McKenzie evaluation in assessing patients with mechanical low-back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000 Jul;30(7):368-83; discussion 384-9. PubMed PMID: 10907894.

Lurie JD. What diagnostic tests are useful for low back pain? Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2005 Aug;19(4):557-75. Review. PubMed PMID: 15949776.

Delitto A, George SZ, Van Dillen LR, Whitman JM, Sowa G, Shekelle P, Denninger TR, Godges JJ; Orthopaedic Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. Low back pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2012 Apr;42(4):A1-57. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2012.0301. Epub 2012 Mar 30. PubMed PMID: 22466247; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4893951. 

Oliphant D. Safety of spinal manipulation in the treatment of lumbar disk herniations: a systematic review and risk assessment. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2004 Mar-Apr;27(3):197-210. Review. PubMed PMID: 15129202.

Zelle BA, Gruen GS, Brown S, George S. Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: evaluation and management. Clin J Pain. 2005 Sep-Oct;21(5):446-55. Review. PubMed PMID: 16093751.

Foley BS, Buschbacher RM. Sacroiliac joint pain: anatomy, biomechanics, diagnosis, and treatment. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 Dec;85(12):997-1006. Review. PubMed PMID: 17117004.

Alderink GJ. The sacroiliac joint: review of anatomy, mechanics, and function. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1991;13(2):71-84. PubMed PMID: 18796854.

Buckwalter JA. Aging and degeneration of the human intervertebral disc. Spine. 1995 Jun 1;20(11):1307-14.

Faries MD, Greenwood M. Core Training: Stabilizing the Confusion. Strength & Conditioning Journal. 2007 Apr 1;29(2):10-25.

 Fritz JM, George SZ. Identifying psychosocial variables in patients with acute work-related low back pain: the importance of fear-avoidance beliefs. Phys Ther. 2002 Oct;82(10):973-83. PubMed PMID: 12350212.

Goom TS, Malliaras P, Reiman MP, Purdam CR. Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: Clinical Aspects of Assessment and Management. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2016 Jun;46(6):483-93. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2016.5986. Epub 2016 Apr 15. PubMed PMID: 27084841. 

Grimaldi A, Fearon A. Gluteal Tendinopathy: Integrating Pathomechanics and Clinical Features in Its Management. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2015 Nov;45(11):910-22. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2015.5829. Epub 2015 Sep 17. PubMed PMID: 26381486.

 Chan CC, Inrig T, Molloy CB, Stone MA, Derzko-Dzulynsky L. Prevalence of inflammatory back pain in a cohort of patients with anterior uveitis. Am J Ophthalmol. 2012;153:1025-1030.e1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2011.11.016

Rudwaleit M, Metter A, Listing J, Sieper J, Braun J. Inflammatory back pain in ankylosing spondylitis: a reassessment of the clinical history for application as classification and diagnostic criteria. Arthritis Rheum. 2006;54:569-578. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1002/art.21619

Sieper J, van der Heijde D, Landewé R, et al. New criteria for inflammatory back pain in patients with chronic back pain: a real patient exercise by experts from the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). Ann Rheum Dis. 2009;68:784-788. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1136/ard.2008.101501

Sieper J, van der Heijde D, Landewé R, et al. New criteria for inflammatory back pain in patients with chronic back pain: a real patient exercise by experts from the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). Ann Rheum Dis. 2009; 68: 784-788. http:// dx.doi.org/10.1136/ard.2008.101501

Cook C, Brown C, Michael K, Isaacs R, Howes C, Richardson W, Roman M, Hegedus E. The clinical value of a cluster of patient history and observational findings as a diagnostic support tool for lumbar spine stenosis. Physiother Res Int. 2011; 16(3): 170-8.

Henschke N, Maher CG, Refshauge KM, Herbert RD, Cumming RG, Bleasel J, York J, Das A, McAuley JH. Prevalence of and Screening for Serious Spinal Pathology in Patients Presenting to Primary Care Settings With Acute Low Back Pain. Arthritis & Rheumatism. 2009; 60(10): 3072–3080.

Roman M, Brown C, Richardson W, Isaacs R, Howes C, Cook CE. The development of a clinical decision making algorithm for detection of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture or wedge deformity. Journal of Manual and Manipulative Therapy. 2010; 18(1): 44-49.

Alonso-Blanco C, Fernandez-de-las-Penas C, Cleland JA. Preliminary clinical prediction rule for identifying patients with ankylosing spondylitis who are likely to respond to an exercise program: A pilot study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2009;88:445–454.

Flynn T, et al. A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with spinal manipulation. Spine. 2002; 27(24): 2835-43.

Childs JD, et al. A clinical prediction rule to identify patients with low back pain most likely to benefit from spinal manipulation: a validation study. Ann Intern Med. 2004; 141(12): 920-8.

Hancock MJ, et al. Independent evaluation of a clinical prediction rule for spinal manipulative therapy: a randomised controlled trial. European spine journal. 2008; 17(7): 936-943. doi:10.1007/s00586-008-0679-9.

Cleland JA, et al. Comparison of the effectiveness of three manual physical therapy techniques in a subgroup of patients with low back pain who satisfy a clinical prediction rule: a randomized clinical trial. Spine. 2009; 34(25): 2720-2729. doi:10.1097/BRS.0b013e3181b48809.

Schenk R, et al. Effectiveness of mechanical diagnosis and therapy in patients with back pain who meet a clinical prediction rule for spinal manipulation. The Journal of manual & manipulative therapy. 2013; 20(1): 43-49. doi:10.1179/2042618611Y.0000000017.

Learman K, et al. No Differences in Outcomes in People with Low Back Pain Who Met the Clinical Prediction Rule for Lumbar Spine Manipulation When a Pragmatic Non-thrust Manipulation Was Used as the Comparator. Physiotherapy Canada. Physiotherapie Canada. 2015; 66(4): 359-366. doi:10.3138/ptc.2013-49.

Donaldson M, et al. A Prescriptively Selected Non-Thrust Manipulation Versus a Therapist Selected Non-Thrust Manipulation for Treatment of Individuals With Low Back Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. 2016; 46(4): 1-29. doi:10.2519/jospt.2016.6318.

Cai C, et al. A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with mechanical lumbar traction. Eur Spine J. 2009; 18(4): 554-61.

Fritz JM, et al. Is there a subgroup of patients with low back pain likely to benefit from mechanical traction? Results of a randomized clinical trial and subgrouping analysis. Spine. 2007; 32(26): E793-800.

Hicks GE, Fritz JM, Delitto A, McGill SM. Preliminary Development of a Clinical Prediction Rule for Determining Which Patients With Low Back Pain Will Respond to a Stabilization Exercise Program. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005; 86(9): 1753–1762.

Rabin A, Shashua A, Pizem K, Dickstein R, Dar G. A Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients With Low Back Pain Who Are Likely to Experience Short-Term Success Following Lumbar Stabilization Exercises: A Randomized Controlled Validation Study. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2014; 44(1): 6–18, B1–13.