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Excellence in Rehabilitation of Aging Persons Award: Developing a Function-Focused Approach to Pain Management for Older Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain


 The overarching goal of our research program is to improve physical function and participation in older adults with chronic musculoskeletal conditions, particularly low back pain (LBP). Despite the fact that LBP is a common problem for older adults and is associated with poor outcomes in this vulnerable age group, little research has focused on LBP in people over age 65. With minimal research available, clinicians do not have clear evidence-based guidance regarding management of older adults with LBP. This presentation will focus on our pathway towards developing a focused treatment algorithm designed to prevent and address the pain-related disability found in older adults with LBP. Our work has largely focused on the identification of potentially modifiable "rehabilitation risk factors" that are associated with pain and functional limitations, as well as the development of interventions to address these risk factors. Specifically, we will discuss our findings relative to trunk muscle impairments and clinical hip impairments in the context of the older adult with low back pain.