Project Description

WORKSHOP 10:

Low Back Pain: An integrated approach of Sensorimotor Control

Speakers: Lieven Danneels, Lotte Janssens & Thomas Matheve

Workshop Description

In recent years, extensive scientific research has been conducted on the diagnosis and treatment of low back pain. Exercise therapy has been advocated as a primary treatment approach in the management of low back pain. One domain where the steady increase in high-quality research has yielded significant insights is that of sensorimotor control. Advancements in the understanding of proprioceptive and neuromotor processes have enhanced our comprehension of how the function of the lower back is regulated and controlled. This knowledge enables clinicians to tailor therapeutic interventions specifically to these mechanisms when necessary or desirable.

This workshop integrates these innovative insights into clinical reasoning and therapeutic practice. It adopts a comprehensive approach with a specific focus on motor control of the lumbopelvic region.

Workshop Objectives

The primary objective of this workshop is to further develop knowledge and skills related to the assessment and treatment of patients with low back pain and to integrate these into daily clinical practice—combining both scientific evidence and clinically inspired perspectives. The workshop emphasizes sensorimotor control within a broader biopsychosocial framework, ensuring a comprehensive yet in-depth approach to the management of low back pain.

Participants will learn to apply a thorough understanding of sensorimotor control to conduct detailed patient assessments and develop a progressive treatment plan tailored to individual patient needs.

 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the state-of-the-art regarding sensorimotor control and its dysfunctions in low back pain
  • Understand time-dependent changes in the muscular system in acute, subacute, recurrent, and chronic low back pain patients
  • Identify and apply the most appropriate approaches for assessing and managing sensorimotor control dysfunction
  • Design and implement a patient-centered activation program, tailored to the patient’s individual needs, including sensorimotor profile, load capacity, and movement quality, to enhance functional performance and participation

Target Audience

This workshop is relevant for every discipline involved in the interdisciplinary approach of managing low back pain. It is of interest to both clinicians and researchers.

 

Speakers Information

 

Prof dr Lieven Danneels

  • full professor and Vice-dean at the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Department of Rehabilitation Sciences – Ghent University
  • Brief Biography:
    • His clinical expertise and research focus lie in the field of spinal rehabilitation. He leads the Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, Section Spine, he is (co)-author of >200 publications in peer reviewed journals and is a frequently invited speaker at both national and international conferences. His contributions to spinal rehabilitation research have been widely recognized. In 2000, he received the Clinical Science Award from the Spine Society of Europe, followed by the Prix de l’Académie Européenne de Médecine de Réadaptation in 2002. In 2011, his work was honored with the ISSLS Prize from the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine—the most prestigious global award for research in the field of low back pain. In 2019, he served as the organizer of the World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Pain in Antwerp, and from 2026 onwards, he will be the main organizer of this triennial international congress.
  • Belgium, Ghent, lieven.danneels@ugent.be

 

Prof dr Lotte Janssens

  • associate professor in musculoskeletal rehabilitation
  • Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences – Hasselt University
  • Brief Biography:
    • Over the past 15 years, her research and teaching activities have been focused on lumbopelvic pain (e.g., recurrent non-specific low back pain, patients following lumbar surgery, pregnancy-related low back and pelvic pain), particularly its relationship with deficits in sensorimotor control (incl. postural control, proprioception) and respiration, and how to encounter with rehabilitation. She currently guides 8 PhD students within this field. As a board member of the Belgian Back Society, she serves the clinical and research community in Belgium in the field of spinal rehabilitation. Finally, she serves institutional services as head of the educational program for (master) physiotherapy students at Hasselt University.
  • Belgium, Hasselt, Lotte.Janssens@uhasselt.be

 

 

Prof dr Thomas Matheve

  • Visiting professor
  • Department of Rehabilitation Sciences – Ghent University
  • Brief biography
    • Thomas is a physiotherapist, researcher and lecturer specializing in low back pain rehabilitation. His research focuses on sensorimotor control of the lumbar spine, the interplay between psychological factors and movement behaviour, and personalized and context-specific assessment and treatment approaches. His work aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying the development, persistence and recurrence of low back pain and to translate these insights into more effective rehabilitation strategies. Thomas is an active member of several national and international scientific organizations, including the Belgian Back Society. Next to his academic activities, he has extensive clinical experience in the assessment and treatment of people with low back pain.
  • Belgium, Ghent, Thomas.Matheve@UGent.be

 

 Supporting Literature

  • Matheve T, Hodges P, Danneels L. The Role of Back Muscle Dysfunctions in Chronic Low Back Pain: State-of-the-Art and Clinical Implications. J Clin Med. 2023 Aug 24;12(17):5510.
  • Matheve T, Janssens L, Goossens N, Danneels L, Willems T, Van Oosterwijck J, De Baets L. The Relationship Between Pain-Related Psychological Factors and Maximal Physical Performance in Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain. 2022 Dec;23(12):2036-2051.
  • Hodges PW, Danneels L. Changes in Structure and Function of the Back Muscles in Low Back Pain: Different Time Points, Observations, and Mechanisms. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):464-476.
  •  Brumagne S, Diers M, Danneels L, Moseley GL, Hodges PW. Neuroplasticity of Sensorimotor Control in Low Back Pain. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2019 Jun;49(6):402-414.
  • Tsao H, Danneels L, Hodges P. Smudging the motor brain in young adults with recurrent low back pain. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2011 Oct 1;36(21):1721-7. SCI2011= 2.949 – JCR2011= Orthopedics 19/65 (Q2), Clinical Neurology