Abstract
A 78-year old female patient with chronic left sided low back, hip, and buttock pain was seen for 10 sessions of physical therapy treatment over a 3-month period at an outpatient physical therapy clinic. Treatment was provided by a student physical therapist under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The patient was evaluated at the initial encounter with: Sahrmann’s core stability test, straight leg raise, the Oswestry Disability Index, fingertip to floor measurements, manual muscle testing, and the numeric pain rating scale. A plan of care was established based on evaluation. Main goals for the patient were to improve strength, lumbar range of motion, lumbar motor control, achieve pain free functional activities, and return to gardening. Main interventions used were motor control exercises, progressive resistive exercises, joint mobilizations, and instruction in body mechanics as well as functional training.The patient improved in strength, lumbar active range of motion, lumbar motor control, and achieved pain free functional activities as well as a return to gardening. The patient was discharged from outpatient physical therapy with an exercise program to continue living independently at home.