Masharawi Youssef

Gray Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv Jaffa, Israel

Abstract Title: Lumbosacral zone features in individuals with nonspecific low back pain are unique compared to controls and correlate with pain and dysfunction

Biography: Youssef Masharawi is an associate Professor and Head of the Master Program in the Physical Therapy Department at Tel Aviv University. Prof. Masharawi established the Spinal Research Lab for clinical and functional research projects concerning the spine and related conditions. He published more than 90 studies in leading peer-reviewed international Journals related to the Spine and musculoskeletal disorders. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate physical therapy students about the clinical reasoning process and physiotherapy in the movement system and spinal form and function. He has supervised more than 30 Masters and PhD students.

Research Interest: The study aimed to compare the lumbosacral nerve distances (LNDs) and sacroiliac joint (SIJ) morphology in individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) and controls and examine their correlations with pain and dysfunction. The sample included 200 young adult patients (ranging from 20-50 years old) referred for abdominal computerized tomography (CT):100 individuals with NSCLBP (50 males and 50 females) and 100 individuals without NSCLBP (50 males and 50 females). CT scans were assessed for LNDs, degenerative sacroiliac changes, and joint bridging. Those factors were correlated to the outcomes of three self-reported questionnaires about pain and function (Oswestry, Fear avoidance and Numerical Pain Rating Scale). The results indicated that Individuals with NSCLBP tend to have reduced LNDs from the sacral part of the SIJ compared to controls (Males: right - ? = 5.8 mm, left - ? =6.03mm; Females: right – ? = 7.9 mm, left - ? = 7.73mm, ANOVA- p<0.01), with moderate significant negative correlations with all three questionnaires (-0.38