# RETRODISPLACEMENT & SPONDYLOLISTHESIS--BRACE TREATMENT

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 1987 · $124,356

## Abstract

This project proposes to study the effect of bracing on homogenous low back
pain patients classified by the presence or absence of either excessive
anterior or posterior translation on flexion-extension radiographs.
Patients with back pain of four weeks' to one year duration are classified
into four groups:  retrodisplacement - worse in extension,
retrodisplacement - worse in flexion, spondylolisthesis (of any type), and
normal translation.  Each classified group is randomly assigned to flexion,
extension, or non-specific education treatment.  Flexion and extension
treatments include specific education and exercises as well as brace
treatment.  To accomplish these specific aims, the following hypotheses
will be tested:  (1) Patients with radiographic retrodisplacement (reverse
spondylolisthesis) and low back pain of greater than four weeks' duration
who demonstrate greatest displacement on an extension radiograph will
respond more favorably to a flexion orthosis than three other patient
groups:  (a) those with the same x-ray findings treated with an extension
orthosis, (b) those with the same x-ray findings treated with nonspecific
low back education, and (c) patients with normal radiographic translation
treated with the same disregard orthosis.  (2) Patients with radiographic
retrodisplacement and low back pain of greater than four weeks' duration
who demonstrate greatest displacement on the flexion radiograph will
respond more favorably to an extension orthosis than three other patient
groups:  (a) those with the same radiographic findings treated with a
flexion orthosis, (b) those with the same radiographic findings treated
with nonspecific low back education, and (c) patients with normal
radiographic translation treated with the same extension orthosis.  (3)
Patients with radiographic anterodisplacement (spondylolisthesis of any
type) and low back pain of four weeks' duration will respond more favorably
to a flexion orthosis than three other patient groups:  (a) those with the
same x-ray findings treated with an extension orthosis, (b) those with the
same x-ray findings treated with nonspecific low back education, and (c)
patients with normal radiographic translation treated with the same flexion
orthosis.  (4) The response to either a flexion or extension orthosis can
be predicted by:  (a) radiographic measurements, and (b) clinical symptoms
and signs, or psychosocial variables.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156796
- **Project number:** 5R01AR034344-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **SAM.gov UEI:** Z1H9VJS8NG16
- **Principal Investigator:** James N Weinstein
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $124,356
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-04-01 → 1988-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156796

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156796, RETRODISPLACEMENT & SPONDYLOLISTHESIS--BRACE TREATMENT (5R01AR034344-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156796. Licensed CC0.

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