Are there any truly objective physical signs, other than perhaps a deformity, that can be documented on the physical examination of someone with low back pain?
Fixed it. Internet going down now.none of the above signs that are mentioned will consistently correlate with pain. lobel is 100% right that "None of these are pain related." it is easier to document specific Waddells and let the readers of your IME determine for themselves if a particular patient has aberrant pain behaviors. the presence of these adverse subjective findings is probably more objective than any positive findings, and the lack thereof of any Waddells and documentation thus seems much more informative to me when i am reviewing a patient's IME.
at my fellowship, the main office had a good view of the parking lot. initially, i was disheartened by the multitude of chronic pain patients whose limps and antalgic shuffling gaits, really unable to stand without their canes, seemed to be miraculously cured while jogging to their sparkling new caddies and Ford F150 super crew cabs. one of them actually dropped his cane, and bent forward with ease to pick it up.
after that first week, i got used to seeing this sight...