Musculoskeletal System

Randomized Trial Tests Yoga as Knee Osteoarthritis Therapy

— Results from 6-month study suggest it’s a reasonable option by John Gever, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today April 8, 2025 Key Takeaways Exercise is believed to improve outcomes in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, but it’s unclear whether some types are better than others. This randomized trial tested yoga against strength training as therapy for […]

Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity and Exercise Among People With Chronic Low Back Pain: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis

Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy Published Online: April 7, 2025Volume0IssuejaPages1-46 https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2025.12905 Abstract OBJECTIVE: To investigate the barriers and facilitators to physical activity and exercise among people with chronic low back pain (CLBP). DESIGN: A qualitative evidence synthesis. DATA SOURCES: We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO databases from inception to July […]

What is the Natural History of Low Back Pain? It Depends

By Awah Bodunrin in Uncategorized on March 14, 2025. By: Chad E Cook PT, PhD, FAPTA Definition: The natural history of a disease refers to the progression of a disease in an individual over time, from its onset (pathological or exposure to causal agents) to its resolution. It is generally considered “natural” when no interventions […]

The efficacy of physiotherapy approaches in chronic tension-type headache: a systematic review and meta-analysis

J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2025 Mar;39(1):34-48. doi: 10.22514/jofph.2025.003. Epub 2025 Mar 12. Dilara Onan PMID: 40129422 PMCID: PMC11934752 DOI: 10.22514/jofph.2025.003 Abstract Background: Although pharmacologic therapies are considered the first choice for the treatment of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH), physiotherapy and rehabilitation approaches are also used in the management of patients with CTTH. This study […]

Steroid Shots for OA Helpful Well Beyond 3 Months

— Big U.K. study finds benefit lasting years for one key outcome by John Gever, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today March 3, 2025 Key Takeaways The effectiveness of intra-articular corticosteroid injections for osteoarthritis is still uncertain. In this study, the injections were associated with reduced use of opioids, alone and in combination products. Such benefits were […]

Another Expert Group Throws Shade at Spinal Injections for Back Pain

— “No more effective than sham procedures,” evidence review finds by John Gever, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today February 19, 2025 Key Takeaways Epidural anesthetic or steroid injections, nerve blocks, and related interventions are commonly used to treat chronic back pain. This review found no solid evidence showing that these interventions are more effective than sham […]

Epidural Steroid Shots for Back Pain Have Limited Efficacy, Review Shows

— Promising benefits in some situations, but mixed results in others by Judy George, Deputy Managing Editor, MedPage Today February 12, 2025 Key Takeaways Epidural steroid shots for back pain had mixed results, an AAN review showed. The treatment demonstrated promising short-term benefits for radiculopathy patients. In other situations, benefits were unclear or limited. Epidural […]

Electroacupuncture regulates SIRT1/p53/p21 signaling pathway to prevent stress-induced premature senescence of nucleus pulposus cells in degenerative intervertebral discs

Int Immunopharmacol. 2025 Feb 20:148:114114. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114114. Epub 2025 Jan 30. Min Wang PMID: 39889410 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114114 Abstract Stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) affects cellular functionality due to various stressors. In intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD), nucleus pulposus (NP) cell dysfunction is crucial. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to alleviate low back pain and delay IVDD, but […]

Bodybuilders’ Trick Helps Knee OA Patients in Trial

— Blood flow restriction increases benefit from exercise regimen by John Gever, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today January 23, 2025 A technique now widely used in sports medicine to speed recovery from leg injuries helped reduce symptoms and improve function in people with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, a randomized trial showed. Among 87 patients completing […]

Chiropractic Improves Discogenic Low Back Pain, IVD Structural Integrity and Biochemistry

October 31, 2024 Written by: James Demetrious, DC, DABCO Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedist The Identification of Chiropractic Biomarkers In their recent paper, Billham et al. offer a case report evaluating intervertebral disc (IVD) structural integrity and degenerative pain biochemistry following a course of Cox flexion-distraction SMT. [1] The authors employed magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and novel […]

Efficacy of Naproxen in Patients With Sciatica

November 30, 2024 Efficacy of Naproxen in Patients With Sciatica TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 123 participants evaluated the efficacy of naproxen in treating patients with sciatica. The primary outcome of interest was daily leg pain intensity measured on a numeric rating scale. Secondary outcomes included pain measurement on other pain rating scales, […]

New study links Ozempic to sharp reduction in osteoarthritis knee pain

By Stephanie Srakocic | Fact-checked by Davi Sherman | Published November 7, 2024 Key Takeaways A study has found that participants who received once-weekly Ozepmic for 68 weeks reported over 50% less osteoarthritis knee pain. Study participants receiving Ozempic also experienced an average body weight reduction of 13.7%. This study adds to growing data suggesting […]

Vitamin K2 for Nocturnal Leg Cramps

November 06, 2024 JAMA Internal Medicine TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This 8-week randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of vitamin K2 for nocturnal leg cramps (NLCs) in 199 participants. The primary outcome of interest was the number of reported NLCs during the week. Participants in the vitamin K2 group experienced a significant reduction in the number of reported NLCs […]

Effects of Lowering Glycemic Index of Dietary Carbohydrate on Plasma Uric Acid Levels

Arthritis Rheumatol . 2016 May;68(5):1281-9. doi: 10.1002/art.39527. Effects of Lowering Glycemic Index of Dietary Carbohydrate on Plasma Uric Acid Levels: The OmniCarb Randomized Clinical Trial Stephen P Juraschek PMID: 26636424 PMCID: PMC5532800 DOI: 10.1002/art.39527 Abstract Objective: The effects of carbohydrates on plasma uric acid levels are a subject of controversy. We determined the individual and […]

Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Sciatica From Herniated Disk

October 23, 2024 Acupuncture vs Sham Acupuncture for Chronic Sciatica From Herniated Disk TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for the treatment of patients with chronic sciatica pain. The primary outcome was a change in visual analog scale score for leg pain. Participants in the acupuncture group had […]

The association between sleep disorder, sleep duration and chronic back pain

Published: 14 October 2024 The association between sleep disorder, sleep duration and chronic back pain: results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, 2009–2010 Meiru Zhong & Zhou Wang BMC Public Health Volume 24, Article number: 2809 (2024) Abstract Background Back pain is a typical condition, and the association among sleep disorders, sleep duration and […]

Structured Run-Walk Program May Help Lower Back Pain

This Exercise May Help Lower Back Pain, No Special Equipment Needed — Carefully structured run-walk program proves mettle in small trial by John Gever, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today October 8, 2024 Adults younger than age 45 with chronic, nonspecific lower back pain saw significant pain relief with a structured run-walk program in a randomized trial. […]

Effects of reducing sedentary behaviour on back pain, paraspinal muscle insulin sensitivity and muscle fat fraction and their associations: a secondary analysis of a 6-month randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open. 2024 Sep 28;14(9):e084305. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084305. Jooa Norha PMID: 39343453 PMCID: PMC11440184 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084305 Abstract Objectives: Sedentary behaviour (SB) is a plausible intervention target for back pain mitigation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of a 6-month SB reduction intervention on back pain and related disability outcomes, and paraspinal muscle (ie, erector spinae and transversospinales separately) […]

Long-Term Effects of Acupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain

September 12, 2024 Long-Term Effects of Individualized Acupuncture for Chronic Neck Pain Annals of Internal Medicine TAKE-HOME MESSAGE This randomized clinical trial involving 683 participants evaluated the effects of acupuncture on chronic neck pain. Participants received either high- or low-sensitive acupuncture or sham acupuncture. The primary outcome was a change in the pain score on […]

Comparative Effectiveness of Acupuncture Versus Non-surgical Modalities for Treating Plantar Fasciitis

Cureus. 2024 Sep 8;16(9):e68959. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68959. eCollection 2024 Sep. Comparative Effectiveness of Acupuncture Versus Non-surgical Modalities for Treating Plantar Fasciitis: A Network Meta-Analysis Indrarajah Asokumaran 1, Bavithaa Sufina Verasamy 2, Mohd Idham B Hasan 1, Danny Kit Chung Wong 3, Siew Siew Ong 2, Shih Chau Ng 2 PMID: 39385864 PMCID: PMC11461670 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.68959 Abstract […]