Extremities

Evaluation of shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measures

Evaluation of shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measures: a systematic and standardized comparison of available evidence Stefanie Schmidt, MPH J Shoulder Elbow Surg (2013) (Epub ahead of print). Background The aim of this study was to perform a standardized and systematic evaluation of the available evidence on multi-item shoulder-specific patient-reported outcome measures that are applicable to a […]

Clinical usefulness of oral supplementation with alpha-lipoic Acid, curcumin, and B-group vitamins in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome undergoing surgical treatment

Pajardi G, Bortot P, et al, Evid Based Complement Alternat Med, 2014; [Epub ahead of print] Journal Reference In a study involving 180 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) scheduled to undergo surgical decompression of the median nerve, oral supplementation with a combination supplement containing alpha-lipoic acid, curcumin phytosome, and B-group vitamins, twice a day, […]

Does excessive flatfoot deformity affect function?

Does excessive flatfoot deformity affect function? A comparison between symptomatic and asymptomatic flatfeet using the Oxford Foot Model Matthias Hös January 2014 Volume 39, Issue 1, Pages 23–28 Abstract Treatment of asymptomatic flexible flatfeet is a subject of great controversy. The purpose of this study was to examine foot function during walking in symptomatic (SFF) […]

Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio in carpal tunnel syndrome

A case-control study Mondelli M, et al. J Neurol Sci. 2014 Jan 15. pii: S0022-510X(14)00034-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jns.2014.01.012. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract BACKGROUND: The association between carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and high body mass index (BMI) and some hand measures is well known. No study has been specifically focused on waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip-ratio […]

Shoulder replacement improves range of motion, reduces rheumatoid arthritis pain

January 14, 2014 Full Story Shoulder replacement surgery improved range of motion and reduced pain in nearly all cases of rheumatoid arthritis, especially when patients had an intact rotator cuff, based on study results recently published in the Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Using the data in the Mayo Clinic Total Joint Registry, researchers studied […]

Efficacy of Exercise Intervention as Determined by the McKenzie System of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Richard Rosedale, PT, Dip MDT Study Design Randomized controlled trial. Objectives To examine the efficacy of exercise intervention in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), as directed by Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) assessment, and, secondarily, to explore outcomes between MDT assessment-defined subgroups within the exercise group. Background Due to the high physical and economic […]

Evaluation of the patient with hip pain

Wilson JJ, et al. Am Fam Physician. 2014 Jan 1;89(1):27-34. PubMed Reference Abstract Hip pain is a common and disabling condition that affects patients of all ages. The differential diagnosis of hip pain is broad, presenting a diagnostic challenge. Patients often express that their hip pain is localized to one of three anatomic regions: the […]

Bracing superior to neuromuscular training for the prevention of self-reported recurrent ankle sprains

Bracing superior to neuromuscular training for the prevention of self-reported recurrent ankle sprains: a three-arm randomised controlled trial Janssen KW Br J Sports Med. 2014 Jan 7. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092947. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract BACKGROUND: Ankle sprain is the most common sports-related injury with a high rate of recurrence and associated costs. Recent studies have […]

Glucosamine and chondroitin for knee osteoarthritis

A double-blind randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating single and combination regimens Fransen M,et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2014 Jan 6. doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-203954. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine if the dietary supplements, glucosamine and/or chondroitin, result in reduced joint space narrowing (JSN) and pain among people with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A double-blind […]

A systematic review and meta-analysis of medical leech therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee

The Clinical Journal of Pain, 12/09/2013 Lauche R, et al. .This paper presents a systematic review and meta–analysis of the effectiveness of medical leech therapy for osteoarthritis of the knee. This systematic review found moderate to strong evidence for the reduction of pain, functional impairment, and joint stiffness after medical leech therapy in patients with […]

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Approve Criteria for Non-Surgical Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis

“The background for this AUC comes from the 2013 AAOS evidence-based clinical practice guideline on OA of the knee, a comprehensive review of all the available evidence,” said Michael Heggenness, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon who served as a non-voting moderator during the voting panel process. “This AUC is a tool that takes that guideline one step further; it marries the available evidence with expert medical opinion and is available at the touch of a web and mobile-based app.”

Arm Squeeze Test: a new clinical test to distinguish neck from shoulder pain

S. Gumina, Stefano Carbone, P. Albino, M. Gurzi, F. Postacchini European Spine Journal July 2013, Volume 22, Issue 7, pp 1558-1563 Abstract Purpose Objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic values of the Arm Squeeze Test. The test consists in squeezing the middle third of the upper arm. Methods 1,567 patients were included […]

The Shoulder Girdle’s Importance to the Cervical Spine

By Kevin G. Hearon, DC, CCEP, CCSP The shoulder girdle consists of three bones: the clavicle, scapula and humerus. It is suspended at its posterior margins from the cervical and thoracic spine by the trapezius muscles, levator scapula, rhomboid, serratus and latissimus dorsi. The anterior muscle attachments include all of the pectoral muscles, subclavius and […]

Treating CTS and Wrist Tendinitis of Myofasial Origin

By Guy Hains, DC Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common and most clinically significant of all nerve entrapment syndromes,1 present in 2.7 percent of the adult population.2 Numbness and paresthesia along the distribution of the median nerve in the hand, i.e., the thumb, index, major and half the ring finger, are common symptoms […]

Coexisting Lumbar Spondylosis in Patients Undergoing TKA

How Common and How Serious? Chang, CB Clinical orthopaedics and related research : 2013 Sep 25 pg CONCLUSIONS Radiographic lumbar spine degeneration and lumbar spine symptoms are common among patients with advanced knee OA undergoing TKA. Severe lumbar spine symptoms (visual analog scale score of ≥ 7) were likely to adversely affect the preoperative clinical […]

Acupuncture for chronic Achilles tendnopathy: a randomized controlled study

Chin J Integr Med. 2013 Dec;19(12):900-4. doi: 10.1007/s11655-012-1218-4. Epub 2012 Dec 21. Bi-meng Zhang 1, Li-wei Zhong, Si-wei Xu, Hui-ru Jiang, Jian Shen PMID: 23263998 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-012-1218-4 Abstract Objective: To examine whether acupuncture treatment would improve outcome in chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Methods: A randomized, controlled trial at two centers of 64 randomized patients aged 18 […]

Patients with non-specific neck disorders commonly report upper limb disability

Upper limb activities can aggravate neck pain in the absence of arm symptoms. A variety of mechanisms may account for this occurrence, including mechanical loading. Cervical segments move when the upper limb is loaded and loads placed through the upper limb transmit to cervical structures via axio-scapular muscles, such as levator scapulae and upper trapezius. […]

The effectiveness of physiotherapeutic interventions in treatment of frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis

The effectiveness of physiotherapeutic interventions in treatment of frozen shoulder/adhesive capsulitis: A systematic review Tarang K. Jain Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Volume 27, Number 3 / 2014 Wednesday, November 27, 2013 Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Frozen shoulder is a common condition, yet its treatment remains challenging. In this review, the current best evidence […]

Metabolic Syndrome Increases Risk For Severe Knee—But Not Hip—OA

Full Story Clinical Pain Medicine ISSUE: NOVEMBER 2013 | VOLUME: 11 Madrid—The presence of metabolic syndrome and its components is associated with an increased risk for severe osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee, leading in many cases to joint replacement, according to new research. However, this connection was not true of hip OA. The association with […]

Clinical characteristics of pain originating from intra-articular structures of the knee joint in patients with medial knee osteoarthritis

Springerplus. 2013 Nov 23;2:628. doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-628. eCollection 2013. Ikeuchi M, Izumi M, Aso K, Sugimura N, Tani T. Abstract PURPOSE: Although disease progression of osteoarthritis has been well documented, pain pathophysiology is largely unknown. This study was designed with two purposes: 1) to characterize patients with knee pain predominantly originating from intra-articular structures and 2) […]