Musculoskeletal System

Effects of Bracing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis

Stuart L. Weinstein, M.D. BACKGROUND The role of bracing in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who are at risk for curve progression and eventual surgery is controversial. METHODS We conducted a multicenter study that included patients with typical indications for bracing due to their age, skeletal immaturity, and degree of scoliosis. Both a randomized cohort […]

Yoga for chronic low back pain

S Holtzman | RT Beggs OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of yoga as an intervention for chronic low back pain (CLBP) using a meta-analytical approach. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that examined pain and/or functional disability as treatment outcomes were included. Post-treatment and follow-up outcomes were assessed. METHODS: A comprehensive search of relevant electronic databases, from […]

Exercises – What’s the Use?

October 20, 2012 by Dr Matthew D. Long Source:  http://cdi.edu.au/clarity/exercises_whats_use.php One of the most frequent criticisms of chiropractic care seems to be that it is largely passive and that exercises don’t feature strongly in overall management. While this is clearly a simplification it does perhaps illustrate the fact that differences of opinion about the role of exercise […]

Video: Does This Patient With Shoulder Pain Have Rotator Cuff Disease? JAMA

Video summary of the August 28, 2013 Rational Clinical Examination systematic review, “Does This Patient With Shoulder Pain Have Rotator Cuff Disease?” ARTICLE: Does This Patient With Shoulder Pain Have Rotator Cuff Disease?: The Rational Clinical Examination Systematic Review Hermans J, Luime JJ, Meuffels DE, Reijman M, Simel DL, Bierma-Zeinstra SA. JAMA. 2013;310(8):837-847. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.276187. JAMA Website:  http://jama.jamanetwork.com/multimediaPlayer.aspx?mediaid=5975016

Risk Factors for Non-Organic Low Back Pain in Patients with Worker’s Compensation

Jeremy T. Rohrlich Abstract Background Context Nonorganic low back pain is common in the Worker’s Compensation (WC) population. Consults with specialists constitute an unnecessary cost to the system, and a means of screening for these patients is necessary. Purpose The purpose of this study is to design easily identifiable criteria to help identify which Worker’s […]

Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of chronic low back pain:

A randomized controlled trial Mitchell Haas, DC Abstract Background context There have been no full-scale trials of the optimal number of visits for the care of any condition with spinal manipulation. Purpose To identify the dose-response relationship between visits to a chiropractor for spinal manipulation and chronic low back pain (cLBP) outcomes and to determine […]

Endurance and fatigue characteristics in the neck muscles during sub-maximal isometric test in patients with cervical radiculopathy

Eur Spine J. 2014 Mar;23(3):590-8. doi: 10.1007/s00586-013-3060-6. Epub 2013 Oct 17. Halvorsen M Abstract PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare myoelectric manifestation in neck muscle endurance and fatigue characteristics during sub-maximal isometric endurance test in patients with cervical radiculopathy and asymptomatic subjects. An additional aim was to explore associations between primary neck […]

The Roles of Mechanical Stresses in the Pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis: Implications for Treatment of Joint Injuries

Cartilage. 2013 Oct 1;4(4):286-294. Buckwalter JA1, Anderson DD2, Brown TD2, Tochigi Y2, Martin JA2. Abstract Excessive joint surface loadings, either single (acute impact event) or repetitive (cumulative contact stress), can cause the clinical syndrome of osteoarthritis (OA). Despite advances in treatment of injured joints, the risk of OA following joint injuries has not decreased in […]

Iatrogenic Consequences of Early Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute, Work-Related, Disabling Low Back Pain

Webster, Barbara S. BSPT, PA-C; Bauer, Ann Z. MPH; Choi, YoonSun MA; Cifuentes, Manuel MD, MPH, ScD; Pransky, Glenn S. MD, MOccH Spine . 38(22):1939–1946, 15 October 2013. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182a42eb6 Abstract Study Design. Retrospective cohort study. Objective. To determine the effect of early (receipt ≤30 d postonset) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on disability and medical […]

Disc Herniations in the National Football League

Gray, Benjamin L. MD; Buchowski, Jacob M. MD, MS; Bumpass, David B. MD; Lehman, Ronald A. Jr. MD; Mall, Nathan A. MD; Matava, Matthew J. MD Spine . 38(38):1934–1938, 15 October 2013. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e3182a67678 Abstract Study Design. Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database. Objective. To determine the overall incidence, location, and type of disc […]

Effectiveness of Rocker Sole Shoes in the Management of Chronic Low Back Pain

A Randomized Clinical Trial MacRae, Catharine Siân PhD; Lewis, Jeremy S. PhD; Shortland, Adam P. PhD; Morrissey, Matthew C. ScD; Critchley, Duncan PhD Spine . 38(22):1905–1912, 15 October 2013. Abstract Study Design. Multicenter, assessor-blind, randomized, clinical trial. Objective. To compare the effectiveness of rocker sole footwear to traditional flat sole footwear as part of the […]

Do Cherries Really Work in Gout?

Jonathan Kay, MD Full Story & Video:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/803289 Hello. I am Jonathan Kay, Professor of Medicine and Director of Clinical Research in the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School and UMass Memorial Medical Center, both in Worcester, Massachusetts. In the 1931 musical Scandals, Ethel Merman sang a song that began, “Life is […]

Measuring limb length discrepancy using pelvic radiographs: the most reproducible method

The most reproducible method. Heaver C, et al. S Hip Int. 2013 Aug 9;23(4):391-394. doi: 10.5301/hipint.5000042. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract Leg length inequality following total hip replacement remains common. In an effort to reduce this occurrence, surgeons undertake pre-operative measurements, templating and use various forms of intraoperative measurements, including computer navigation. This study aims […]

Pot a Common Remedy to Ease Back Pain

Published: Oct 11, 2013 By John Fauber Full Story:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AdditionalMeetings/42228 NEW ORLEANS — Use of marijuana to ease back pain was common among patients at a university spine clinic in Colorado where pot has been legal for medical purposes since 2000, but most of the users did not have a prescription, according to research presented […]

Intradiscal Pressure Changes during Manual Cervical Distraction

A Cadaveric Study Gudavalli MR, et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:954134. doi: 10.1155/2013/954134. Epub 2013 Aug 20. Abstract The objective of this study was to measure intradiscal pressure (IDP) changes in the lower cervical spine during a manual cervical distraction (MCD) procedure. Incisions were made anteriorly, and pressure transducers were inserted into each […]

Reduced BMI Eases Low Back Pain

Published: Oct 10, 2013 By John Fauber, Reporter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/MedPage Today Full Story:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AdditionalMeetings/42209 NEW ORLEANS — The more obese a person is, the more likely the risk of low back pain, but it’s possible to reduce the odds by engaging in a moderate amount of exercise, according to research presented here. The paper, […]

Exploring the clinical course of neck pain in physical therapy

A longitudinal study Walton DM, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013 Sep 18. pii: S0003-9993(13)00909-X. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2013.09.004. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract OBJECTIVE: To investigate the short-term trajectory of recovery from mechanical neck pain, and predictors of trajectory. DESIGN: Prospective longitudinal cohort study with 5 repeated measurements over 4 weeks. SETTING: Community-based physiotherapy clinics […]

MRI of the SI joints commonly shows non-inflammatory disease in patients clinically suspected of sacroiliitis

Jans L,et al. Eur J Radiol. 2013 Oct 16. pii: S0720-048X(13)00530-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2013.10.001. [Epub ahead of print] Affiliation Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Gent, Belgium. Electronic address: lennartjans@hotmail.com. Abstract PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of clinically relevant non-inflammatory disease on MRI of the sacroiliac (SI) joints in […]

Determining the Optimal Number of Spinal Manipulation Sessions for Chronic Low-Back Pain

Findings from the largest and most rigorous, randomized dose-response study of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) for chronic low-back pain suggest that 12 sessions (SMT) may be the best “dose” for people with chronic low-back pain. The study, published in The Spine Journal, was funded by NCCAM. Spinal manipulative therapy, most commonly performed by licensed clinicians (such as […]

Treatment of the sacroiliac joint in patients with leg pain: a randomized-controlled trial

Eur Spine J. 2013 Oct;22(10):2310-7. doi: 10.1007/s00586-013-2833-2. Epub 2013 May 30. Visser LH1, Woudenberg NP, de Bont J, van Eijs F, Verwer K, Jenniskens H, Den Oudsten BL. Abstract PURPOSE: The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) may be a cause of sciatica. The aim of this study was to assess which treatment is successful for SIJ-related back […]