Musculoskeletal System

Efficacy of Paraffin Bath Therapy in Hand Osteoarthritis

A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial Banu Dilek, MD Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Volume 94, Issue 4 , Pages 642-649, April 2013 Abstract Objective To evaluate the efficacy of paraffin bath therapy on pain, function, and muscle strength in patients with hand osteoarthritis. Design Prospective single-blinded randomized controlled trial. Setting Department of physical medicine […]

Motor Control Exercises Reduces Pain and Disability in Chronic and Recurrent Low Back Pain

A Meta-Analysis Byström, Martin Gustaf RPT, MSc Spine:  15 March 2013 – Volume 38 – Issue 6 – p E350–E358 Abstract Study Design. Meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials. Objective. To determine the short-term, intermediate, and long-term effectiveness of MCE, with regard to pain and disability, in patients with chronic and recurrent low-back pain. Summary of […]

Broccoli Could Help Fight Arthritis

A compound found in broccoli could help prevent or slow the progress of the most common form of arthritis.

The use of joint mobilization to improve clinical outcomes in hand therapy

A systematic review of the literature Heiser R, et al. Show all Journal J Hand Ther. 2013 Sep 14. pii: S0894-1130(13)00102-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2013.07.004. [Epub ahead of print] Affiliation CoxHealth, 3545 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65807, USA. Electronic address: doogieot@hotmail.com. Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. INTRODUCTION: Joint mobilizations are used as an intervention for improving range of motion, decreasing […]

Diet, Exercise Combo Best for Knee Arthritis in Heavy Patients

Published: Sep 24, 2013 By Crystal Phend, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/Orthopedics/Orthopedics/41832 Action Points Note that this randomized trial demonstrated that subjective knee osteoarthritis measures improved more among subjects in the diet and exercise arm than in the diet alone or exercise alone arm. Be aware that objective measures of loading and […]

Do more MRI findings imply worse disability or more intense low back pain?

A cross-sectional study of candidates for lumbar disc prosthesis. AuthorsBerg L, et al. Show all Journal Skeletal Radiol. 2013 Nov;42(11):1593-602. doi: 10.1007/s00256-013-1700-x. Epub 2013 Aug 28. PubMed Abstract:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23982421/ Affiliation Department of Radiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Jonas Liesvei 65, 5021, Bergen, Norway, linda.berg@kir.uib.no. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To examine whether combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are […]

Manipulation and selective exercises decrease pelvic anteversion and low-back pain: a pilot study

AuthorsBarbosa AC, et al. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2013;26(1):33-6. doi: 10.3233/BMR-2012-0347. Affiliation Department of Physiotherapy, Federal University of Valleys of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri, Diamantina, Brazil. alexwbarbosa@yahoo.com.br Abstract OBJECTIVES: To study the effect of a protocol involving joint manipulation and specific exercises for pelvic stability to influence proprioceptive input to the spinal tissues and to observe […]

Foot posture, foot function and low back pain

AuthorsMenz HB, et al. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2013 Sep 17. [Epub ahead of print] Affiliation Lower Extremity and Gait Studies Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia, Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew Senior Life, Harvard Medical School, Department of Medicine, Boston, MA and Leon Root, M.D. Motion Analysis Laboratory, Hospital for Special […]

Vitamin D Alone Ineffective for Postmenopausal Osteoporosis

Laurie Barclay, MD Sep 24, 2013 Full story:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/811548 Calcium supplements significantly improved bone health in postmenopausal women in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, but vitamin D supplements alone did not reduce bone turnover or osteoporosis risk. The trial results are published online September 24 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. “Vitamin D and calcium interact […]

Tight Hamstrings and Low Back Pain

Spino-pelvic-rhythm with forward trunk bending in normal subjects without low back pain Hasebe K, et al. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2013 Oct 12. [Epub ahead of print] Abstract A strong correlation between low back pain and tight hamstrings has been reported. However, the effect of tight hamstrings on spinal biomechanics remains unclear. The purpose […]

Functional synergies underlying control of upright posture during changes in head orientation

Authors Park E, et al. Show all Journal PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e41583. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041583. Epub 2012 Aug 1. Affiliation Biomechanics and Movement Science Program, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, United States of America. Abstract BACKGROUND: Studies of human upright posture typically have stressed the need to control ankle and hip joints to achieve postural stability. Recent studies, however, suggest […]

Gender differences in sagittal standing alignment before pubertal peak growth: the importance of subclassification and implications for spinopelvic loading

J Anat. 2013 Dec;223(6):629-40. doi: 10.1111/joa.12119. Epub 2013 Sep 24. Dolphens M, Cagnie B, Vleeming A, Vanderstraeten G, Danneels L. Abstract The aim of this study was to analyze gender differences in sagittal standing alignment at pre-peak height velocity age thereby applying a scientifically sound and practically oriented classification scheme for overall standing balance. The […]

Study Finds Mixed Results For Back Braces To Treat Scoliosis

by NANCY SHUTE September 20, 2013 2:55 PM For decades, doctors have been recommending that children with scoliosis wear a back brace so that the sideways curve of the spine doesn’t get worse. But there was scant evidence to prove back braces really help. And telling a teenage girl she’s going to have to wear […]

Physical activity during life course and bone mass

It appears that the time to start thinking about osteoporosis is years before it becomes a crisis.

Worsening Trends in the Management and Treatment of Back Pain

John N. Mafi, MD JAMA Intern Med. 2013;173(17):1573-1581. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.8992 September 23, 2013, Vol 173, No. 17 > ABSTRACT Importance Back pain treatment is costly and frequently includes overuse of treatments that are unsupported by clinical guidelines. Few studies have evaluated recent national trends in guideline adherence of spine-related care. Objective To characterize the treatment of […]

Alternative Therapies in the Management of Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Alternative therapies should be considered as adjuncts in the treatment of refractory CP/CPPS patients.

Prognostic factors for return to work in patients with sciatica

Lars Grøvle, MD, PhD Abstract Background context Little is known about the prognostic factors for work-related outcomes of sciatica caused by disc herniation. Purpose To identify the prognostic factors for return to work (RTW) during a 2-year follow-up among sciatica patients referred to secondary care. Study design/setting Multicenter prospective cohort study including 466 patients. Administrative […]

Non-thrust manual therapy reduces erector spinae short-latency stretch reflex asymmetries in patients with chronic low back pain

Goss DA Jr,et al. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2012 Oct;22(5):663-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.01.004. Epub 2012 Jan 28. Affiliation Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if non-thrust manual therapy (MT) attenuated side-to-side differences (asymmetry) of the erector spinae (ES) stretch reflex amplitude in nine […]

Intervertebral disc degeneration: evidence for two distinct phenotypes.

The structural defects which initiate the two processes both act to decompress the disc nucleus, making it less likely that the other defect could occur subsequently, and in this sense the two disc degeneration phenotypes can be viewed as distinct.

Subluxation of the Sacroiliac Joint: Lancet 1970