Musculoskeletal System

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain

Acupuncture for chronic low back pain: a multicenter, randomized, patient-assessor blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. Authors Cho YJ, et al.  Journal Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 Apr 1;38(7):549-57. doi: 10.1097/BRS.0b013e318275e601. Affiliation Abstract STUDY DESIGN: Multicenter, randomized, patient-assessor blind, sham-controlled clinical trial. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of acupuncture treatment with individualized setting for reduction of bothersomeness in participants with […]

MRI for Low Back Problems Deemed Overused

Published: Mar 26, 2013 By Crystal Phend , Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today More than half of outpatient lumbar spine MRI scans weren’t appropriate, with a particularly poor record of ordering by family physicians, researchers found. When analyzed by an expert panel, 29% of MRI referrals to two large teaching hospitals were deemed inappropriate and […]

Arthritis, Then and Now (A Historical Perspective)

Described in ancient Egyptian medical texts, arthritis — particularly gout — was one of the earliest diseases to be clinically recognized. Hippocrates (~460-357 BC) differentiated gout from other forms of arthritis, while an ayurvedic medicine text from 123 AD references a disease characterized by swollen, painful joints and occasional fever — in all likelihood, rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Sciatica-like symptoms and the sacroiliac joint: clinical features and differential diagnosis

Sciatica-like symptoms and the sacroiliac joint: clinical features and differential diagnosis Eur Spine J. 2013 Jul;22(7):1657-64. doi: 10.1007/s00586-013-2660-5. Epub 2013 Mar 2. Visser LH, Nijssen PG, Tijssen CC, van Middendorp JJ, Schieving J. Source Department of Neurology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, PO Box 90151, 5000 LC Tilburg, The Netherlands. l.visser@elisabeth.nl Abstract PURPOSE: To compare the clinical features […]

Osteopathic Tx Eases Low Back Pain

Osteopathic Tx Eases Low Back Pain Published: Mar 18, 2013 By Nancy Walsh , Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story:  http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/BackPain/37928 Osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) was effective in alleviating chronic low back pain to a clinically significant degree, a randomized study showed. After six sessions of either true or sham osteopathic treatments over 8 weeks, […]

Straightened cervical lordosis causes stress concentration

Australas Phys Eng Sci Med. 2013 Mar;36(1):27-33. doi: 10.1007/s13246-013-0182-4. Epub 2013 Jan 25. Straightened cervical lordosis causes stress concentration: a finite element model study. Wei W1, Liao S, Shi S, Fei J, Wang Y, Chen C. Author information Abstract In this study, we propose a finite element analysis of the complete cervical spine with straightened […]

Have We Misunderstood the Cause of Migraines?

Real Clear Science By Niels Ebdrup April 16, 2013 Editor’s Note: This article was provided by our partner, ScienceNordic. The original is here. Danish researchers have taken a crucial step toward a new explanation of where and why it hurts when we have a migraine. This throbbing pain in the head, which is usually accompanied […]

Tendons – time to revisit inflammation [Full Text]

Br J Sports Med doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091957 Abstract It is currently widely accepted among clinicians that chronic tendinopathy is caused by a degenerative process devoid of inflammation. Current treatment strategies are focused on physical treatments, peritendinous or intratendinous injections of blood or blood products and interruption of painful stimuli. Results have been at best, moderately good and […]

Chronic migraine and chronic tension-type headache are associated with concomitant low back pain

Results of the German Headache Consortium study Yoon MS, et al. Pain. 2013 Mar;154(3):484-92. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.12.010. Epub 2012 Dec 28. Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between low and frequent low back pain and chronic migraine (CM) and chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) in a large, German population-based sample. Headaches were […]

Body mass index is associated with lumbar disc degeneration in young Finnish males

The Study: Body mass index is associated with lumbar disc degeneration in young Finnish males: subsample of Northern Finland birth cohort study 1986 The Facts: a. The authors sought to determine if BMI (body mass index), smoking and activity level are associated to disc degeneration. b. They studied 558 young adults. c. At the mean […]

Exercise therapy and custom-made insoles are effective in patients with excessive pronation and chronic foot pain

A randomized controlled trial Jane Andreasen The Foot Volume 23, Issue 1 , Pages 22-28, March 2013 Abstract Background Excessive foot pronation is a causal mechanisms described in relation to injuries of the lower extremities. Evidence to support an effective treatment is insufficient. Objective To investigate the effect of exercise and custom-made insoles to patients […]

The molecular basis of intervertebral disc degeneration

The Spine Journal Volume 13, Issue 3, March 2013, Pages 318-330 Christopher K.Kepler MD https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spinee.2012.12.003 Abstract Background Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration remains a clinically important condition for which treatment is costly and relatively ineffective. The molecular basis of degenerative disc disease has been an intense focus of research recently, which has greatly increased our understanding […]

Cross-talk between skeletal muscle and immune cells: muscle-derived mediators and metabolic implications

Pillon NJ,et al. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Mar 1;304(5):E453-65. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00553.2012. Epub 2012 Dec 31. Abstract Skeletal muscles contain resident immune cell populations and their abundance and type is altered in inflammatory myopathies, endotoxemia or different types of muscle injury/insult. Within tissues, monocytes differentiate into macrophages and polarize to acquire pro- or anti-inflammatory […]

Health, Social, and Economic Consequences of Neck Injuries

Health, Social, and Economic Consequences of Neck Injuries: A Controlled National Study Evaluating Societal Effects on Patients and Their Partners Jennum, Poul MD, DMSc http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2013/03010/Health,_Social,_and_Economic_Consequences_of_Neck.14.aspx Spine: 01 March 2013 – Volume 38 – Issue 5 – p 449–457 Abstract Study Design. National register-based matched case-control study. Objective. The aim of this study was to estimate […]

The Effect of The Forward Head Posture on Postural Balance in Long Time Computer Based Worker

The Effect of The Forward Head Posture on Postural Balance in Long Time Computer Based Worker Jung-Ho Kang, M.D. Ann Rehabil Med. 2012 February; 36(1): 98–104. Full Text Article:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3309315/ Abstract Objective To estimate the effects of a relatively protruded head and neck posture on postural balance, in computer based worker. Method Thirty participants, who […]

Influence of spinal sagittal alignment, body balance, muscle strength, and physical ability on falling of middle-aged and elderly males

Eur Spine J. 2013 Jun; 22(6): 1346–1353. Published online 2013 Feb 27. doi: 10.1007/s00586-013-2721-9 PMCID: PMC3676567 Shiro Imagama Abstract Objective Risk factors for falling in elderly people remain uncertain, and the effects of spinal factors and physical ability on body balance and falling have not been examined. The objective of this study was to investigate […]

Curcumin for osteoarthritis management – Full Text Article

Curcumin: a new paradigm and therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of osteoarthritis: curcumin for osteoarthritis management Yves Henrotin Springerplus. 2013; 2: 56. Published online Feb 18, 2013. doi: 10.1186/2193-1801-2-56 Full Text Article Abstract The management of osteoarthritis represents a real challenge. This complex and multi-factorial disease evolves over decades and requires not only the alleviation […]

Orofacial manual therapy improves cervical movement impairment associated with headache and features of temporomandibular dysfunction

February 18, 2013 Orofacial manual therapy improves cervical movement impairment associated with headache and features of temporomandibular dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial Harry von Piekartz Manual Therapy August 2013Volume 18, Issue 4, Pages 345–350 There is evidence that temporomandibular disorder (TMD) may be a contributing factor to cervicogenic headache (CGH), in part because of the […]

Color Doppler Ultrasonography of Lumbar Artery Blood Flow in Patients With Low Back Pain

Color Doppler Ultrasonography of Lumbar Artery Blood Flow in Patients With Low Back Pain Espahbodi, Shima PhD http://journals.lww.com/spinejournal/Abstract/2013/02150/Color_Doppler_Ultrasonography_of_Lumbar_Artery.23.aspx Spine: 15 February 2013 – Volume 38 – Issue 4 – p E230–E236 Abstract Study Design. Prospective, clinical, noninvasive imaging study. Objective. To quantify normal lumbar artery hemodynamics and develop a reference range and lumbar artery hemodynamics in […]

The Effect of Glucosamine Sulfate on the Proliferative Potential and Glycosaminoglycan Synthesis of Nucleus Pulposus Intervertebral Disc Cells

In addition, glycosaminoglycan synthesis stimulated by glucosamine provides a possible promising clinical role for treating disc degenerative disorders.