Musculoskeletal System

Severe lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with Modic changes and fatty infiltration in the paraspinal muscles at all lumbar levels, except L1-L2: A cross-sectional analysis of 50 symptomatic females and age-matched 50 symptomatic males

World Neurosurgery Available online 9 November 2018 Severe lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration is associated with Modic changes and fatty infiltration in the paraspinal muscles at all lumbar levels, except L1-L2: A cross-sectional analysis of 50 symptomatic females and age-matched 50 symptomatic males EmelEce Özcan-Ekş iM.D. Abstract Objective Low back pain is a common public health […]

Distinct patterns of variation in the distribution of knee pain – Full Text Article

Published: 08 November 2018 Shellie A. Boudreau Abstract The patient’s expression of pain using digital-body maps expands analytic opportunities for exploring the spatial variation of bodily pain. A common knee pain condition in adolescents and adults is patellofemoral pain (PFP) and recently PFP was shown to be characterized by a heterogeneous distribution of pain. Whether […]

Guidelines for Patellofemoral Pain

By Jack Cush, MD | 07 November 2018 New recommendations have been published in the Journal of Athletic Training on the management of patellofemoral pain (PFP). Risk factors for PFP include excessive hip adduction and internal rotation during dynamic tasks (e.g., running, jumping), weak quadriceps, greater vertical peak force to the lateral heel and 2nd […]

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on musculoskeletal health: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis

The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology — Bolland MJ, et al. | November 06, 2018 In this systematic review, random-effects meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis, researchers examined the impact of vitamin D supplementation on fractures, falls, and bone mineral density. An evaluation of 81 trials exhibited no impact of vitamin D supplementation (including higher and lower […]

Back pain shows significant association with mortality among older women

PUBLIC RELEASE: 6-NOV-2018 BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER Researchers at Boston Medical Center found that frequent, persistent back pain is associated with earlier death in a study of more than 8,000 older women who were followed for an average of 14 years. After controlling for important sociodemographic and health factors, women who reported frequent, persistent back pain […]

Brain Mechanisms of Anticipated Painful Movements and Their Modulation by Manual Therapy in Chronic Low Back Pain

J Pain. 2018 Nov;19(11):1352-1365. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2018.05.012. Epub 2018 Jul 3. Ellingsen DM Abstract Heightened anticipation and fear of movement-related pain has been linked to detrimental fear-avoidance behavior in chronic low back pain (cLBP). Spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) has been proposed to work partly by exposing patients to nonharmful but forceful mobilization of the painful joint, […]

Neck pain: is it part of a migraine attack or a trigger before a migraine attack?

Acta Neurologica Belgica pp 1–5 | Gökhan Özer Necla Benlier Original Article First Online: 03 November 2018 Abstract Background A migraine is a primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent headaches that are moderate to severe. Neck pain may actually be the most common migraine symptom despite the fact that it is rarely listed among usual symptoms such as […]

Is Knee Noise a Problem?

BY ERSON RELIGIOSO III, DPT, FAAOMPT Noises Around the Knee INTRO: Noise in the knee joint is a common symptom that often leads to outpatient clinic visits. However, there have been no previous review articles regarding noise around the knee despite its high prevalence. Song et al. (2018) reviewed the noise characteristics according to sound […]

Additive Effect of Therapeutic Ultrasound in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Authors: Yigal Katzap, MPT1,2, Michael Haidukov, BPT3, Olivier M. Berland, PT, MSc4, Ron Ben Itzhak, MD5, Leonid Kalichman, PT, PhD1 Published: Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2018 Volume:48 Issue:11 Pages:847–855 DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2018.8110 Background Plantar fasciitis is the chief cause of pain in the plantar surface of the heel. Therapeutic ultrasound is one of […]

Do medical conditions predispose to the development of chronic back pain? A longitudinal co-twin control study of middle-aged males with 11-year follow-up – Full Text Article

Pradeep Suri BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 20181 9:362 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-018-2282-5© The Author(s). 2018 Received: 17 July 2018 Accepted: 26 September 2018 Published: 10 October 2018 Background Poor general health predicts the transition to chronic back pain (CBP), but the role of specific medical conditions in the development of CBP is unclear. The study aim was to examine […]

Neuroplasticity Altered With Chronic Back Pain

Ingrid Hein October 25, 2018 Patients who suffer chronic lower back pain, particularly those on sick leave, might have different mechanisms of pain control in the brain, results from a study of functional MRI show. Researchers at the American College of Rheumatology 2018 Annual Meeting in Chicago reported a weaker functional MRI signal in emotion-related […]

Osteoarthritis Patients Who Start Opioids at Higher Doses Have Worse Outcomes

By Lorraine L. Janeczko October 24, 2018 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Patients with osteoarthritis who start opioid treatment at higher doses tend to have higher treatment-failure rates, according to an industry-sponsored study. The findings were presented in a poster September 13 at the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) World Congress on […]

Play “D”fence before you Replace That Knee

written by Dr. Carl Freeman The Lower the “D” the Higher the Risks (Vitamin D and Knee Replacement) Knee patients who are vitamin D deficient ninety days before having a total knee replacement have a 69% higher rate of manipulations under anesthesia (MUA), a 76% higher rate of infection, and a three-fold higher risk of prosthesis […]

Is chronic low back pain a risk factor for diabetes? The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study

BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. 2018; 6(1): e000569. Published online 2018 Oct 23. doi: [10.1136/bmjdrc-2018-000569] PMCID: PMC6203062 PMID: 30397493 Ingrid Heuch Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the risk of diabetes associated with the presence or absence of chronic low back pain, considering both cross-sectional and cohort data. Research design and […]

Nerve Root Stimulation May Help Back Pain More

By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter TUESDAY, Oct. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — Stimulating a specific set of nerves that are nestled along the spine may deliver relief to those who suffer from chronic back pain and cut the need for opioid painkillers, new research suggests. The therapy, which targets the root ganglion nerves, is more […]

What’s the link between ulcerative colitis and joint pain?

Last reviewed Tue 16 October 2018 By Kat Gal Reviewed by Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI Ulcerative colitis is a form of inflammatory bowel disease. In addition to gastrointestinal symptoms, people with this condition often experience painful and swollen joints. According to the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, up to 25 percent of people […]

4 new studies highlight advances in collaborative care model for spinal disorders

Written by Sherry McAllister, DC | October 12, 2018 Four new studies indicate that the U.S. healthcare system is progressing toward a patient-centered, comprehensive and collaborative care model. This care model incorporates chiropractic care as a drug-free approach to managing spinal disorders and general health concerns. The studies also reflect the continued shift in the […]

Dose-response and efficacy of spinal manipulation for care of cervicogenic headache: a dual-center randomized controlled trial

The Spine Journal Volume 18, Issue 10, October 2018, Pages 1741-1754 Mitchel Haas DC, MA Abstract Background Context The optimal number of visits for the care of cervicogenic headache (CGH) with spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) is unknown. Purpose The present study aimed to identify the dose-response relationship between visits for SMT and chronic CGH outcomes […]

Acute sciatica secondary to lumbar disc herniation may benefit from chiropractic spinal manipulation

October 8, 2018 LOS ANGELES — Results presented at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting showed a small subgroup of patients with acute sciatica secondary to lumbar disc herniation may significantly benefit from chiropractic spinal manipulation therapy. Paul B. Bishop , MD, PhD, DC, and colleagues randomly assigned 40 patients with acute sciatica secondary […]

Vitamin D supplements don’t improve bone health, major study finds

October 5, 2018 London (CNN) Vitamin D supplements do not improve bone mineral density or prevent fractures or falls in adults, finds a large study that advises health professionals to stop recommending the supplements to most patients. The vitamin has long been associated with a decreased risk of a number of conditions, such as osteoporosis and hypertension, […]