Musculoskeletal System

Sonography May Aid Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Arthritis – Full Text Article

Study compared sonography against surface anatomy-guided hyaluronic acid injection MONDAY, Aug. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Sonography-guided hyaluronic acid injection may yield better results than surface anatomy-guided injection in patients with knee osteoarthritis, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. Nahid Kianmehr, M.D., from Iran University in Tehran, […]

Effectiveness of manual therapy versus surgery in pain processing due to carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized clinical trial

Eur J Pain. 2017 Aug;21(7):1266-1276. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1026. Epub 2017 Mar 14. Fernández-de-Las-Peñas C Abstract BACKGROUND: People with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) exhibit widespread pressure pain and thermal pain hypersensitivity as a manifestation of central sensitization. The aim of our study was to compare the effectiveness of manual therapy versus surgery for improving pain and nociceptive […]

Viscosupplementation for hip osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy for pain, disability and adverse events

AUGUST 14, 2017 Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Leite VF, et al. This meta–analysis intended to evaluate the efficacy of viscosupplementation (HA) in hip osteoarthritis (OA) pain, disability and adverse events. In this systematic review, the researchers did not recommend viscosupplementation for hip OA. Data indicated scarce evidence of its efficacy up to 3 […]

Four symptoms define the piriformis syndrome: an updated systematic review of its clinical features

From this article in the European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology they found that these four symptoms: Buttock pain, pain aggravated on sitting, External tenderness near the greater sciatic notch Pain on any maneuver that increases piriformis muscle tension,and Limitation of straight leg raising were the most accurate tests that could indicate that you […]

Glucosamine Supplements Don’t Help Knee or Hip Arthritis Pain

By Carolyn Crist August 11, 2017 (Reuters Health) – Oral glucosamine has no more effect than placebo on joint pain, according to a new meta-analysis. The analysis of randomized controlled trials from which data have been made public found that at both three-month and 24-month follow-up points, the supplement had no effect on either hip or knee […]

Atrophy of gluteus maximus among women with a history of chronic low back pain.

PLoS One. 2017 Jul 17;12(7):e0177008. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177008. eCollection 2017. Amabile AH, Bolte JH, Richter SD. Author  Abstract BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between low back pain (LBP) and the size of certain trunk muscles has been extensively studied, the relationship between gluteus maximus (GM) size and LBP has been only minimally examined. Determining whether such a relationship exists would […]

Chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy for cervicogenic headache: a single-blinded, placebo, randomized controlled trial – Full Text

Aleksander Chaibi BMC Research Notes 2017 10:310 Abstract Objective Cervicogenic headache is a disabling headache where pharmacological management have limited effect. Thus, non-pharmacological management is warranted. Our objective was therefore to investigate the efficacy of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy versus placebo (sham manipulation) and control (continued usual but non-manual management) for cervicogenic headache in a […]

Study: Yoga helps back pain among veterans

In a study including 150 military veterans with chronic low back pain, researcher Dr. Erik J. Groessl and his team from the VA San Diego Healthcare System found that veterans who completed a 12-week yoga program had better scores on a disability questionnaire, improved pain intensity scores, and a decline in opioid use. Groessl is a researcher with […]

Asymptomatic cervical spine fractures: Current guidelines can fail older patients.

J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2017 Jul;83(1):119-125. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000001497. Healey CD1, Spilman SK, King BD, Sherrill JE 2nd, Pelaez CA. Abstract BACKGROUND: Older adults represent a growing proportion of trauma patients treated in the United States, and cervical spine (c-spine) fracture is an injury that is increasingly common in this population. Neck pain is a major component of current clinical […]

Is non-pharmacological treatment an effective option for chronic low back pain?

Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2017 Jul;38(3):169-172. Ondrejkovicova A, Petrovics G, Svitkova K, Balogh V Abstract OBJECTIVE: Despite of pain being important warning signal for body ability to respond to internal or external threats, chronic pain is perceived as a discomfort by patients, leading to somatic, emotional and social negative changes. Lifestyle, wrong seating habits and some […]

Fibromyalgia Who Told You There Wasn’t A Cure?

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S. If you listen to conventional medical “talk”.. you would tend to believe that Fibromyalgia has no cure. You would be one of the 10 million people who suffer with FMS who would accept their affliction as something that they must simply live with.. Well my comment to that is […]

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:  Manual Therapy vs Laser Therapy

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is due to compression of the median nerve and is the most commonly occurring compression neuropathy. Due to the varied etiopathogenesis of CTS, it remains a challenge for clinicians, as inadequate studies exist regarding conservative treatment. Based on the promising results of previous studies with manual therapy, the authors of the […]

Corticosteroid injections for rotator cuff tendinosis

The wide use of corticosteroid injections into the subacromial space for symptomatic rotator cuff tendinosis may be attributable to habit or an incentive to satisfy the patient with a “quick fix” rather than discuss other options such as physiotherapy and exercise. This 2016 meta-analysis found corticosteroid injections provide, at best – minimal transient pain relief […]

Running for 1 minute per day may protect women’s bone health

Published Wednesday 19 July 2017 By Hannah Nichols New research from the University of Exeter and the University of Leicester, both in the United Kingdom, suggests that a single 1-minute bout of high-intensity, weight-bearing physical activity is associated with better bone health in women. Such brief bursts of activity are equivalent to a run at a […]

Researchers: Spinal Manipulation for Low Back Pain Comparable to NSAIDs

JULY 18, 2017 Spinal manipulation therapy was shown to have modest improvements on pain and function at up to six weeks in patients with acute low back pain (LBP), according to a study published in JAMA (2017;317:1451-1460). Moreover, the therapy was associated with only “temporary minor musculoskeletal harms,” according to the researchers. Paul G. Shekelle, […]

Radiofrequency Denervation Not Shown to Improve Chronic Low-Back Pain

July 13, 2017 JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Patients with chronic low-back pain originating at the facet joints, sacroiliac joints, or a combination of facet joints, sacroiliac joints, and intervertebral disks received a 3-month exercise program and psychological support. In addition, the intervention group received one to three radiofrequency denervation […]

General Exercise Does Not Improve Long-Term Pain and Disability in Individuals With Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Systematic Review

Authors: Alexandra Griffin, BAppSc (Phty) (Hons)1, Andrew Leaver, PhD1, Niamh Moloney, PhD2 Study Design Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Background General exercise, defined as purposeful physical activity involving repetitive exercises and incorporating multiple muscle groups, is frequently used in the management of whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). Evidence supporting its efficacy is not well established. Objectives […]

The Physiological Basis of Cervical Facet-Mediated Persistent Pain: Basic Science and Clinical Challenges

Authors: Meagan E. Ita, MS Synopsis Chronic neck pain is a common condition and a primary clinical symptom of whiplash and other spinal injuries. Loading-induced neck injuries produce abnormal kinematics between the vertebrae, with the potential to injure facet joints and the afferent fibers that innervate the specific joint tissues, including the capsular ligament. Mechanoreceptive […]

Musculoskeletal disorders of the upper cervical spine in women with episodic or chronic migraine

European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Ferracini GN, et al. This study was set up with the aim to examine differences in musculoskeletal impairments of the neck including active global and upper cervical spine mobility, the presence of symptomatic upper cervical spine joints, cervicocephalic kinesthesia and head/neck posture between women with episodic migraine, chronic […]

Here’s something completely different for low back pain

POSTED JULY 06, 2017, 10:00 AM Robert H. Shmerling, MD Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing It’s a question that has challenged generations of patients and their doctors. The answer has changed over the years. When I was in medical school in the early 1980s, bedrest for a week or more was often recommended for severe […]