Musculoskeletal System

Disc degeneration implies low back pain

Theor Biol Med Model. 2015 Nov 9;12(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s12976-015-0020-3. Zheng CJ, Chen J. Abstract BACKGROUND: Low back pain exerts a tremendous burden on individual patients and society due to its prevalence and ability to cause long-term disability. Contemporary treatment and prevention efforts are stymied by the absence of a confirmed cause for the majority of […]

Going barefoot: Strong ‘foot core’ could prevent plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and other common injuries

Date: November 17, 2015 Source: Ithaca College Summary: Barefoot activities can greatly improve balance and posture and prevent common injuries like shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, bursitis, and tendonitis in the Achilles tendon, according to one expert. As your cold-weather footwear makes the seasonal migration from the back of your closet to replace summer’s […]

Knee Bracing No Benefit Over Nonoperative Program in Knee OA

Significant improvements in pain, activities of daily living at week 52, regardless of bracing TUESDAY, Nov. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — For patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA), knee bracing offers no benefit over a multidisciplinary nonoperative program, according to a study published online Nov. 12 in the International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases. Shirley P. Yu, […]

Steroid Shots No Long-Term Help in Knee OA

11.13.2015 No effects on structural progression in 2-year randomized study by Nancy Walsh Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today SAN FRANCISCO — Intra-articular steroid injections are not effective over the long term for preventing structural damage in knee osteoarthritis, a 2-year randomized trial found. In the study, which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, […]

Recurrence of Pain after Usual Non-Operative Care for Symptomatic Lumbar Disc Herniation: Analysis of Data from the Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial

PM R. 2015 Nov 5. pii: S1934-1482(15)01103-X. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2015.10.016. [Epub ahead of print] Suri P, Pearson AM, Scherer EA, Zhao W, Lurie JD, Morgan TS, Weinstein JN. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To determine risks and predictors of recurrent leg and low back pain (LBP) following unstructured, usual non-operative care for subacute/chronic symptomatic lumbar disc herniation (LDH). DESIGN: […]

A Test-Retest Reliability Study of the Whiplash Disability Questionnaire in Patients With Acute Whiplash-Associated Disorders

Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2015 Nov 10. pii: S0161-4754(15)00181-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jmpt.2015.10.003. [Epub ahead of print] Stupar M, Côté P, Beaton DE, Boyle E, Cassidy JD. Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability and the Minimal Detectable Change (MDC) of the Whiplash Disability Questionnaire (WDQ) in individuals with acute whiplash-associated disorders […]

Chronic arsenic exposure can impair ability of muscle to heal after injury

Date: November 10, 2015 Source: University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences Summary: Chronic exposure to arsenic can lead to stem cell dysfunction that impairs muscle healing and regeneration. More than 140 million people worldwide and 4 million Americans chronically ingest arsenic in their drinking water. The 21st most abundant metal in Earth’s crust, […]

The Effect Of Knee Braces On Quadriceps Strength And Inhibition In Subjects With Patellofemoral Osteoarthritis

Michael J. Callaghan, PhD Study Design Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Background The use of external supports has been questioned because they may lead to weakness in the surrounding muscles. To our knowledge, there is no investigation into the effect of knee supports or braces on quadriceps muscle strength and quadriceps inhibition in […]

Risk factors for lumbar intervertebral disc height narrowing: a population-based longitudinal study in the elderly

BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015 Nov 9;16(1):344. doi: 10.1186/s12891-015-0798-5. Akeda K, Yamada T, Inoue N, Nishimura A, Sudo A. Abstract BACKGROUND: The progression of disc degeneration is generally believed to be associated with low back pain and/or degenerative lumbar diseases, especially in the elderly. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate changes in lumbar […]

Ozone gas injections may do the trick for knee osteoarthritis sufferers

Date: November 8, 2015 Source: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Summary: Injecting ozone gas into the knee reduces pain and improves functioning and quality of life in people with knee osteoarthritis, according to new research. Injecting ozone gas into the knee reduces pain and improves functioning and quality of life in people with knee osteoarthritis, […]

Fractures Can Lead to Premature Death in Older People

Date: November 8, 2015 Source: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Summary: A new study shows certain fractures due to osteoporosis can cause premature death in people 45 and older. This is the largest study, to date, that shows a connection between these fractures and premature death. A new study, presented this week at the American […]

Chondroitin outperforms celecoxib in knee osteoarthritis study

Date: November 7, 2015 Source: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Summary: For the first time, chondroitin sulfate has been more successful than celecoxib in reducing the long-term progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to new research findings. For the first time, chondroitin sulfate has been more successful than celecoxib in reducing the long-term progression of knee […]

Tai Chi found to be as effective as physical therapy for knee osteoarthritis

Date: November 7, 2015 Source: American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Summary: Both Tai Chi and physical therapy positively impact pain, function and other symptoms of knee osteoarthritis – making Tai Chi a viable treatment alternative for people suffering with the degenerative disease, according to new research. Both Tai Chi and physical therapy positively impact pain, […]

From Dental Sleep Medicine Perspective, Significant Relationship Between Temporomandibular Joint, Cervical Spine, and Autonomic Nervous System

November 5, 2015 BY ELLIOTT J. ALPHER, BS, DDS Many are unaware of the complexity and significance of how the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), cervical spine, and the autonomic nervous system are interrelated. The TMJ moves about 2,000 times in 24 hours (estimated to be the body’s most active joint). The major function of the spine […]

More Sedentary Time for Females With Fibromyalgia

November 03, 2015 Less time spent engaged in light, moderate, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity MONDAY, Nov. 2, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Compared with controls, females with fibromyalgia spend more time in sedentary behaviors and less time engaged in physical activity, according to a study published in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology. Víctor Segura-Jiménez, […]

Naproxen With Cyclobenzaprine or Oxycodone/Acetaminophen for Acute Low-Back Pain

October 28, 2015 JAMA : The Journal of the American Medical Association TAKE-HOME MESSAGE Patients with acute non-traumatic, non-radicular low-back pain for In patients presenting to the emergency department with acute low-back pain, the addition of cyclobenzaprine or oxycodone/acetaminophen to naproxen had no clinical benefit over naproxen alone. Primary Care Written by David Rakel MD, […]

Effect of Lumbar Disc Degeneration and Low-Back Pain on the Lumbar Lordosis in Supine and Standing: A Cross-Sectional MRI Study

Spine: November 2015 – Volume 40 – Issue 21 – p 1690–1696 Hansen, Bjarke B. MD Abstract Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Objective. To examine the influence of low-back pain (LBP) and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) on the lumbar lordosis in weight-bearing positional magnetic resonance imaging (pMRI). Summary of Background Data. The lumbar lordosis increases with […]

Differences in the use of vision and proprioception for postural control in autism spectrum disorder

Neuroscience. 2015 Oct 29;307:273-80. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.08.040. Epub 2015 Aug 24. Morris SL Abstract BACKGROUND: People with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) also have poorer fundamental motor skills. The development of postural control underlies both social and motor skills. All three elements are facilitated by the active use of visual information. This study compares how adults with […]

Opioid Prescriptions Common With Fibromyalgia

Patients taking opioids are less likely to subsequently receive guideline-recommended therapy TUESDAY, Oct. 20, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Opioid use is widespread among patients with newly diagnosed fibromyalgia, and patients taking opioids have a decreased likelihood of receiving guideline-recommended medications, according to a study published online Oct. 7 in Pain Practice. Rachel Halpern, Ph.D., M.P.H., […]

Naproxen With Cyclobenzaprine, Oxycodone/Acetaminophen, or Placebo for Treating Acute Low Back Pain

A Randomized Clinical Trial October 20, 2015 Benjamin W. Friedman, MD, MS Importance Low back pain (LBP) is responsible for more than 2.5 million visits to US emergency departments (EDs) annually. These patients are usually treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, opioids, or skeletal muscle relaxants, often in combination. Objective To compare functional outcomes and […]