Musculoskeletal System

Biomechanical constraints remain major risk factors for low back pain

The Spine Journal Volume 15, Issue 4, 1 April 2015, Pages 559–569 Clinical Study Biomechanical constraints remain major risk factors for low back pain. Results from a prospective cohort study in French male employees Aline Ramond-Roquin, M Abstract Background context Low back pain (LBP) is a major public health problem, with a considerable impact on […]

Can intractable discogenic back pain be managed by low-level laser therapy without recourse to operative intervention?

Journal of Pain Research Published 26 May 2015 Volume 2015:8 Pages 253—256 Objective: The aim of the study reported here was to investigate the possible clinical role of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in discogenic back pain patients who failed to respond to a conventional physical therapy program to avoid recourse to operative intervention. Methods: The […]

Gluteal Trigger Points Found in Most Lumbosacral Radiculopathy Cases

By Anne Harding March 27, 2015 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Most patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy have gluteal trigger points (GTrP), according to new findings. The findings raise the possibility that treating these trigger points, for example with electrical stimulation, could help ease pain in these patients, although the new study did not address this issue, Dr. […]

Intradiscal Biacuplasty Bests Standard Back Pain Therapy

Nancy A. Melville March 26, 2015 NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — Intradiscal biacuplasty (IDB), a minimally invasive treatment for discogenic low back pain, provides reductions in pain and improvements in function superior to those seen with traditional measures of conventional therapy, according to a new study. “[While] intradiscal biacuplasty now has a robust body of literature supporting its […]

The effect of different exercise programs on cervical flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain

J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2015;28(4):833-40. doi: 10.3233/BMR-150593. Khodabakhsh Javanshir 1, Mohsen Amiri 2, Mohammad Ali Mohseni Bandpei 3 4, Cesar Fernandez De las Penas 5, Asghar Rezasoltani 6 PMID: 25812548 DOI: 10.3233/BMR-150593 Abstract Objective: The effect of different exercise programs on cervical flexor muscles dimensions in patients with chronic neck pain is yet to be demonstrated. […]

What is Acupuncture? 6 Ways it Can Improve Your Health!

What is Acupuncture? Acupuncture is a holistic health technique that stems from Traditional Chinese Medicine practices in which trained practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin needles into the skin. Today acupuncture is one of the most popular practices of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the West. TCM is a complimentary health […]

Natural Fibromyalgia Treatment That Works

Fibromyalgia is widespread muscle pain with no specific cause. For a diagnosis to be made, you must have pain in at least 11 of 18 specific trigger points. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome that includes long-term, body wide pain in the muscles and connective tissues.  This characteristic pain may be accompanied by fatigue, headaches, and difficulty with […]

Does Whiplash Really Trigger Fibromyalgia?

Less than 1% of whiplash injury sufferers developed fibromyalgia a year later. by Wayne Kuznar, Contributing WriterMarch 20, 2015 Whiplash injury most likely does not lead to fibromyalgia. One year after acute whiplash, only 0.8% of victims developed fibromyalgia, a Canadian researcher reports in RMD Open. The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general population has been estimated at […]

Pain Management Injection Therapies for Low Back Pain

Technology Assessment Report Roger Chou, MD, FACP, Robin Hashimoto, PhD, Janna Friedly, MD, Rochelle Fu, PhD, Tracy Dana, MLS, Sean Sullivan, PhD, Christina Bougatsos, MPH, and Jeffrey Jarvik, MD, MPH. Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2015 Mar 20. Structured Abstract Objectives: Low back pain is common and injections […]

The short-term effects of graded activity versus physiotherapy in patients with chronic low back pain

The short-term effects of graded activity versus physiotherapy in patients with chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial Mauricio Oliveira Magalhães Manual Therapy Published Online: February 23, 2015 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.math.2015.02.004 Background Chronic low back pain is one of the most common problematic health conditions worldwide and is highly associated with disability, quality of life, […]

Implementing Stratified Primary Care Management for Low Back Pain

Implementing Stratified Primary Care Management for Low Back Pain: Cost-Utility Analysis Alongside a Prospective, Population-Based, Sequential Comparison Study Whitehurst, David G. T. PhD; Bryan, Stirling PhD; Lewis, Martyn PhD; Hay, Elaine M. MD; Mullis, Ricky PhD; Foster, Nadine E. DPhil Spine 15 March 2015 Vol. 40 – Issue 6: p 405–414 Abstract A wealth of […]

Abnormal Findings on Magnetic Resonance Images of the Cervical Spines in 1211 Asymptomatic Subjects

Nakashima, Hiroaki MD; Yukawa, Yasutsugu MD; Suda, Kota MD; Yamagata, Masatsune MD; Ueta, Takayoshi MD; Kato, Fumihiko MD Spine 15 March 2015 Vol. 40 – Issue 6: p 392–398 Abstract Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Objective. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and distribution of abnormal findings on cervical spine magnetic resonance […]

Neck muscle afferents influence oromotor and cardiorespiratory brainstem neural circuits.

Brain Struct Funct. 2015;220(3):1421-36. doi: 10.1007/s00429-014-0734-8. Epub 2014 Mar 5. Edwards IJ1, Lall VK, Paton JF, Yanagawa Y, Szabo G, Deuchars SA, Deuchars J. Abstract Sensory information arising from the upper neck is important in the reflex control of posture and eye position. It has also been linked to the autonomic control of the cardiovascular […]

Smoking-induced Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2015 Mar 15;191(6):620-5. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201410-1830PP. Smoking-induced Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction. From Evidence to Mechanisms. Degens H1, Gayan-Ramirez G, van Hees HW. Author information Abstract Smoking is the most important risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Patients with COPD commonly suffer from skeletal muscle dysfunction, and […]

Effects of T’ai Chi on Balance

Effects of T’ai Chi on Balance: A Population-Based Meta-Analysis Rhayun Song The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine Vol. 21: Issue. 3: Pages. 141-151 (Volume publication date: March 2015) DOI: 10.1089/acm.2014.0056 Abstract Objective: To systematically review and analyze the effects of t’ai chi on balance in older adults. Methods: The literature was searched for randomized […]

Whiplash: More than Standard Neck Pain

ACA News – March 2015 – Amanda Donohue “WHIPLASH, A SOFT TISSUE INJURY TO THE NECK, is also called neck sprain or neck strain. It is characterized by a collection of symptoms that occur following damage to the neck, usually because of sudden extension and flexion,” according to the National Institutes of Health.1 Approximately two-thirds […]

High-heeled-related alterations in the static sagittal profile of the spino-pelvic structure in young women

Eur Spine J. 2015 Mar 10. [Epub ahead of print] Dai M1, Li X, Zhou X, Hu Y, Luo Q, Zhou S. Author information Abstract PURPOSE: Women wearing high-heeled shoes have been considered to be more characterizing beauty, self-assurance and elegance. However, while maintaining the body on this type of support base, women with increased heel height often complain that wearing […]

Severe disc degeneration is associated with all cause mortality and abdominal aortic calcification assessed prospectively in older men

Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015 Mar 13. doi: 10.1002/art.39055. [Epub ahead of print] Severe disc degeneration is associated with all cause mortality and abdominal aortic calcification assessed prospectively in older men – the MINOS study. Estublier C1, Chapurlat R, Szulc P. Author information Abstract Objective We assessed the association of disc degeneration with all cause mortality and with abdominal aortic […]

Kinesio taping improves pain, range of motion, and proprioception in older patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial

Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2015 Mar;94(3):192-200. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000148. Hwi-young Cho 1, Eun-Hye Kim, Junesun Kim, Young Wook Yoon PMID: 25706053 DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000148 Abstract Objective: This study investigated the short-term effects of Kinesio taping (KT) on various types of pain, active range of motion (AROM), and proprioception in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Design: Forty-six older […]

Migraine Headache Treatment: Complementary and Alternative Treatments

9/15/14 Interest in the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by headache patients is widespread. A 2002 survey showed that more than 85% of headache patients use CAM therapies and 60% felt they provided some relief.[113] Overall, more than 70% of patients who use CAM do not tell their doctors about it. Some CAM techniques […]