Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Phys Ther Sport 2019 Apr 3;38:1-7. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Hasselt University, REVAL - Rehabilitation Research Center, BIOMED, Hasselt, Belgium.

Objectives: to assess intra/inter-operator reliability and agreement of maximum isometric abdominal and back muscle strength in a functional trunk and isolated lumbar protocol, using an isokinetic dynamometer, in healthy persons and persons with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP).

Design: Test-retest.

Setting: Participants performed two assessments consisting of two protocols on the Biodex 3 system, evaluating maximum isometric back and abdominal strength in a functional trunk and isolated lumbar position. Read More

Agri 2019 Apr;31(2):93-100

Division of Algology, Department of Anaesthesiology and Reanimation, Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine, Aydın, Turkey.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of transforaminal anterior epidural steroid and local anesthetic injections (TAESE) and the effects on quality of life in patients with low back pain.

Methods: The study patients (n=191) were divided into 3 groups: disc herniation (DH), failed back surgery (FBS), and spinal stenosis (SS). A visual analog scale (VAS) and verbal pain scale (VPS) were used to assess patient pain. Read More

J Pain Res 2019 28;12:1103-1113. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

Department of Anesthesiology, Division of Pain Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA,

Background: Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is a chronic condition that causes low back pain and neurogenic claudication, often resulting in significant limitation of daily activities. In this open-label randomized controlled pilot study, we assessed the safety and feasibility of 4-week novel integrative inpatient treatments for LSS.

Methods: Thirty-six symptomatic LSS patients were randomly and equally allocated to one of the three groups: Mokhuri Chuna treatment 1 (MT1) group, Mokhuri Chuna treatment 2 (MT2) group, or conventional management treatment (CMT) group. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019 Apr 16;20(1):170. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Neuromuscular Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.

Background: A small cross sectional area (CSA) of the paraspinal muscles may be related to low back pain among military aviators but previous studies have mainly concentrated on spinal disc degeneration. Therefore, the primary aim of the study was to investigate the changes in muscle CSA and composition of the psoas and paraspinal muscles during a 5-year follow up among Finnish Air Force (FINAF) fighter pilots.

Methods: Study population consisted of 26 volunteered FINAF male fighter pilots (age: 20. Read More

Womens Health (Lond) 2019 Jan-Dec;15:1745506519842757

6 Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.

Objective: Most studies about truncal pain during and after pregnancy focus on low back pain, few prospectively define change in pain, and even fewer evaluate pain in all three major truncal areas: upper back, lower back, and pelvic girdle. Thus, the objective of this prospective cohort study was to describe, in primiparous women delivered vaginally, prevalence rates and severities of upper back, lower back, and pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy and 6-10 weeks postpartum and to describe the trajectory of pain constellations between time points.

Study Design: Participants completed questionnaires at each time point. Read More

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 2019 Feb;44(4):629-635

Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100102,China.

Cheezheng Xiaotong Tiegao is a Tibetan traditional prescription,which has the functions of promoting blood circulation,relieving swelling and relieving pain. It has been widely used in various clinical departments such as orthopedics department,rheumatology department,pain management department,and rehabilitation department to treat all types of acute and chronic skeletal muscle pain. However,duet to the lack of detailed description of the specific use of various diseases in its manual,and in the published guidelines,monographs,and clinical reports,the introduction of the dominant clinical disease,usage,treatment,safety,etc. Read More

Cureus 2019 Feb 4;11(2):e4002. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Emergency Medicine, Saint John Regional Hospital, Saint John, CAN.

Introduction: We aimed to quantify the baseline familiarity of emergency medicine (EM) physicians with the Choosing Wisely Canada (CWC)-EM recommendations. We then assessed whether a structured knowledge translation (KT) initiative affected awareness, knowledge, and practice patterns for imaging in low back pain.

Methods: We completed a two-center, before and after practice evaluation study. Read More

Cureus 2019 Feb 1;11(2):e3994. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Internal Medicine, Ocala Regional Medical Center/ University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Ocala, USA.

This case involves a 62-year-old male with a prior history of epidural abscess and L1-L2 osteodiscitis who was admitted because of low back pain. The patient was previously treated for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) discitis in the L1/L2 vertebral region with intravenous (IV) nafcillin through a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). However, he returned after four months with recurrent low back pain along with chills and fever. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2019 Apr 15;21(1):98. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.

Background: To investigate the association between knee pain and risk factors including low back pain and to develop a score to predict new knee pain in an older population, using population-based longitudinal cohort data.

Methods: We collected a questionnaire on self-reported knee pain and demographic data in a systematic manner from community residents aged ≥ 50 years twice, at baseline, and after 5 years. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between knee pain and risk factors and to build a predictive model that would enable calculation of the risk of the development of knee pain within 5 years. Read More

Trials 2019 Apr 15;20(1):216. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University Korean Medicine Hospital, Yangsan, 50612, Republic of Korea.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is common, with a lifetime prevalence of 80%, and as such it places substantial social and economic burden on individuals and society. Chuna manual therapy (CMT) combines aspects of physiology, biodynamics of spine and joint motion, and basic theory of movement dynamics. This study aimed to test the comparative effectiveness and safety of CMT for non-acute LBP. Read More

Brain Sci 2019 Apr 3;9(4). Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L'Aquila, 67100 L'Aquila, Italy.

Background: The present study investigated the effectiveness of stimulation applied at cervical levels on pain and Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms using either tonic or burst stimulation mode.

Methods: Tonic high cervical spinal cord stimulation (T-HCSCS) was applied on six PD patients suffering from low back pain and failed back surgery syndrome, while burst HCSCS (B-HCSCS) was applied in twelve PD patients to treat primarily motor deficits. Stimulation was applied percutaneously with quadripolar or octapolar electrodes. Read More

World Neurosurg 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Neurosurgery, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Spontaneous spinal subdural hematoma is rare but lead to severe nerve compression. According to symptom, surgery decompression and conservative treatment are justified option. We present a spontaneous spinal SDH case treated by decompression surgery for the lumbar region, and conservative observation for the thoracic region. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15183

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.

Background: Lumbosacral orthoses (LSOs) are used as standard care after lumbar fusion surgery though their efficacy is unknown. The purpose of this prospective randomized controlled study was to elucidate the clinical and radiographic efficacies of LSO treatment in patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) of less than 3 segments.

Methods: Seventy-three patients who underwent PLIF were randomly allocated to 3 groups: 1 with custom-made LSO with metallic stays (C group); 1 with ready-made LSO without metallic stays (R group), and 1 without LSO (N group). Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15177

Physiotherapy Research Group, Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is ranked as one of the most prevalent health conditions. It is likely that some inflammatory mediators could be associated with pain and disability in these patients. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a non-pharmacological therapy often used in patients with LBP and one of the possible mechanisms of action of therapy is modulate inflammatory mediators. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Apr;98(15):e15128

Central Michigan University (CMU) College of Medicine, Mt. Pleasant, MI.

The purpose of this study is to examine the treatment of noncancer musculoskeletal pain in different clinical settings by assessing patient demographics, pain diagnoses, opioid analgesic monitoring, and alternative treatments.Data was collected in a retrospective chart review involving 300 randomly selected charts with an active musculoskeletal diagnosis based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems codes. The population consisted of primary care outpatient clinic and emergency department encounters during the timeframe of January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016 in a predominantly rural community in Michigan. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.

Study Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Objective: To determine the associations ofr workload and health-related factors with incident and recurrent low back pain (LBP), and to determine the mediating role of health-related factors in associations between physical workload factors and incident LBP.

Summary Of Background Data: It is not known whether the risk factors for the development of LBP are also prognostic factors for recurrence of LBP and whether the associations between physical workload and incident LBP are mediated by health-related factors. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Spine Surgery and Research, Spine Center of Southern Denmark - part of Lillebaelt Hospital.

Study Design: A comparative cohort study with 13-year follow-up.

Objective: To assess whether Modic Changes (MCs) are associated with long-term physical disability, back pain and sick leave.

Summary Of Background Data: Previous studies have shown a conflicting association of low back pain (LBP) with MCs and disc degeneration. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Quantify Research, Stockholm, Sweden.

Study Design: Retrospective register-based study using Swedish registers and data prospectively collected in quality register Swespine.

Objective: Analyse the association of societal costs and spine surgery outcome in low back pain (LBP) patients based on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Summary Of Background Data: Studies show that LBP has a substantial impact on societal cost. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, USA.

Study Design: Longitudinal co-twin control study of the Vietnam-Era Twin Registry.

Objective: To examine the association of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms with incident chronic back pain (CBP), while controlling for genetic factors and early family environment.

Summary Of Background Data: It is unknown whether PTSD symptoms are associated with an increased incidence of CBP. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Mar 26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio.

Study Design: Controlled radiologic follow-up study.

Objective: To ascertain if changes in cord excursion with SLR at 1.5-year follow-up time accompany changes in clinical symptoms SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA. Read More

J Family Med Prim Care 2019 Feb;8(2):634-639

Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Background And Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is one the frequent musculoskeletal issues among adults mostly without a specific etiology. In this study, we investigated a traditional Persian remedy for back pain which is based on topical application of a mixture of sesame oil (SO) and white lily (LSM).

Materials And Methods: The chemical profile, phenol content, and antioxidant activity of the herbal samples were determined using GC-MS, total phenol content (TPC) assay, and DPPH assay, respectively. Read More

Global Spine J 2019 Apr 15;9(2):185-190. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Study Design: Retrospective database study.

Objective: To analyze the economic and age data concerning primary and revision posterolateral fusion (PLF) and posterior/transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF/TLIF) throughout the United States to improve value-based care and health care utilization.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was queried by the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes for patients who underwent primary or revision PLF and PLIF/TLIF between 2011 and 2014. Read More

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019 7;2019:6173412. Epub 2019 Mar 7.

Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan.

Pain can trigger central amplification called central sensitization, which ultimately results in hyperalgesia and/or allodynia. Many reports have showed acupuncture has an analgesic effect. We searched the related article on PubMed database and Cochrane database to discover central sensitization pathway in acupuncture analgesia. Read More

Eur Spine J 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Biotechnology and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 1, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between degenerative disc, endplate Modic changes (MC) type I, and pain during upright weight-bearing MRI scan of the lumbar spine in a cohort of patients with non-specific low back pain.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 38 patients with non-specific low back pain and MRI evidence of Modic I vertebral changes. The patients were evaluated in a standard and upright weight-bearing position using a dedicated MR unit. Read More

Altern Ther Health Med 2018 Nov;24(6):22-30

Context: Opioids decrease pain and improve functional capacity and quality of life; however, they are not always effective and are associated with harmful side effects. Few studies have shown that relaxation-based therapies, in comparison with usual care, can decrease pain.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether a controlled relaxation treatment, Jacobson progressive muscular relaxation (PMR), was effective in relieving chronic low-back pain (CLBP) and reducing pain comorbidities. Read More

Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2019 Mar 21;42:1-5. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Bio-statistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Background: Nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) is a common problem that may have an effect on the level of functional ability. Imaging techniques indicated the degeneration of multifidus muscles in patients with low back pain. But its relationship with disability in NSLBP is unclear. Read More

Int J Pharm 2019 Apr 10. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden; SuMo BIOMATERIALS, VINN Excellence Center, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden. Electronic address:

The development of an injectable biomaterial that supports cell survival and maintains or promotes nucleus pulposus (NP) phenotype could aid delivery of cells to degenerated NPs causing low back pain. Mesenchymal cells were loaded and grown in a synthetic peptide gel, PuraMatrix®. Cells were observed within the gels over 0-28 days, and accumulation of glycosaminoglycans were detected by histological staining. Read More

Can Fam Physician 2019 Apr;65(4):260-263

Director of Programs and Practice Support for the College of Family Physicians of Canada and Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Alberta.

Objective: To summarize high-quality studies for 10 topics from 2018 that have strong relevance to primary care practice.

Quality Of Evidence: Study selection involved routine literature surveillance by a group of primary care health professionals. This included screening abstracts of important journals and Evidence Alerts, as well as searching . Read More

J Orthop Res 2019 Apr 12. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Kitasato University School of Medicine, 1-15-1 Minami-ku Kitasato, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa, Japan.

NGF is increased in intervertebral discs (IVDs) after disc injury and anti-NGF therapy improves low back pain in humans. Further, M1 and M2 macrophage subtypes play a role in degenerative IVD injury. We examined M1 and M2 macrophage markers and NGF and cytokine expression in IVD-derived cells from control and IVD-injured mice for 28 days following injury. Read More

Australas J Ageing 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and profile of chiropractors who frequently manage people aged 65 years and older.

Methods: A national cross-sectional survey collected practitioner characteristics, practice settings and clinical management characteristics. Multiple logistic regression was conducted on 1903 chiropractors to determine the factors associated with the frequent treatment of people 65 years and older. Read More

Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2019 Mar 25;7(6):949-954. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Ss Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.

Background: Chronic low back pain lasts longer than 12 weeks and is characterised by pain, muscle weakness, reduced functional ability and psychosocial burden.

Aim: To compare the effects of two physical modalities, high-intensity laser against ultrasound therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective, monocentric, controlled clinical study comprising a group of 54 patients at the age between 25 and 65 years. Read More

J Clin Neurosci 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan. Electronic address:

After spine fusion surgery, it is difficult to evaluate the spinal canal and nerve roots using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of metallic implant-related artifacts. Digital tomosynthesis is a new radiographic technique that can acquire tomographic images with reduced metallic artifact effects compared with MRI. We report a case demonstrating the visualization of nerve roots nearby metallic implants using dynamic tomosynthesis-radiculography (DTRG) after spinal fusion surgery. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2019 Apr 10;20(7). Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Institute for Biomechanics, ETH Zurich, Hoenggerbergring 64, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have emerged as potential sensors and transducers of inflammatory pain. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the expression of TRP channels in intervertebral disc (IVD) cells in normal and inflammatory conditions and (2) the function of Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in IVD inflammation and matrix homeostasis. RT-qPCR was used to analyze human fetal, healthy, and degenerated IVD tissues for the gene expression of TRPA1 and TRPV1. Read More

Eur J Pain 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, WA, Australia.

Objectives: This randomized controlled trial investigated the efficacy of cognitive functional therapy (CFT) compared with manual therapy and exercise (MT-EX) for people with non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) at 3-year follow-up.

Methods: 121 patients were randomized to CFT (n=62) or MT-EX (n=59). 3-year data were available for 30 (48. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Apr 8. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Ferguson Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Study Design: An experimental laboratory study.

Objective: To investigate the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) in a murine model of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM), namely non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse.

Summary Of Background Data: IDD is a leading contributor of low back pain, which represents one of the most disabling symptoms within the adult population. Read More

Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Orthopaedics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

Study Design: A rat puncture injury intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration model with structural, biomechanical, and histological analyses.

Objective: To determine if males and females have distinct responses in the IVD after injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Low back pain (LBP) and spinal impairments are more common in women than men. Read More

Front Immunol 2019 26;10:574. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, Germany.

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is often diagnosed late due to the non-specific nature of its main symptom [chronic back pain (CBP)] and to the paucity of diagnostic markers, particularly in regions with low HLA-B27 prevalence, such as the Middle-East. We tested the performance of IgG4 and IgA anti-CD74 antibodies as an early diagnostic marker for axSpA, compared with the performance of HLA-B27, in Lebanon. Sera of axSpA patients diagnosed by the rheumatologist and also fulfilling the imaging arm of the ASAS criteria (patients) and of blood donors (BD) (controls) were analyzed for HLA-B27, IgG4 and IgA anti-CD74, blinded to clinical characteristics. Read More

Front Physiol 2019 26;10:315. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, United States.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is common in the general population and among postpartum women. Abdominal muscle exercise is often used to treat LBP, but it is unknown if fatiguing abdominal muscle exercise can produce exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH).

Objectives: To assess pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at rest and following fatiguing trunk flexor exercise (EIH) in (1) nulligravid and postpartum women to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and childbirth and (2) nulligravid women and men to examine sex differences. Read More

Health Qual Life Outcomes 2019 Apr 11;17(1):57. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of orthopedics, The General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area Command, Shenyang, China.

Background: The comparative performance of the 3-level EuroQol 5-dimension and Short Form 6-dimension (SF-6D) has been investigated in patients with low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to explore the performance including agreement, convergent validity as well as known-groups validity of the 5-level EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D-5 L) and SF-6D in Chinese patients with LBP.

Methods: Individuals with LBP were recruited from a large tertiary hospital in China. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019 Apr 11;20(1):164. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

We live in a world with an ever-increasing ageing population. Studying healthy ageing and reducing the socioeconomic impact of age-related diseases is a key research priority for the industrialised and developing countries, along with a better mechanistic understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of ageing that occurs in a number of age-related musculoskeletal disorders. Arthritis and musculoskeletal disorders constitute a major cause of disability and morbidity globally and result in enormous costs for our health and social-care systems. Read More

Front Psychol 2019 22;10:586. Epub 2019 Mar 22.

Department of Sport Psychology, Institute of Sport Sciences, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.

There is a great number of people who require treatment for non-specific low back pain (LBP) yet the causes are still unclear. One proposed cause for LBP is impaired motor control and more specific an impaired postural control. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of postural control parameter differences in persons with and without non-specific LBP during quite standing. Read More

Syst Rev 2019 Apr 9;8(1):92. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Insurance Work and Health Group, Health Services Division, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia.

Background: Low back pain is the greatest contributor to the global burden of disease and can result in work disability. Previous literature has examined the influence of personal factors, the healthcare system, workplace, and income support systems on work disability due to low back pain. Income support systems may also influence healthcare and the workplace, leading to an impact on healthcare quality and functional capacity. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2019 Apr 9;20(1):158. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Thurston Arthritis Research Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.

Background: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) affects millions of Americans and costs billions. Studies suggest a link between cLBP and joint hypermobility.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional primary analyses of joint hypermobility and cLBP, lumbar spine osteoarthritis (OA), and lumbar facet joint OA (FOA) in 3 large studies-the Generalized Osteoarthritis Study, Genetics of Generalized Osteoarthritis Study, and Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project (total n = 5072). Read More

Asian Spine J 2019 Apr 2. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Department of Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, India.

Study Design: Prospective clinical study.

Purpose: We evaluated the challenges faced during diagnosis and management of patients with subacute pyogenic discitis and discussed various clues in clinical history, radiologic and hematologic parameters of these patients that helped in establishing their diagnosis.

Overview Of Literature: Present literature available shows that in patients with subacute spondylodiscitis and infection with less virulent organisms, the clinical picture often is confusing and the initial radiologic and hematologic studies do not contribute much toward establishing the diagnosis. Read More

J Biomech Eng 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering. College of Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA.

Multifidus function is important for active stabilization of the spine, but it can be compromised in patients with chronic low back pain and other spine pathologies. Force production and strength of back muscles are often evaluated using isometric or isokinetic tests, which lack the ability to quantify multifidi contribution independent of the erector spinae and adjacent hip musculature. The objective of this study is to evaluate localized force production capability in multifidus muscle using ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) in healthy individuals. Read More

J Neurosci Nurs 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Questions or comments about this article may be directed to Gulsah Kose, PhD RN, at He/She is a Lecturer and an Assistant Professor, Health Science Faculty, Department of Nursing, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Mugla, Turkey. Sevinc Tastan, PhD RN, is Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University, Health Sciences Faculty, Nursing Department, Via Mersin 10, Famagusta, North Cyprus, Turkey. Nail Caglar Temiz, MD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Gulhane Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Melek Sari, is Nurse, Department of Neurosurgery, Gulhane Education and Research Hospital Ankara, Turkey. Yusuf Izci, MD, is Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, Gulhane Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of low back pain on the daily activities and sleep quality of patients with lumbar disc herniation. This cross-sectional study was performed between January and July 2015 in 77 patients. A visual analog scale (VAS), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used for patient assessment. Read More

Eur J Pain 2019 Apr 9. Epub 2019 Apr 9.

Weight Management Service, St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is common in obese populations. Multidisciplinary Tier 3 weight management services (WMS) are effective in reducing weight, however MSK pain as an outcome is not routinely reported post-WMS interventions. Following ethical approval this retrospective-design study using anonymized data from a national WMS established changes in anthropometric and pain prevalence and intensity scores as well as establishing variables predictive of achieving clinically significant changes (CSC) in pain scores. Read More

Yonago Acta Med 2019 Mar 28;62(1):137-145. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

School of Health Science, Tottori University Faculty of Medicine, Yonago 683-8503, Japan.

Background: Self-care agency is an important determinant of self-care behavior. The purpose of this study was to identify the causal relationship between self-care agency and healthy behavior, and to construct a conceptual model of healthy behavior among older people living in a rural community.

Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional survey at the Hino, a town in western Tottori Prefecture, Japan. Read More