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PLoS One 2022 24;17(6):e0270286. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Sport Rehabilitation, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China.

Objective: The purposes of this study were to (1) detect the intra- and inter-reliabilities of the lumbar erector spinae stiffness by MyotonPRO among participants with chronic lower back pain (CLBP); (2) compare the muscle stiffness between pain and non-pain sides during different positions; (3) explore the correlation between intensity of pain and muscle stiffness.

Design: Twenty participants with CLBP were recruited and the stiffness measurements were carried out by two experienced physiotherapists (operators Ⅰ and Ⅱ). Each participant was evaluated by the operatorⅠ in different postures (static prone and sitting). Read More

J Chiropr Med 2022 Mar 21;21(1):15-22. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to establish within-day intrarater reliability values of ultrasound measurements (excursion and resting thickness).

Methods: Seventeen volunteers met the inclusion criteria for this preliminary study. The right and left hemidiaphragm excursion and resting thickness were compared between 2 measurement sessions using M-mode and B-mode real-time ultrasound, respectively (30 min apart). Read More

Cureus 2022 May 22;14(5):e25209. Epub 2022 May 22.

Neurosurgery, Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, USA.

Schmorl's nodes are typically an incidental finding whereby a disc herniates into the vertebral body. The clinical course is rarely symptomatic. Here, we present a 41-year-old male who, following chiropractic manipulation, developed an acute Schmorl's node. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2022 May 24;58(6). Epub 2022 May 24.

Faculty of Sports Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain.

Osteoporotic hyperkyphosis is associated with adverse outcomes, such as fatigue, back pain, or reduced back extensor strength, with a negative impact on functionality and quality of life. The purpose of this review is to assess the effectiveness of spinal orthosis on these adverse effects. A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was performed. Read More

Life (Basel) 2022 Jun 10;12(6). Epub 2022 Jun 10.

DIPLOMA Hochschule, 37242 Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Germany.

One comment [... Read More

Life (Basel) 2022 Jun 9;12(6). Epub 2022 Jun 9.

Faculty of Medicine, AMC Hospital, University of Amsterdam, 1100 DD Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

I want to congratulate Brandl et al. [.. Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2022 Jun 9;23(12). Epub 2022 Jun 9.

"Gr. T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania.

Low back pain (LBP) represents a frequent and debilitating condition affecting a large part of the global population and posing a worldwide health and economic burden. The major cause of LBP is intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a complex disease that can further aggravate and give rise to severe spine problems. As most of the current treatments for IDD either only alleviate the associated symptoms or expose patients to the risk of intraoperative and postoperative complications, there is a pressing need to develop better therapeutic strategies. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022 Jun 8;19(12). Epub 2022 Jun 8.

Public Health and Epidemiology Research Group (ISPE), Department of Surgery, Social and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad de Alcalá, Autovia A2, km 33.200, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.

Background: The ageing process may lead to functional limitations, musculoskeletal pain, and worsened quality of life. The aim of this paper is to evaluate two physical therapy interventions for reducing musculoskeletal pain and improving quality of life in older adults.

Methods: A cohort study was carried out with older people (60-75 years old). Read More

Biology (Basel) 2022 Jun 16;11(6). Epub 2022 Jun 16.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 1402 South Grand Blvd., Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA.

Low back pain (LBP) is a globally prevalent and costly societal problem with multifactorial etiologies and incompletely understood pathophysiological mechanisms. To address such shortcomings regarding the role of neurotrophins in the underlying mechanisms of pain, an LBP model was developed in rats involving two unilateral intramuscular injections of nerve growth factor (NGF) into deep trunk muscles. To date, behavioral investigations of this NGF-LBP model have been limited, especially as it pertains to female pain behaviors. Read More

J Man Manip Ther 2022 Jun 23:1-7. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Baylor University, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Waco, TX, USA.

Introduction: Current evidence supports the inclusion of directional preference exercises for a subgroup of patients with low back (LBP) and leg pain. Recent pain neuroscience strategies have suggested that cortical restructuring associated with movement activating the body map representation in the brain might account for the observed improvement with the directional preference approach.

Objectives: To explore whether or not a motor imagery directional preference approach would result in any changes in patients with LBP and leg pain. Read More

Arthritis Res Ther 2022 Jun 23;24(1):152. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Rigshospitalet, Center for Arthritis Research, Glostrup, Denmark.

Background: Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a common chronic inflammatory disease, associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling of the cartilage, bone, and connective tissues. The primary symptom of axSpA is back pain, caused by inflammation. However, there is a medical need to truly identify patients with axSpA from other subjects with buttock or low back pain attributable to other reasons. Read More

BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2022 Jun 24;23(1):608. Epub 2022 Jun 24.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of California San Diego, 350 Dickinson Street, Suite 121, Mail Code 8894, San Diego, CA, 92103-8894, USA.

Background: Lumbar spine pathology is a common feature of lower back and/or lower extremity pain and is associated with observable degenerative changes in the lumbar paraspinal muscles that are associated with poor clinical prognosis. Despite the commonly observed phenotype of muscle degeneration in this patient population, its underlying molecular mechanisms are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between groups of genes within the atrophic, myogenic, fibrogenic, adipogenic, and inflammatory pathways and multifidus muscle health in individuals undergoing surgery for lumbar spine pathology. Read More

RMD Open 2022 Jun;8(2)

Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Objective: In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low 28-joint tender and swollen joint counts but who assessed their disease as active, to evaluate whether activity reflected RA symptoms.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study of patients in BRASS, a cohort of patients with established RA who had 28-joint counts assessed, scored their disease activity, identified their painful joints, and answered questions about other sites of pain and fatigue. Patients and their rheumatologists were asked about the presence of fibromyalgia. Read More

Am J Manag Care 2022 Jun 1;28(6):e203-e211. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

The Permanente Medical Group, 39400 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont, CA 94538. Email:

Objectives: The opioid abuse epidemic has focused attention on efforts to decrease opioid prescribing. Although education and feedback interventions are potential levers to affect opioid prescribing, their incremental contribution against a background of declining opioid prescriptions is unclear.

Study Design: We retrospectively evaluated opioid prescribing frequencies after an emergency physician-specific education and feedback initiative in an integrated health care system. Read More

Mol Cell Biochem 2022 Jun 23. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Neurobiology Research Unit, University Hospital Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, 4-6, Inge Lehmanns vej, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels are widely expressed cation channels that play an essential role in mediating Ca2+ homeostasis and are considered potential regulators of inflammatory pain. This study investigates the expression of the TRP channel subtypes TRPV1, TRPV4, TRPC6, TRPM2, TRPM8 in lumbar intervertebral disc (IVD) biopsies from patients with chronic low back pain (LBP). We determined the expression of these TRP channel subtypes in the annulus fibrosus (AF) and the nucleus pulposus (NP) from 46 patients with LBP undergoing 1-2 level lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative disc disease. Read More

J Man Manip Ther 2022 Jun 23:1-7. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

Traitement Formation Thérapie Manuelle (TFTM), Physiotherapy Center, Brussels, Belgium.

Low back pain (LBP) that radiates to the leg is not always related to a lesion or a disease of the nervous system (neuropathic pain): it might be nociceptive (referred) pain. Unfortunately, patients with low-back related leg pain are often given a variety of diagnoses (e.g. Read More

Isr Med Assoc J 2022 Jun;24(6):375-381

Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

Background: Self-management, an active life routine, and adherence to physical activity are effective in the management of low back pain (LBP). However, delivering effective education and reassurance to patients can be a difficult for practitioners. The enhanced transtheoretical model intervention (ETMI) has shown to be successful and cost effective. Read More

Isr Med Assoc J 2022 Jun;24(6):369-374

Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.

Background: Low back pain has been the leading cause for disability worldwide for several decades, and clinical guidelines for its management clearly emphasize a multifactorial approach. Yet, current guidelines are still not well implemented by clinicians.

Objectives: To explore the attitudes of family medicine residents regarding low back pain and to determine whether they positively correlate with their treatment approaches. Read More

Glob Adv Health Med 2022 16;11:2164957X221094596. Epub 2022 Jun 16.

University of Connecticut, Department of Clinical Psychology, Storrs, CT.

Background: Chronic low back pain (cLBP) and chronic neck pain (cNP) are highly prevalent conditions and common reasons for disability among military personnel. Yoga and other mind-body interventions have been shown to safely decrease pain and disability in persons with cLBP and/or cNP but have not been adequately studied in active duty military personnel. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility and acceptability of delivering 2 types of yoga (hatha and restorative) to a sample of active-duty military personnel with cLBP/cNP. Read More

Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022 6;13:890371. Epub 2022 Jun 6.

Department of Spinal Surgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Zhuhai, China.

Aim: Accurate severity grading of lumbar spine disease by magnetic resonance images (MRIs) plays an important role in selecting appropriate treatment for the disease. However, interpreting these complex MRIs is a repetitive and time-consuming workload for clinicians, especially radiologists. Here, we aim to develop a multi-task classification model based on artificial intelligence for automated grading of lumbar disc herniation (LDH), lumbar central canal stenosis (LCCS) and lumbar nerve roots compression (LNRC) at lumbar axial MRIs. Read More

Maedica (Bucur) 2022 Mar;17(1):52-63

Department of Nursing, Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece.

Care delivery from nursing staff to patients in hospital environment may involve the exertion of considerable muscular force and, as a result, there is a consequent risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the relationship between reported MSDs and perceived caring behaviors among nursing staff. A total of 250 questionnaires were completed in three Greek hospitals during February and March 2019. Read More

Rev Bras Med Trab 2021 Oct-Dec;19(4):482-490. Epub 2021 Dec 30.

Segurança Pública, Polícia Militar do Estado de Santa Catarina, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.

Introduction: Low back pain is a frequent occupational complaint, corresponding to a considerable portion of leaves of absence that lead to economic loss. This symptom is frequently observed in military police officers, which carry around mandatory gear, which increases overload of the lumbar spine.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of low back pain among military police officers, to identify associated factors, and to assess ergonomic hazards. Read More

Cureus 2022 May 19;14(5):e25130. Epub 2022 May 19.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, JPN.

Introduction We compared preoperative skeletal muscle, pre-and post-operative spinal alignment or clinical symptoms between tandem spinal stenosis (TSS) patients who underwent simultaneous cervical and lumbar decompression and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) patients who underwent only lumbar decompression and the efficacy of one-stage surgery was examined. Methods This study included 82 patients, identifying 13 patients for the TSS group (mean age 77.2 years) and 69 patients for the LSS group (mean age 72. Read More

Cureus 2022 May 18;14(5):e25107. Epub 2022 May 18.

General and Vascular Surgery, Summit Healthcare Regional Hospital, Show Low, USA.

Simultaneous bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax is a rare life-threatening condition that can cause severe respiratory distress, hypoxemia, and death. Spontaneous pneumothorax has been reported as an uncommon but severe complication in patients recovering from COVID-19 pneumonia. Even fewer cases of spontaneous bilateral tension pneumothorax have been reported as a result of infection. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2022 Jun 23;23:e936984. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

New Chiropractic and Physiotherapy Centre, EC Healthcare, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND Aggressive sacral hemangiomas are extremely rare benign tumors that can extend into the spinal canal, causing neurologic symptoms. Research on these tumors is limited given their rarity, and they have no agreed-upon treatment strategy. We report the first case of an aggressive sacral hemangioma responding well to conservative care, including manual therapies. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2022 Jun 22;23:e936058. Epub 2022 Jun 22.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Yamato Tokushukai Hospital, Yamato, Kanagawa, Japan.

BACKGROUND Vertebral osteomyelitis is a rare form of bone infection that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment; however, this is challenging because of the lack of specific symptoms and low sensitivity of diagnostic tests, especially in the early stages. Our case demonstrates the challenges in diagnosing vertebral osteomyelitis and provides relevant information for other physicians dealing with possible cases of vertebral osteomyelitis. CASE REPORT An 83-year-old man presented to the Emergency Department with severe low back pain of 2 weeks' duration. Read More

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2022 Jun 21;14(1):114. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Department of Human Movement Science, University of Hamburg, Turmweg 2, 20148, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Sports science is making an important contribution to health services research and supports the development of tailored interventions, e.g., in nursing settings. Read More

J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2022 Jun 18. Epub 2022 Jun 18.

Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the crowdsourcing platform Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) with in-person recruitment and web-based surveys as a method to (1) recruit study participants and (2) obtain low-cost data quickly from chiropractic patients with chronic low back pain in the United States.

Methods: In this 2-arm quasi-experimental study, we used in-person clinical sampling and web-based surveys from a separate study (RAND sample, n = 1677, data collected October 2016 to January 2017) compared with MTurk (n = 310, data collected November 2016) as a sampling and data collection tool. We gathered patient-reported health outcomes and other characteristics of adults with chronic low back pain receiving chiropractic care. Read More

Int J Spine Surg 2022 Jun 20. Epub 2022 Jun 20.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA

Background: Veterans RAND 12-item (VR-12) physical component score (PCS) has been validated in both veteran and US citizen populations; however, its use for spine surgery populations has not been evaluated. This study aims to correlate the VR-12 PCS survey with legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in patients undergoing minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS TLIF).

Methods: A prospective surgical database was retrospectively assessed for MIS TLIFs performed at 1 level from March 2015 to June 2019. Read More

JMIR Rehabil Assist Technol 2022 Jun 21;9(2):e38084. Epub 2022 Jun 21.

Unit of Physiotherapy, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Science, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.

Background: Exercise and education is recommended as first-line treatment by evidence-based, international guidelines for low back pain (LBP). Despite consensus regarding the treatment, there is a gap between guidelines and what is offered to patients. Digital LBP treatments are an emerging way of delivering first-line treatment. Read More