Diagnostics

When range of motion is not enough: Towards an evidence-based approach to medico-legal reporting in whiplash injury – Full Text

Worsfold C. J Forensic Leg Med. 2014 Jul;25C:95-99. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2014.04.013. Epub 2014 Apr 26. Abstract Whiplash injury medico-legal reporting has traditionally been focused upon identifying restrictions in range of motion and identifying the presence of tender areas in the cervical spine in an effort both to diagnose the condition and to offer a prognosis. There […]

Does inter-vertebral range of motion increase after spinal manipulation? A prospective cohort study

Published: 01 July 2014 Jonathan Branney & Alan C Breen Chiropractic & Manual Therapies volume 22, Article number: 24 (2014) Abstract Background Spinal manipulation for nonspecific neck pain is thought to work in part by improving inter-vertebral range of motion (IV-RoM), but it is difficult to measure this or determine whether it is related to […]

Time-varying surface electromyography topography as a prognostic tool for chronic low back pain rehabilitation

The Spine Journal June 1, 2014 Volume 14, Issue 6, Pages 1049–1056 Yong Hu, PhD Abstract Background context Nonsurgical rehabilitation therapy is a commonly used strategy to treat chronic low back pain (LBP). The selection of the most appropriate therapeutic options is still a big challenge in clinical practices. Surface electromyography (sEMG) topography has been […]

Two Important, Yet Simple Tests For Low Back Pain / Leg Pain

JULY 1, 2014 BY CHIROTRUST The nervous system can be categorized in many different ways. In understanding nervous system physiology, a simple but accurate way of categorization is to view the nervous system as two separate but integrated systems: The MOTOR nerve system The SENSORY nerve system The MOTOR nerve system is the nerves that move our muscles (motor), and also control the […]

Decrease of Muscle Strength Is Associated With Increase of Activity Limitations in Early Knee Osteoarthritis

Decrease of Muscle Strength Is Associated With Increase of Activity Limitations in Early Knee Osteoarthritis: 3-Year Results From the Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee Study Martin van der Esch, PhDemail, Jasmijn F. Holla, MSc, Marike van der Leeden, PhD, Dirk L. Knol, PhD, Willem F. Lems, MD, PhD, Leo D. Roorda, MD, PT, PhD, Joost […]

Criterion validity of manual assessment of spinal stiffness – Motion Palpation Not Reliable?

Shane L. Koppenhave Manual Therapy Received 13 November 2013; received in revised form 27 May 2014; accepted 3 June 2014. published online 24 June 2014. Corrected Proof Abstract Assessment of spinal stiffness is widely used by manual therapy practitioners as a part of clinical diagnosis and treatment selection. Although studies have commonly found poor reliability […]

Ability to discriminate between healthy and low back pain sufferers using ultrasound during maximum lumbar extension

Cuesta-Vargas AI, et al. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Jun;95(6):1093-9. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.01.023. Epub 2014 Feb 14. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To analyze the ability to discriminate between healthy individuals and individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) by measuring the relation between patient-reported outcomes and objective clinical outcome measures of the erector spinae (ES) muscles using […]

Screening an Asymptomatic Person for Genetic Risk

N Engl J Med 2014; 370:2442-2445 June 19, 2014DOI: 10.1056/NEJMclde1311959 CASE VIGNETTE Jim Mathis is a 45-year-old health-conscious man who has been a patient in an internal medicine–primary care practice for several years. At today’s visit, he talks about the family tree that he has sketched out and his discovery that three of his relatives had […]

MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic elite junior tennis players

Rajeswaran G Skeletal Radiol. 2014 Jul;43(7):925-32. doi: 10.1007/s00256-014-1862-1. Epub 2014 Apr 2. Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the MRI findings in the lumbar spines of asymptomatic elite junior tennis players. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The lumbar spine MRI studies of 98 asymptomatic junior elite tennis players (51 male, 47 female) with a mean age of 18 years […]

Ability to Discriminate Between Healthy and Low Back Pain Sufferers Using Ultrasound During Maximum Lumbar Extension

Antonio I. Cuesta-Vargas, PhD Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Volume 95, Issue 6, Pages 1093–1099, June 2014 Journal Reference Full Text PDF Abstract Objective To analyze the ability to discriminate between healthy individuals and individuals with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNLBP) by measuring the relation between patient-reported outcomes and objective clinical outcome measures […]

Missed cervical disc bulges diagnosed with kinematic magnetic resonance imaging.

Eur Spine J. 2014 Aug;23(8):1725-9. doi: 10.1007/s00586-014-3385-9. Epub 2014 May 28. Lao L, Daubs MD, Scott TP, Phan KH, Wang JC. Abstract PURPOSE: To determine if adding flexion and extension MRI studies to the traditional neutral views would be beneficial in the diagnosis of cervical disc bulges. METHODS: Five hundred patients underwent MRI in neutral, […]

Interrater and intrarater reliability of common clinical standing balance tests for people with hip osteoarthritis

Phys Ther. 2014 May;94(5):696-704. doi: 10.2522/ptj.20130266. Epub 2014 Feb 20. Choi YM1, Dobson F, Martin J, Bennell KL, Hinman RS. Abstract BACKGROUND: Hip osteoarthritis (OA) is a common musculoskeletal condition affecting older individuals. Clinical balance tests are frequently used to assess standing balance in these people. There is insufficient information regarding the reliability of these […]

Topical Hormone Testing – Serum, Urine, Saliva, Capillary Blood – Which is Best? VIDEO

ZRT Laboratory Presenter: David Zava, PhD. Presented on: June 18th, 2014 David Zava, PhD explains the difference between testing methods and the ideal use for each and which type of testing is ideal for each method of hormone supplementation. Click Here For the 1 hour Webinar Related Resources Reference Sheet: Guide to Hormone Testing Datasheet: About Saliva […]

The Cascade of Medical Services and Associated Longitudinal Costs due to Non-Adherent MRI for Low Back Pain

Webster BS, et al. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2014 May 14. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed Reference Abstract Study Design. Retrospective cohort study.Objective. To compare type, timing, and longitudinal medical costs following adherent versus non-adherent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for work-related low back pain (LBP).Summary of Background Data. Guidelines advise against MRI for acute uncomplicated […]

Longitudinal associations between incident lumbar spine MRI findings and chronic low back pain or radicular symptoms

Retrospective analysis of data from the longitudinal assessment of imaging and disability of the back (LAIDBACK) BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 05/13/2014 Evidence Based Medicine  Clinical Article Suri P, et al. – There are few longitudinal cohort studies examining associations between incident MRI findings and incident spine–related symptom outcomes. Prior studies do not discriminate between the two distinct outcomes […]

Immediate Changes After Manual Therapy in Resting-State Functional Connectivity as Measured by fMRI in Participants With Induced Low Back Pain

Charles W. Gay, DC Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics Received: April 18, 2014; Received in revised form: August 18, 2014; Accepted: September 1, 2014; Published Online: October 02, 2014 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmpt.2014.09.001 Abstract Objective The purposes of this study were to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the immediate changes in functional connectivity (FC) […]

Kemp’s Test Accuracy

The Study: The diagnostic accuracy of the Kemp’s test: a systematic review The Facts: a. The authors looked at the literature pertaining to the ability of Kemp’s test to diagnose facet joint pain. b. Facet joint pain arises “from any structure related to the facet joints.” c. Kemp’s test is used to diagnose pain in […]

Early Signs of Stroke Missed in Many Cases

Published: Apr 7, 2014 | Updated: Apr 8, 2014 By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Full Story Journal Reference  Action Points Many strokes are potentially missed in emergency departments (EDs) in the days before the problems become obvious, a retrospective study found. Note that about one in every 10 of those potential misses […]

The clinical utility of cervical range of motion in diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluating the effects of manipulation

The clinical utility of cervical range of motion in diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluating the effects of manipulation: a systematic review Suzanne J. Snodgrass Physiotherapy Articles in Press Received: June 12, 2013; Accepted: April 10, 2014; Published Online: May 01, 2014 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2014.04.007 Publication stage: In Press Accepted Manuscript Abstract Background Clinicians commonly assess cervical range […]

Diagnostic tests often fail to lead to changes in patient outcomes

J Clin Epidemiol. 2014 Jun;67(6):612-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2013.12.008. Epub 2014 Mar 27. Siontis KC Abstract OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of diagnostic testing on patient outcomes in a large sample of diagnostic randomized controlled trials (D-RCTs) and to examine whether the effects for patient outcomes correlate with the effects on management and with diagnostic accuracy. STUDY […]