PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation
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To investigate the impact of knee pain and low back pain (LBP) on quality of life (QoL) in people ≥50 years of age. ⋯ These results suggest that knee pain and LBP are important factors affecting QoL in middle-aged and elderly people and that LBP may be relatively more important than knee pain in elderly people, especially men. Proper management and prevention of these conditions can help to improve QoL.
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Review
Physical Medicine Interventions to Avoid Acute Respiratory Failure and Invasive Airway Tubes.
This article describes the use of physical medicine noninvasive inspiratory and expiratory muscle aids to prevent ventilatory/respiratory failure and to permit the extubation and tracheostomy tube decannulation of patients with little or no autonomous ability to breathe (ie, those who cannot be weaned from ventilator support). Noninvasive airway pressure aids can provide continuous ventilatory support and effective cough flows for patients with severely dysfunctional respiratory muscles.
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Review Historical Article
Myofascial Trigger Points Then and Now: A Historical and Scientific Perspective.
The intent of this article is to discuss the evolving role of the myofascial trigger point (MTrP) in myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) from both a historical and scientific perspective. MTrPs are hard, discrete, palpable nodules in a taut band of skeletal muscle that may be spontaneously painful (i.e., active) or painful only on compression (i.e., latent). MPS is a term used to describe a pain condition that can be acute or, more commonly, chronic and involves the muscle and its surrounding connective tissue (e.g. fascia). ⋯ To address these deficiencies, investigators have recently applied clinical, imaging (of skeletal muscle and brain), and biochemical analyses to systematically and objectively study the MTrP and its role in MPS. Data suggest that the soft tissue milieu around the MTrP, neurogenic inflammation, sensitization, and limbic system dysfunction may all play a role in the initiation, amplification, and perpetuation of MPS. The authors chronicle the advances that have led to the current understanding of MTrP pathophysiology and its relationship to MPS, and review the contributions of clinicians and researchers who have influenced and expanded our contemporary level of clinical knowledge and practice.