Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Feb 2013
Test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity of an automated deformation-controlled indentation on pressure pain threshold measurement.
The purpose of this study was to construct a computerized deformation-controlled indentation system and compare its test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity with a manual algometer for pressure pain threshold (PPT) measurements. ⋯ Although computerized algometry offers the benefits of eliminating the effects of operator reaction time, operator anticipation, alignment error, and variation in indentation rate on PPT measurements, these results indicate that manual algometry using load-controlled strategy may be better than computerized deformation-controlled algometry in terms of test-retest reliability, repeatability, and sensitivity. Constant load-controlled indentation protocol may be more favorable for PPT measurements. Future computerized instrumentation for PPT measurements should adopt a load-controlled mechanism.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Jan 2013
Aging baby boomers and the rising cost of chronic back pain: secular trend analysis of longitudinal Medical Expenditures Panel Survey data for years 2000 to 2007.
The purposes of this study were to analyze data from the longitudinal Medical Expenditures Panel Survey (MEPS) to evaluate the impact of an aging population on secular trends in back pain and chronicity and to provide estimates of treatment costs for patients who used only ambulatory services. ⋯ The prevalence of back pain, especially chronic back pain, is increasing. To the extent that the growth in chronic back pain is caused, in part, by an aging population, the growth will likely continue or accelerate. With relatively high cost per adult with chronic back pain, total expenditures associated with back pain will correspondingly accelerate under existing treatment patterns. This carries implications for prioritizing health policy, clinical practice, and research efforts to improve care outcomes, costs, and cost-effectiveness and for health workforce planning.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Jan 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effects of collateral meridian therapy for knee osteoarthritis pain management: a pilot study.
The purpose of this preliminary study was to examine whether collateral meridian (CM) therapy was feasible in treating knee osteoarthritis (OA) pain. ⋯ Collateral meridian therapy may be feasible and effective for knee OA pain relief and knee function recovery. Therefore, additional randomized control trials are warranted.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Nov 2012
Myofascial trigger points in the masticatory muscles in patients with and without chronic mechanical neck pain.
The purpose of this study is to describe differences in the presence of masseter and temporalis muscle trigger points (TrPs) and jaw opening between individuals with mechanical neck pain and healthy controls. ⋯ For the subjects in this study, those with mechanical chronic neck pain had more latent TrPs in the masticatory muscles and reduced jaw opening compared to healthy controls. These findings may suggest the spread of sensitization from the cervical segment to the trigeminal brain stem sensory nuclear complex.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Oct 2012
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyQuantification of cavitation and gapping of lumbar zygapophyseal joints during spinal manipulative therapy.
The purpose of this study was to use previously validated methods to quantify and relate 2 phenomena associated with chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy (SMT): (1) cavitation and (2) the simultaneous gapping (separation) of the lumbar zygapophyseal (Z) joint spaces. ⋯ Zygapophyseal joints receiving chiropractic SMT gapped more than those receiving SPP alone; Z joints of men gapped more than those of women, and cavitation indicated that a joint had gapped but not how much a joint had gapped.