Articles: low-back-pain.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effect of McKenzie therapy as compared with that of intensive strengthening training for the treatment of patients with subacute or chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial.
A randomized controlled comparative trial with an 8-month follow-up period was conducted. ⋯ The McKenzie method and intensive dynamic strengthening training seem to be equally effective in the treatment of patients with subacute or chronic low back pain.
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Review
Guidelines for the use of discography for the diagnosis of painful degenerative lumbar disc disease.
Discography has been used as a diagnostic test in the evaluation of patients with recalcitrant low-back pain. Recently, its usefulness has been questioned because of the occurrence of false-positive results as well as the influence of psychological factors on test results. The purpose of this review is to establish the literature support for and against the use of discography. A search of the English-language literature published between 1966 and 2001 was performed. Papers were selected based on inclusion criteria described in the text, and the quality of information was graded using previously described methods. ⋯ The authors propose a set of practice parameters based on the literature. Although the data were not judged adequate for the determination of a treatment standard, parameters for the use of discography are provided at a guideline and option level.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Spinal cord stimulation electrode design: prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing percutaneous and laminectomy electrodes-part I: technical outcomes.
The clinical use of spinal cord stimulation for treatment of chronic intractable pain has been increasingly successful because of recent technical improvements, particularly the development of multiple-contact electrodes supported by programmable implanted pulse generators. Contemporary electrodes can be placed percutaneously in some cases and require a limited laminectomy in other cases. ⋯ We can immediately infer from these technical data that the use of an insulated array, in comparison with a percutaneous electrode, would double battery life. Extended follow-up monitoring will be required to assess the extent to which the technical advantages we observed for the insulated array might be associated with improved clinical outcomes.
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Multicenter Study
Evaluation of the presence of sacroiliac joint region dysfunction using a combination of tests: a multicenter intertester reliability study.
The authors examined the intertester reliability of assessments made based on a composite of 4 tests of pelvic symmetry or sacroiliac joint (SIJ) movement that are advocated in the literature for identifying people with SIJ region dysfunction. "Sacroiliac joint region dysfunction" is a term used to describe pain in or around the region of the joint that is presumed to be due to malalignment or abnormal movement of the SIJs. ⋯ Reliability of measurements obtained with the 4 tests appears to be too low for clinical use. Given the measurement error found in this study, the authors suspect it is likely that either the proper treatment technique will not be chosen based on the test results or the intervention will be applied to the wrong side. The 4 tests probably should not be used to examine patients suspected of having SIJ region dysfunction, although the role of therapist training in use of the procedures is unclear.
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J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. · Aug 2002
A community-based study of postmenopausal white women with back and leg pain: health status and limitations in physical activity.
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of lower back pain and associated leg pain/numbness in postmenopausal Caucasian women and the relationship of these symptoms to health status and function. ⋯ Low back pain that radiates into the hip, buttock, or leg is relatively common in postmenopausal Caucasian women living in the community and is associated with decreased physical health status and with physical limitations.