There is no escaping the evidence that regular moderate exercise is associated with a host of medical benefits. Among those benefits are perhaps improved memory and cognition, and possibly a decreased risk of developing dementia. The latest study to show this correlation involved younger and older adults who wore a step-monitor. The number of steps they […]
Several studies conclude the odds of the SI joint being directly involved in cLBP is from 5-15%; its contribution in acute pain is nebulous. Orthopedic tests create an odds ratio of about 75% for SI involvement if several (4 of 5) of the assessment tests are positive. Conversely if 4 of 5 are negative an […]
In 1986 an excellent study on the cervical lordosis was published in Spine by Gore et al. They found an average of 22 degrees as the typical cervical curve configuration. Only a minority; 9% with a kyphosis neck were found to be a symptomatic. Both Gore and studies by Owens and Hoiris clearly indicate a […]
Limke JC, Eur J Phys Rehab Med. Dec;44 2008. This interesting study at the New England Baptist bone and joint institute in Boston investigated the efficacy of its (2) set progressive resistance (PRE) program used to reverse deconditioning vs just (1) set. They were investigating whether completing (1) vs. (2) sets of resistance exercise during an […]
Wilke HJ et al Clinical biomech 16; 2001. Intradiscal pressure measurements were taken in a variety of postures and activities many replicating the earlier work of Nachemson. Prone-lying: 0.1 Mpa, Side-lying: 0.12, relaxed-standing: 0.5, flexed-standing: 1.1, flexion-sitting: 0.83. Lifting 40lbs with a rounded back: 2.3, with flexed knees: 1.7, with weight close to the body: 1.1. […]
Most lumbar disc herniations protrude posterolateral, away from the center of the body. Once lateral the disc can lie either lateral or medial to the nerve root, the terms lateral &medial refer to the relationship between the disc and the nerve root NOT the relationship to the midline. A lateral presentation finds the patient leaning […]
Atlas SJ et al Spine Apr 15, 2005. This 10 year Maine study supports previous population studies on surgery vs. conservative treatments.It points out that surgical patients tend to have worse baseline symptoms and poorer functional status.At 10 years 25% of surgery patients had opted for at least one additional operation and 25% of the non-surgical […]
In 2013, Alayat et al reported on a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of laser therapy for the treatment of 48 patients with Bell’s palsy. Facial exercises and massage were given to all patients. Patients were randomized to one of three groups: high-intensity laser therapy, low-level laser therapy or exercise only. Laser treatment was given three times per week to […]
Tarnopolsky D. J Science translational medicine. nccm.nih.gov 2010Massage not only feels good and produces a relaxation response but appears to promote new mitochondria growth in skeletal muscle. Investigators analyzed biopsies from the quadriceps of men who exercised on bikes to exhaustion. After the exercise one leg was massaged. A second biopsy was taken at 25 […]
“ASLR with or without ‘reinforcement’ (pelvic compression) to engage the form & force closure can be used to evaluate a patients’ ability to transfer load from the LS junction thru the pelvic girdle and hip joint to the lower extremity. A (right) supine ALR results in:PI rotation of right innominate, anterior rotation of sacral base […]