Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2009
The associations between the dominant and nondominant peak external knee adductor moments during gait in healthy subjects: evidence for symmetry.
There is growing interest in the role of the knee adduction moment in the pathogenesis of knee pain and osteoarthritis. It is unclear whether the knee adduction moment is similar between the dominant and nondominant legs during locomotion. This study examined whether asymmetry exists in the peak knee adductor moments during gait in healthy adults. ⋯ In healthy subjects, the magnitude of the dominant limb peak external knee adduction moments during stance, and in particular late stance, appears representative of the magnitude of the moment in the nondominant limb. These findings imply symmetry between these moments and may have important implications when collecting data for limb analyses among healthy subjects. Whether gait symmetry protects against the onset of unilateral (or increases the risk for bilateral) pathological joint changes will need to be confirmed longitudinally.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Feb 2009
Attenuated skin blood flow response to nociceptive stimulation of latent myofascial trigger points.
To investigate the effect of painful stimulation of latent myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) on skin blood flow and to evaluate the relative sensitivity of laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) and thermography in the measurement of skin blood flow. ⋯ The present study demonstrated an attenuated skin blood flow response after painful stimulation of latent MTrPs compared with non-MTrPs, suggesting increased sympathetic vasoconstriction activity at latent MTrPs. Additionally, LDF was more sensitive than thermography in the detection of the changes in skin blood flow after intramuscular nociceptive stimulation.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Jan 2009
Diagnostic value of history taking and physical examination to assess effusion of the knee in traumatic knee patients in general practice.
To assess the diagnostic value of history taking and physical examination for knee joint effusion in patients with a knee injury who consult their general practitioner (GP). In addition, to determine the association between effusion seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and internal derangement of the knee. ⋯ In patients with traumatic knee injury, knee joint effusion is frequently seen on MRI. The combination of self-noticed swelling and the ballottement test was of diagnostic value. Knee joint effusion was associated with internal derangement of the knee.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Jan 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyIs the fear avoidance model associated with the reduced level of aerobic fitness in patients with chronic low back pain?
To compare aerobic fitness of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) against healthy controls and to assess whether variables of the fear avoidance model are associated with loss of aerobic fitness. ⋯ Most patients with CLBP-associated disability have a lower level of aerobic fitness, but this is not associated with fear avoidance.
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Jan 2009
ReviewClinimetric properties of instruments to assess activities in patients with hand injury: a systematic review of the literature.
To perform a systematic review of the literature to assess the clinimetric properties of instruments measuring limitations of activity. ⋯ None of the instruments had a positive rating for all the clinimetric properties.