Spine
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The Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale is a 20-item self-administered instrument designed to assess the level of functional disability in individuals with back pain. The scale was administered as part of a larger questionnaire to a group of 242 back pain patients. Follow-up data were obtained after several days and after 2 to 6 months. ⋯ The Quebec scale can be recommended as an outcome measure in clinical trials, and for monitoring the progress of individual patients participating in treatment or rehabilitation programs.
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This study analyzed hypersensitization in sensory systems after mechanical irritation of the dorsal root ganglion. ⋯ This experimental model reliably produced a disorder resembling an acute phase sciatica and should help further advance the understanding of pathomechanisms of spinal pain after irritation of the dorsal root ganglion in humans.
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This study investigated the effects of the intensive physical rehabilitation program on the trunk and knee extensor muscles in patients with chronic low back pain. At baseline and after 3 months, strength was measured and muscle biopsies were taken. ⋯ The results of the present study suggest that training with maximal or submaximal effort may reverse the selective atrophy of Type 2 fibers in the multifidus muscles in men. Intensive training also can significantly increase the trunk extension strength in women, but women may need a longer training period than men to achieve significant structural changes in their back muscles.