Spine
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Comparative Study
Back pain in the German adult population: prevalence, severity, and sociodemographic correlates in a multiregional survey.
A population-based cross-sectional multiregion postal survey. ⋯ Back pain is a highly prevalent condition in Germany. Disabling back pain in this country may be regarded as part of a social disadvantage syndrome. Educational level should receive greater attention in future cross-regional comparisons of back pain.
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Comparative Study
Different effects of static versus cyclic compressive loading on rat intervertebral disc height and water loss in vitro.
In vitro biomechanical study on rat caudal motion segments to evaluate association between compressive loading and water content under static and cyclic conditions. ⋯ Peak magnitude of cyclic compression and not RMS value was most important in determining height change and water loss, likely due to differences between disc creep and recovery rates. Water redistribution from nucleus to anulus occurred under loading consistent with an initial elastic compression (and associated disc bulge) followed by a reduction in disc volume over time.
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An in vivo study to measure rat spinal cord blood flow in real-time at the site of compression using a newly developed device. ⋯ Duration of ischemia/compression and blood flow recovery of the spinal cord are important factors in the recovery of motor function after a spinal cord injury.
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A cross-sectional survey of households selected using multistage stratified sampling. ⋯ Chronic spinal pain is a common problem in the Nigerian community, and persons 60 years of age and older may be at particularly elevated risk. Chronic spinal pain is associated with increased probability of comorbid physical and mental disorders. These comorbid conditions partly but do not fully explain the disability associated with chronic spinal pain, which therefore constitutes a substantial health burden on the society.