Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Sep 2000
ReviewMRI of the spine and spinal cord: imaging techniques, normal anatomy, artifacts, and pitfalls.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used to evaluate the spine and spinal cord. ⋯ MRI enables the imaging specialist to evaluate a large anatomic region in multiple planes and can better examine the spinal cord.
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Complex regional pain syndromes (CRPS) represent curious and difficult syndromes for both patient and clinician. CRPS presents as a triad of signs and symptoms, usually after a seemingly trivial injury to a peripheral joint or appendage. The clinical triad includes severe pain, vasomotor changes in and around the affected area, and trophic changes in the affected limb. Many of the acute symptoms are similar to those seen after many acute injuries, which makes an early diagnosis often times difficult. Current treatment protocols revolve around aggressive physical therapy plus pharmacologic interventions aimed at limiting sympathetic nervous system activity. ⋯ Recent research calls into question the predominant theories that view excessive sympathetic nervous system activity as the cause of CRPS. No evidence of an increase in sympathetic nervous system activity has been found, and new theories suggest that an increase in the sensitivity of neurotransmitter receptors may be the cause of CRPS. Alternatively, other research has suggested that a local inflammatory process may in fact cause CRPS. Although no research has been completed examining the role of chiropractic care in the treatment of CRPS, there is reason to believe that spinal manipulation may be beneficial to patients with CRPS.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Sep 2000
Lumbosacral transitional segments: classification, prevalence, and effect on disk height.
To determine the rate of lumbosacral transitional segments among chiropractic practice settings and to determine if this anomaly would affect the height of the lumbosacral disk. ⋯ We conclude that the rate of occurrence of lumbosacral transitional segments is low in chiropractic practice. In the presence of lumbosacral transitional segments, especially when there was bony fusion, the lumbosacral intervertebral disk was significantly narrower than the upper lumbar disks, which should not be considered as disk degeneration or displacement. The type of lumbosacral transitional segment present also showed a significant effect on the height of the lumbosacral disk.