Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · May 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialImmediate effects on electromyographic activity and pressure pain thresholds after a cervical manipulation in mechanical neck pain: a randomized controlled trial.
The purpose of this study was to identify the immediate effects of a manipulation of C5/C6 level on electromyography (EMG) of the deltoid muscle and in pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) in patients with mechanical neck pain. ⋯ Manipulation at C5/C6 level in the study participants seemed to increase EMG amplitude signal and fatigue resistance in a nonspinal (deltoid) muscle innervated by the same segment in patients with mechanical neck pain. However, these changes were relative small. An increase on PPT over those tissues innervated by the manipulated segment was also found after the manipulative procedure.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · May 2011
Validity of the straight-leg raise test for patients with sciatic pain with or without lumbar pain using magnetic resonance imaging results as a reference standard.
The aim of this retrospective study was to assess validity of the straight-leg raise (SLR) test using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results as a reference standard in a group of patients with L4-L5 and L5-S1 lumbar-herniated disks and sciatic pain. The relationship between diagnostic accuracy of this test, age classes, and grade of lumbar disk displacement was investigated. ⋯ Our results indicate low accuracy of the SLR in diagnosis of LDH if compared with MRI results. The discriminative power of the SLR seemed to decrease as age increased; thus, positive and negative results may be less conclusive in older patients.
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J Manipulative Physiol Ther · May 2011
ReviewMethodological quality of studies on the measurement properties of neck pain and disability questionnaires: a systematic review.
The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of the methodological quality of studies on the measurement properties of neck pain and disability questionnaires and to describe how well various aspects of the design and statistical analyses of studies on measurement properties are performed. ⋯ Considering the importance of adequate measurement properties, it is concluded that, in the field of measuring neck pain and disability, there is room for improvement in the methodological quality of studies measurement properties.