Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics
-
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.
-
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.
-
J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Jul 2000
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialEffects of side-posture positioning and side-posture adjusting on the lumbar zygapophysial joints as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging: a before and after study with randomization.
To test the a priori hypothesis that one of the positive mechanisms of action of chiropractic side-posture manipulation (adjusting) of the lumbar spine is to separate, or gap, the zygapophysial (Z) joints. ⋯ Lumbar side-posture spinal adjusting produced increased separation (gapping) of the zygapophysial joints. Side-posture positioning also produced gapping, but less than that seen with lumbar side-posture adjusting. A larger clinical trial should be performed to further define the results of this study.
-
J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Jun 2000
ReviewAlcohol and low-back pain: a systematic literature review.
The role of lifestyle factors is an important issue in the prevention and treatment of disease. Although certain lifestyle factors in relation to low-back pain have evoked much interest, interest has not focused on alcohol consumption. An appraisal of the epidemiologic literature seems warranted. ⋯ Alcohol consumption does not seem to be associated with low-back pain, but well-designed specific alcohol/low-back pain-centered studies are lacking.
-
J Manipulative Physiol Ther · Jun 2000
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialShort-term effects of lumbar posteroanterior mobilization in individuals with low-back pain.
To establish the short-term effects of lumbar posteroanterior mobilization in patients with low-back pain, compared with a control intervention. ⋯ Lumbar posteroanterior mobilization was not observed to produce any objectively measurable change in the mechanical behavior of the lumbar spine of patients with low-back pain. Improvement in some pain variables was observed in comparison with a control procedure, but this may be due to a placebo effect.