American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Dec 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyEffect of lidocaine iontophoresis on pain during needle electromyography.
Pain during needle electrode examination (NEE) is often poorly tolerated. No previous studies have evaluated the effect of lidocaine iontophoresis on pain reduction during NEE. Our objective was to determine whether pretreatment with lidocaine iontophoresis mitigates the pain felt during NEE. ⋯ Pretreatment with iontophoresis significantly reduced pain during NEE. However, the lack of group differences between lidocaine and saline iontophoresis suggested that the analgesic effect may have been attributable primarily to the iontophoresis modality itself rather than to the medication administered with iontophoresis.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Dec 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyRemote therapeutic effectiveness of acupuncture in treating myofascial trigger point of the upper trapezius muscle.
This study aimed to investigate the remote effect of acupuncture (AcP) on the pain intensity and the irritability of the myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle. ⋯ The myofascial trigger point irritability could be suppressed after a remote acupuncture treatment. It appears that needling to the remote AcP points with multiple needle insertions of modified AcP technique is a better technique than simple needling insertion of simple needling technique in terms of the decrease in pain intensity and prevalence of endplate noise and the increase in pressure pain threshold in the needling sites (represented either AcP points and or myofascial trigger points). We have further confirmed that the reduction in endplate noise showed good correlation with a decreased in pain.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Dec 2011
Comparative StudyEpidural steroid injections in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis efficacy and predictability of successful response.
The purpose of this study was to determine response to interlaminar epidural steroid injections in the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis as measured using self-reported activity level and measured walking ability. The results were correlated through demographic data, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics, and electrodiagnostic (EDX) results. ⋯ Epidural steroid injections is an effective treatment for improving ambulation and functional limitations caused by lumbar spinal stenosis. Relative youth and female sex are associated with a more favorable response. Body mass index, EDX abnormal findings, and MRI severity are not predictive.
-
Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Nov 2011
Measuring body structures and body functions from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health perspective: considerations for biomedical parameters in spinal cord injury research.
The aims of this study were to provide a selection of biomedical domains based on the comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) core sets for spinal cord injury (SCI) and to present an overview of the corresponding measurement instruments. ⋯ An ICF-based measurement set for biomedical aspects of functioning with SCI was established. For some categories of the ICF core sets for SCI, there is a need to develop measurement instruments.