Physiotherapy theory and practice
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Physiother Theory Pract · May 2016
Randomized Controlled TrialThe effect of core stability and general exercise on abdominal muscle thickness in non-specific chronic low back pain using ultrasound imaging.
There is a controversy regarding whether core stability exercise (CSE) is more effective than general exercise (GE) for chronic LBP. To compare different exercises regarding their effect on improving back strength and stability, performance of abdominal muscles is a useful index. Ultrasound imaging for measuring muscle thickness could be used to assess muscle performance. ⋯ The present results provided evidence that only GE increased right and left rectus muscle thickness. The only significant difference between CSE and GE groups was the right rectus thickness. As rectus is a global muscle, the effect of GE on strength improvement (one side stronger than the other) may have a negative effect on motor control of lumbopelvic muscles and possibly increase the risk of back pain occurring or becoming worse, though this was not observed in the present study.
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Physiother Theory Pract · May 2016
Case ReportsClinical diagnosis and treatment of a patient with low back pain using the patient response model: A case report.
The medical management of low back pain (LBP) can be approached in a multitude of ways. Classification via subgrouping is increasingly common in orthopedic literature. Clinical diagnosis and treatment of LBP using the patient response model (PRM) can assist clinicians in hypothesizing the origin of pain and providing beneficial interventions unlike the widely used pathoanatomical model. ⋯ Using the PRM, the patient was classified as an extension responder and was instructed to perform 10 repetitions of standing lumbar extension every 2 waking hours. After 4 weeks of therapy, the patient reported a 1/10 pain localized to the low back, scored 20/50 on the mODI, and improved flexion ROM to 45°. Classification using the PRM yielded positive outcomes with this patient's symptoms and daily function.
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Physiother Theory Pract · May 2016
Observational StudyThe relationship between knowledge of pain neurophysiology and fear avoidance in people with chronic pain: A point in time, observational study.
Chronic pain is prevalent in the western world; however fear of pain often has a greater impact than the degree of initial injury. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between knowledge of the neurophysiology of pain and fear avoidance in individuals diagnosed with chronic pain. Twenty-nine people with chronic musculoskeletal pain were recruited and completed questionnaires to determine their understanding of pain neurophysiology and the degree of their fear avoidance beliefs. ⋯ There was no relationship with the educational level or compensable status for either variable. The findings suggest that fear avoidance is positively influenced by neurophysiology of pain education, so that a higher level of pain knowledge is associated with less activity-related fear. The clinical implication is that reducing fear avoidance/kinesiophobia using neurophysiology of pain education in people with chronic pain may provide an effective strategy to help manage fear avoidance and related disability in the chronic pain population in order to improve treatment outcomes.
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Physiother Theory Pract · Jan 2016
Case ReportsEffect of sternoclavicular joint mobilization on pain and function in a patient with massive supraspinatus tear.
Massive irreparable rotator cuff tears can be difficult to treat conservatively, especially when the patient has multiple comorbidities. Although there is evidence to support interventions aimed at the spine, there is paucity in the literature describing interventions to the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ) in individuals with rotator cuff pathology. A 57-year-old female with multiple comorbidities and a body mass index of 59 was referred to physical therapy with a 4-month history of right shoulder pain, significant functional limitations, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), demonstrating a full-thickness supraspinatus tear. ⋯ SCJ mobilizations at visit 7 immediately improved pain, active ROM, and subjective reports of function. The patient was discharged after 13 visits with increased active shoulder flexion ROM to 0-170°, NPRS 1/10, QuickDASH 31.8%, and Global Rating of Change (GROC) +5. This case highlights the successful conservative treatment of an individual with an irreparable rotator cuff tear and numerous comorbidities by using a multimodal approach including SCJ mobilizations.
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Physiother Theory Pract · Jan 2016
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyDoes core stability exercise improve lumbopelvic stability (through endurance tests) more than general exercise in chronic low back pain? A quasi-randomized controlled trial.
The aim was to compare core stability and general exercises (GEs) in chronic low back pain (LBP) patients based on lumbopelvic stability (LPS) assessment through three endurance core stability tests. There is a controversy about preference of core stability exercise (CSE) over other types of exercise for chronic LBP. Studies which have compared these exercises used other outcomes than those related to LPS. As it is claimed that CSE enhances back stability, endurance tests for LPS were used. ⋯ CSE is not more effective than GE for improving endurance core stability tests and reducing disability and pain in chronic non-specific LBP patients.